- The biggest esports championship in the university scene will bring together participants from 14 countries to compete in League of Legends and VALORANT.
- In 2025, the EMEA esports market approximately generated around €2.3 billion in revenue.
Great news for university gaming communities across the EMEA region. UNIVERSITY Esports Masters (UEM) returns in 2026 with a new season packed with excitement and plenty of competitive opportunities. This international championship for university students will bring the best players to compete in a professional environment, experience different cultures and create lifelong memories.
On this occasion, League of Legends and VALORANT will be the games of choice, with participants putting their skills and prowess to the test in Riot Games’ most popular titles. Students of 14 nationalities will participate online in UEM 2026, representing their countries and competing on behalf of their universities: there will be players and teams from Poland, Turkey, Croatia, Czechia, France, Slovakia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Morocco, and Egypt.
UNIVERSITY Esports Masters is an initiative organised since 2016 by UNIVERSITY Esports, GGTech Entertainment’s global grassroots platform dedicated to esports in the university landscape. This 2026 edition is also possible thanks to the support of Riot Games and more than 10 national esports organisations.
In the words of Joshua Williams, UNIVERSITY Esports Global Director: ”We are incredibly proud to celebrate the tenth anniversary of UNIVERSITY Esports Masters. During this time we have provided students passionate about esports the opportunity to compete at a higher level, providing them with invaluable international experience and memories that will last far beyond their time at university. This directly feeds into our mission of giving participants the chance to represent their country and university, compete against the best, and use esports to enable new experiences.”
Dates, prizes. and more key information
The road to the top of EMEA university esports has already begun. The future champions of the 2026 UEM are currently immersed in their respective national qualifiers, which will conclude in mid-June. Once the teams advancing to the international stage have been decided, they will compete according to the following schedule:
- League of Legends: July 25th and 26th.
- VALORANT: July 11th and 12th.
Beyond emerging as champions of the 2026 UEM edition, winning teams in League of Legends and VALORANT will be awarded with a total prize pool of €2,000 (€1,000 per game).
The current status of the esports industry in the EMEA region
The esports industry across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) has experienced sustained growth in recent years, becoming one of the most dynamic segments of the digital entertainment market. In 2025, the EMEA esports market generated an estimated revenue of approximately €2.3 billion, driven primarily by sponsorships, advertising, media rights, and streaming platforms.
The United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Spain remain among the region’s most established esports markets, while countries such as Turkey, Jordan, and Morocco are gaining momentum through expanding gaming communities, growing esports infrastructure, and increasing participation in regional and international competitions. Across EMEA, esports continue to strengthen their position as a mainstream form of entertainment, playing an increasingly important role in the future of sports, media, and digital culture.