IESF WES26 in Busan: What Is on the Agenda, and Who Is Attending?

The global esports industry is entering another period of structural change, making conversations between federations, teams, policymakers, academics, and commercial operators increasingly important. Against that backdrop, the 11th World Esports Summit (WES26) will take place in Busan, South Korea, on October 7 and 8, 2026.

Organised by the International Esports Federation (IESF), the summit is positioned as a meeting point for stakeholders across the global esports ecosystem. IESF currently represents more than 150 member nations, giving WES26 access to a network that extends well beyond individual tournament organisers or game publishers.

Background and History: From GEES to WES

The roots of World Esports Summit go back to the Global Esports Executive Summit (GEES). IESF says GEES began in 2015 as a platform bringing esports and traditional sports stakeholders together for discussion, education, and industry development. By 2021, the summit was already bringing representatives from more than 100 IESF member federations together, with discussions covering governance, education, inclusion, and the future relationship between esports and traditional sport.

The Global Esports Executive Summit (GEES) rebranded to the World Esports Summit (WES) in 2022. The 7th edition, held in Busan in 2022, was the first to use the World Esports Summit (WES22) title.

The 10th edition (WES25) was held in Busan in February 2026 and featured more than 40 speakers from federations, publishers, global brands, sports organisations, technology companies and public institutions.

WES26 therefore continues a format built over more than a decade: bringing people who normally operate in different parts of esports into the same discussions.

WES 2026's Focus: From Industry Growth to Sustainable Development

IESF's messaging for WES26 emphasises bringing the global esports community together to exchange ideas, share perspectives and shape what comes next. The programme reflects that approach by moving into practical questions around grassroots development, youth participation, health, integrity and the relationship between professional esports and the wider community. One of the clearest themes is the industry's development pipeline.

Rather than a single session, a series of dedicated "Esports for Youth" sessions co-hosted with the KISS UNESCO Chair will span both days, featuring panels such as "Youth Voice," "Youth & Leaders Dialogue," and "Busan Youth Statement on Esports". These sessions will examine education, participation, development and wellbeing.

Another discussion explicitly asks, "What are we leaving behind as Esports grows?", placing greater attention on the social and structural consequences of commercial expansion. Health, wellbeing, and integrity will also receive specific attention. An announced WES26 panel brings together representatives from the IESF Athletes Committee, Korea Anti-Doping Agency, E-DUCATION, an independent specialist, and sports-law firm Influxio Avocats to discuss player wellbeing, mental health, anti-doping and safer competitive environments.

Bridging the Gap: The WES26 Lineup

The value of WES26 comes partly from the range of people involved. The announced programme already shows several distinct groups:

• Federations and governance: IESF and regional and national esports representatives form the institutional side of the summit. IESF's 150-plus member network gives this group a genuinely international scope.
• Teams and commercial operators: The WES Conversations include Won Joon Choi of T1, Nicole Minkyung Choi of Gen.G and Kedeng Le of All Gamers, alongside Mike Sullivan of the Veteran Experience Project.
• Athlete welfare, integrity and law: Contributors including Purity Muiruri, Listiyani Siegit, Sungwon Lee, Hankuk Na and Maria Berrada will bring perspectives from athlete representation, education, anti-doping and legal practice.
• Education and research: The KISS UNESCO Chair and other academic and educational stakeholders are involved in sessions examining youth development, learning and the wider social role of esports.

Check out the full lineup of speakers at WES26 below.

Why World Esports Summit 2026 Matters

WES26 is important because the IESF's role extends beyond staging competitions. The federation describes its mission in terms of international cooperation, athlete development, fair play, and global standards, while its event structure combines World Championships with governance and stakeholder programmes.

That makes the summit different from a conventional esports business conference. The World Esports Championship is where players compete. WES is where federations, organisers, teams, policymakers, researchers and other stakeholders discuss the systems around that competition.

The timing also matters. In late August 2026, the IESF announced that it had settled all outstanding financial obligations and is completely debt-free. IESF also revealed the host locations for its upcoming events: the 2026 World Esports Championships (WEC26) in Indonesia, and the 2027 World Esports Championships (WEC27) in Astana, Kazakhstan.2026 World Esports Summit aka WES26's focus on grassroots pathways, youth, health, and integrity suggests that the conversation is moving beyond simply growing the number of tournaments.

For the global esports industry, the most useful signal from Busan may therefore come from what stakeholders agree needs to be built around competitive gaming, not just from announcements made on the stage. With more than a decade of history behind the summit and more than 150 IESF member nations represented within its wider network, WES26 provides a rare meeting point between the institutional and commercial sides of esports.