Everything you need to know about non-esports events at EWC 2025

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On July 8, Riyadh officially became the heart of global esports as the Esports World Cup 2025 launched its nearly two-month-long celebration of competitive gaming. Running through late August, this massive festival transforms Saudi Arabia into the epicenter of the esports world, featuring a combined $70 million prize pool across 25 tournaments.

While esports tournaments are the heart of the Esports World Cup 2025, the festival offers so much more than just competitive gaming. Visitors can enjoy live concerts, prestigious award shows, industry conferences, pop culture exhibitions, and interactive festivals : just a taste of the entertainment waiting in Riyadh this summer. In this feature, Esports Charts rounds up the top non-esports events you won’t want to miss.

EWC 2025 Opening Ceremony ft. Post Malone (Jul 10)

While tournament play at the Esports World Cup 2025 kicked off on July 8, the official Opening Ceremony is set for July 10 at ANB Arena, with the show scheduled to begin at 9 PM (UTC+3).

The Opening Ceremony will welcome a host of celebrity guests, including members of the Saudi royal family and legendary Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined the Esports World Cup this year as an official ambassador.

Headlining the night is Post Malone, the chart-topping American rapper, singer, and avid gamer. He’ll take the stage for a massive live performance, blending his biggest global hits with a high-energy tribute to gaming culture — all on one of the biggest stages in esports.

With nine diamond-certified singles and a strong connection to the gaming world, Post Malone is more than just a performer. A co-owner of OpTic Gaming, he’s known for streaming titles like Call of Duty: Warzone, PUBG, and Hunt: Showdown to his 887,000+ Twitch followers, and he’s collaborated on in-game events, including a recent partnership with Apex Legends.

The official kickoff to the Esports World Cup will also include performances from Dino of SEVENTEEN, Duckwrth, The Word Alive, Alesso, and Tina Guo. 

Can’t make it to the Opening Ceremony in person? No worries: you can catch all the action live from anywhere in the world. Top streamers will be covering the event on their channels and across social media:

• Seth "Scump" Abner;

• Timothy "TimTheTatman" Betar;

• Matthew "Nadeshot" Haag;

• Tyler "Ninja" Blevins;

• Kamel "Kamet0" Kebir;

• Artour "Arteezy" Babaev;

• Thomas "Zoomaa" Paparatto;

• Janne "Gorgc" Stefanovski;

• Albert "Boxbox" Zheng.

Just tune in and join the celebration from wherever you are!

Events & Live Shows (Jul 8 - Aug 24)

All festival long, the Esports World Cup 2025 venue will be packed with exciting activities for fans of all ages. From autograph signings and meet-and-greets with top content creators to a throwback retro gaming exhibit, there’s something for everyone.

Bring the kids to sports parks and VR attractions, dive into Japanese pop culture at the Crunchyroll anime showcase, snap a photo next to a real Formula 1 race car, or shop for exclusive merch at themed souvenir shops. And that’s just the beginning.

Some experiences are free to enjoy, while others may require advance tickets, available now on the official website. 

Get ready to party: multiple AFT_r music events will electrify the ANB Arena throughout the Esports World Cup 2025. It will feature show-stopping performances by some of the biggest names in music, including Ty Dolla $ign, Lost Frequencies, Bayou, Metro Boomin, Don Diablo, Central Cee, Black Eyed Peas, Zeyne, and many more. 

Esports Awards: Decade Edition (Aug 11)

On August 11, 2025, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia will host a landmark celebration in the world of competitive gaming, the Esports Awards: Decade Edition. This special event marks the 10-year anniversary of the prestigious awards show and honors the individuals, games, teams, and platforms that have shaped the esports landscape over the past decade.

Held as part of the ongoing partnership with the Esports World Cup, the Decade Awards will spotlight long-term excellence, lasting influence, and consistency in the industry.

A total of 14 exclusive categories will be presented, including Esports Game of the Decade, Streamer of the Decade, and Esports Team of the Decade. Notably, Esports Charts has earned a nomination in the Esports Content & Coverage Platform of the Decade category.

The winners of Esports Awards: Decade Edition are determined through a two-part process: public voting (worth 25% of the final result) and panel voting by industry experts (worth 75%). As the final week of voting begins, fans can take part in the special 'turbo' phase, where each vote counts double. Public voting is open on the official website until August 11. If you appreciate what we do, we’d be grateful for your vote!

New Global Sport Conference 2025 (Aug 23-24)

Mark your calendar for August 23-24, as Riyadh hosts the New Global Sport Conference, a groundbreaking international forum at the intersection of esports, sports, gaming, technology, and business.

Taking place in one of the world’s most dynamic centers for innovation and investment, this two-day event brings together industry leaders, top executives, and visionary investors to explore new opportunities, forge strategic partnerships, and shape the future of competitive entertainment.

The program features renowned speakers, forward-looking keynotes, and hands-on workshops designed to deliver actionable insights, fuel innovation, and foster meaningful collaboration. From curated networking to investor matchmaking, every element is crafted to drive real-world impact.

The New Global Sport Conference is open to the public, but attending comes at a premium. Ticket prices start at $5,000 and are available now on WEBOOK.

EWC 2025 Closing Ceremony

The final day of the Esports World Cup 2025 will wrap up with a spectacular closing ceremony. While organizers have yet to reveal full details, we can likely expect high-profile guests from the worlds of politics and sports, along with a star-studded musical performance to mark the occasion. Stay tuned — we’ll share more updates as soon as they’re announced.

Last year’s Esports World Cup 2024 closing ceremony lasted approximately four hours and served as a major highlight, featuring high-profile guests and an interactive show. Music performances by Kid Cudi and Steve Aoki energized the crowd. While parts of the concerts were streamed live to viewers worldwide, exclusive performances were reserved just for those attending the event in person.

Esports World Cup 2024 racked up over 100 million hours watched, with its most popular tournament peaking at an impressive 2.38 million concurrent viewers. Will this year’s edition raise the bar even higher? We’ll find out by the end of summer!