New Global Sport Conference 2026
About the event
The New Global Sport Conference returns to Riyadh for its fourth edition, running from 30 October to 1 November 2026 at the Sofitel Riyadh Hotel and Convention Centre, immediately ahead of the inaugural Esports Nations Cup, which begins on 2 November. This edition carries the theme “Defining Victory: Shaping Gaming for the Next Era of Competition — AI, Capital and Monetisation”.
The organiser has announced four discussion pillars for this edition: gaming and esports; AI and innovation; capital and growth; and competitive excellence. The first examines the transition of gaming and esports ecosystems from volatility to long-term stability, aligning community dynamics, platform strategies and emerging governance models. The second explores how advanced technologies and artificial intelligence enhance gameplay, optimise performance and enable new forms of content creation and engagement. The third covers evolving investment models, from venture capital and private equity to sovereign and state-backed initiatives and strategic brand partnerships. The fourth analyses how competitive formats are evolving across traditional sports and esports, and how federations, publishers and mainstream sport stakeholders work together. The programme is aimed at chief executives, founders, investors, rights holders, publishers, platform operators and policymakers.
The conference opens with an invitation-only day on 30 October of closed networking sessions, workshops, high-level meetings and roundtables, followed by two days of keynotes and panel sessions on 31 October and 1 November. Attendance is by paid ticket, and early-bird passes are open for booking. The Riyadh edition is accompanied by a smaller invitation-only gathering in Paris held alongside the Esports World Cup, the conference’s first extension outside the Kingdom.