Can London become the esports capital of the world?
23 June 2026
Los Angeles, Paris, Seoul, Shanghai. Those are a few of the cities who have presented themselves as (potential) “esports capitals of the world” and London might soon join that list. Not as the capital for esports in the UK, but at a global level. At least, that is what Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, recently said. The Labour man was visiting the Red Bull Gaming Sphere in Tokyo last week, accompanied by representatives from UK esports organisation Fnatic, where he shared his enthusiasm and ambitions for London’s esports potential, as well as big plans for the city.
Recognising growth
As part of Khan’s visit to Tokyo in the company of Fnatic, the London Assembly also released a statement. In that statement, they are announcing a report which will look into turning London into a global esports powerhouse. Besides financial gain, they also see considerable value in terms of opportunities for young people and schools in the city.
“Esports is experiencing phenomenal growth across the globe and I am determined for London to be at the heart of this success”, says Khan, “We have already hosted one of the biggest and most popular esports events in the world, but I want us to be leading the way by hosting major events regularly and developing the talent of the future. That’s why we commissioned this report to look at what more can be done to support the industry. It was an honour to visit Fnatic in Tokyo today to see the success this London-based company is experiencing and discuss the huge potential that this industry has for both of our cities and countries.”
Esports in London
As Khan himself mentioned in the quote above, London is not starting from scratch when it comes to esports in the UK. Several major esports events and tournaments have been organised in the British capital in the past few years, including the League of Legends World Championship Final at the O2 Arena in 2024. A year later, the equally impressive OVO Arena Wembley hosted the prestigious 2025 BLAST Premier London Open. One of the pillars of London’s esports ambitions is to bring more of this type of super esports events to the city.
Excited for the future
The recent statements by Sadiq Khan and the London Assembly are naturally good news for esports in the UK, and especially for the London-based organisations and initiatives. The general consensus is that London has what it takes to become a global capital of esports, including the infrastructure, the fans and steadily more government-related support.
“London has the potential to be one of the world’s leading esports hubs, with the talent, creativity and infrastructure to compete for this incredible audience and community on a global stage”, says Georgina Macauley, Marketing Director at Fnatic, “As a London-headquartered organisation with a growing international presence, including in Japan, we welcome the Mayor’s ambition to strengthen the capital’s position as a global centre for esports and create more opportunities for the next generation of talent."