The Esports Foundation (EF), organizer of the Esports World Cup (EWC) and the Esports Nations Cup (ENC), opened applications on June 11 for its 2026 Creator Program, billed as the largest co-streaming initiative in esports.
The foundation is committing $2 million in cash incentives for creators. The program targets 5,000 co-streamers, up from 3,500 in 2025 — a year in which co-streaming was one of the main drivers of the EWC's audience.
The logic mirrors that of the Club Partner Program, but applied to creators, with the same ambitions around marketing and onboarding the ecosystem's key stakeholders.
The initiative will cover EWC 2026, in Paris this summer, and the inaugural edition of ENC 2026, in Riyadh this November. Approved creators will be able to:
- Stream their favorite tournaments,
- Complete missions and progress through a Battle Pass that unlocks rewards for their communities: gift cards, gear, consoles, perks on streaming platforms, or event invitations.
A two-tier gamification: it streamlines creators' work to encourage them to broadcast, while engaging their communities by turning spectators into participants rather than mere observers.
The program will be available on major platforms, including Twitch and YouTube, as well as Bilibili, Huya, and CHZZK — the Asian market being one of the foundation's focuses for this edition.
"This isn't just an esports trend, it's a media trend," notes Wasae Imran, Director of Broadcast & Distribution at the Esports Foundation.
In his view, audiences are no longer content to "watch what they're given" but now choose their own experience — and traditional sports are heading down the same path.
Find all the information about the event, taking place in Paris, here.
