It's official: EVO France won't be returning to Nice in 2027. After two editions held on the Côte d'Azur, the fighting game scene's big international gathering will be setting up shop in Paris, from 22 to 24 October 2027. The decision comes down to the organisers' growing ambitions, but it inevitably leaves a slightly bitter taste after two successful outings in Nice. Because that was rather the point: seeing an event of this scale set up somewhere other than Paris felt genuinely refreshing, in a French landscape where the big competitions tend to gravitate towards the capital.
Paris is a Nice place
EVO France drew nearly 20,000 visitors to Nice this weekend, there to watch the action on Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, Fatal Fury City of the Wolves and Marvel Tokon Fighting Souls. Players and spectators from 95 countries made the trip, confirming the international pull of this versus fighting showcase. After two editions crowned with success, the organisers now want to step things up, with a bigger event and more room for competitors, exhibitors and the various activities on offer. The problem is that Nice's Palais des Expositions has hit its ceiling. Bertrand Amar, president of NEO (New Esport Org), the organisation running the event in France, explained to BFM that the available infrastructure can no longer keep pace with that growth. As things stand, the Riviera city doesn't have a larger venue capable of hosting EVO, while the future Palais des Expositions et des Congrès planned for the MIN site is still several years away.
Under those conditions, Paris looks like the logical, inescapable answer. The city has greater capacity and the kind of international accessibility that makes life easier for players and spectators alike. The timing matters too, since 2027 will mark EVO's 25th anniversary, with an edition meant to support the circuit's growth worldwide. "Our ambition is to make EVO France one of the biggest esports and community events in the world, and Paris fits that ambition perfectly," says Bertrand Amar.
A real shame for Nice, though...
Logistically, it's hard to fault the organisers for wanting to go bigger. But the decision is still a pity, because Nice had ended up giving EVO France an identity all of its own. Hosting an international competition of this size on the Côte d'Azur broke the habit and, above all, got things off the usual Paris axis, where so many of the major events are already concentrated. The setting, the sea, the sun and the temperatures (so mild at that time of year) gave the event a different flavour, without stopping players from all over the world from showing up. The move to Paris doesn't mean the story between Nice and EVO is over for good, mind. Bertrand Amar points out that no multi-year deal has been signed with the capital, just as none was signed with Nice. A return is therefore still on the cards down the line, provided the city can offer a venue that matches the event's ambitions. In the meantime, the organisers say they'd even consider a regional tournament in Nice, with the winner booking a place at EVO France.
For its part, Nice's local authority has no intention of giving up on its video game ambitions. Pierre Ippolito, deputy mayor for the cultural and creative industries, insists the city wants to keep hosting gaming and esports events. After EVO in October and a League of Legends competition in September, further projects could be announced in the coming months. According to Ippolito, an event the size of EVO generates around €10 million in economic benefit for the area.
A European ambition
The change of city also fits into a broader expansion strategy. In 2027, EVO plans to strengthen its international footprint with new stops in Singapore, Morocco and Brazil. Paris will therefore host the circuit's only European date, from 22 to 24 October. Whether the move lets the event reach another level without losing what made its first two editions so charming remains to be seen. Paris has the means to host a bigger competition, there's no denying that, but Nice had also proved that a major esports gathering can thrive outside the capital. Yes, we're sad over here at screenactu.
