London Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced his ambition to make the British capital one of the world's leading destinations for hosting esports events. The statement comes as the city hosts the major VALORANT Masters London 2026 tournament.
As part of this strategy, Sadiq Khan visited the Red Bull Gaming Sphere entertainment complex in Tokyo alongside representatives of the London-based esports organization Fnatic and their commercial partners from Sony. The visit followed the publication of the new "London Esports Opportunity Report," which outlines the future of the industry in the capital and ways to attract new investment.
London City Hall noted that the global esports market has experienced rapid growth over the past decade and is projected to expand from $2 billion to nearly $10 billion by 2033. The report highlights the significant economic impact of such events on the city: the 2024 League of Legends World Championship Final at the O2 Arena generated £12 million for London's economy, while the three-day BLAST Premier London Open at OVO Arena Wembley in 2025 generated approximately £30 million.
To strengthen the city's position, the future 25,000-seat London Colosseum arena, which is primarily being built for the NBA, is being designed from the outset to meet the technical requirements for esports events. The authorities' goal is not only to attract major international championships, but also to expand the industry's permanent presence in the city.
As a reminder, the Ukrainian national team failed to qualify for ENC 2026 in League of Legends.
