Evo France Moves to Paris for 2027 Edition

Evo France will leave Nice for Paris for its third edition on October 22-24, 2027. Organizer New Esports Org (NEO) announced the move on Sunday as the 2026 edition concluded at Nice’s Palais des Expositions.

Venue constraints drive the move

The stated reason for the relocation is space. Bertrand Amar, President of NEO, explained the decision. "We need a bigger venue because we are currently at the maximum capacity of the Palais des Expositions," he said. The move to Paris was chosen for its larger venues, superior international transport connections, and greater capacity to accommodate a growing audience. Amar stated the shift would allow the tournament to expand considerably. The specific venue for the 2027 Paris edition has not yet been announced.

Nice’s role and shifting context

The departure ends a two-year arrangement that helped establish Evo France as a major European gathering for competitive fighting games. The tournament, which brought together international players and spectators on the Côte d'Azur, had been folded into Nice's pitch as an esports city. The Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur described itself as a "major partner" for the second edition. Political changes in the city preceded the event's exit. Éric Ciotti unseated Mayor Christian Estrosi in March. Ciotti later told local media he had waged war on taxpayer-funded events but noted Evo was organized by a private structure that rented the city's venue. He stated it was an event that earned the city money. Deputy mayor Pierre Ippolito told the paper an event like Evo brings in roughly €10 million across the region. Amar thanked Nice for hosting the first two editions, which provided the basis for the tournament's next stage of development.

Organiser background and broader context

Bertrand Amar runs NEO, the company that organizes Evo France. He previously ran Webedia’s esports operations and launched the Ligue Française de League of Legends. He co-founded NEO with Matthieu Dallon. French company records show NEO was registered in Paris in December 2024 and began operating on March 1, 2026. The company raised its share capital from €42,000 to €61,000 this year. Amar has stated NEO pays for much of what it runs, providing the majority of funding itself even in partnerships. The move coincides with broader changes for the Evo brand. Evo's ownership has been restructured three times since August 2025. Qiddiya completed its acquisition of RTS, which owns the global Evo circuit, in September 2025. Stuart Saw, President of RTS, said the past two years demonstrated the strength of European demand for a tournament of this scale. The international Evo circuit is expanding with new events planned in Singapore, Morocco, and Brazil, as it prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary in Las Vegas in 2027.

Evo France’s impact and future outlook

The two Nice editions built significant momentum. Nearly 20,000 visitors and competitors from 95 countries attended Evo France in Nice. Organisers now aim to make the French edition one of the world's largest esports and community events. There is no multiyear deal with Paris, but organisers note there was none with Nice either. The 2027 Paris edition will aim to accommodate a growing audience and expand the tournament considerably.