Mayor sets ambition to place London at the heart of global esports as new report sets out exciting future for industry

• Multi-billion esports market is growing rapidly and the Mayor is determined for London to be a global esports capital
• New report sets out an exciting future for esports in London to attract more major events and international companies, and increase opportunities for young people
• Mayor visits the Red Bull Gaming Sphere Tokyo with London’s successful esports company Fnatic, and their partners Sony, to discuss the growth of the industry and the huge future potential

 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan today set out his ambition for London to be at the heart of global esports, as a new report detailed how London’s fast-growing industry can attract more major events, investment and opportunities for young people.

 

Esports has grown into a multi-billion global industry over the last decade, and is predicted to be grow from $2bn to nearly $10bn by 2033 (1). It is one of the fastest-growing forms of entertainment globally and reaches an audience of more than 640 million people worldwide (2).

 

The UK’s esports market has been growing rapidly with London at the centre of this success, attracting companies from around the world and hosting some of the world’s biggest events.

 

The Mayor is determined for London to be at the forefront of the industry globally, and build on the success of the capital hosting a series of high profile events. London is currently hosting the VALORANT Masters Tour at the Copper Box Arena at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

 

This follows the huge success of the League of Legends World Championship Final at the O2 in 2024, which contributed more than £12m to the economy (3) and reached an audience of 50m worldwide (4). While the three-day BLAST Premier London Open at OVO Arena Wembley in 2025 reached more than 89m global viewers across more than 100 territories, generating an economic impact estimated to be around £30m for London (5).

 

Today the Mayor visited the Red Bull Gaming Sphere Tokyo with London’s successful esports company Fnatic, and their partners Sony, to discuss Fnatic’s growth in Japan and the huge potential of the industry. Fnatic was founded in London in 2004 and has grown to become one of the most successful esports groups in the world. Since entering the Japanese market in 2020, Fnatic has invested in local teams, Japanese-language content, community engagement and commercial partnerships to help grow the market. A Red Bull Gaming Sphere opened in Shoreditch earlier this year as the UK’s largest public esports studio.

 

The visit comes as a new report, by Arena Consultancy and commissioned by City Hall, sets out an exciting future for esports in London, detailing how the capital can be a global centre for the industry by attracting more major events and international companies, and increasing opportunities for young people.

 

The recommendations, which cover a range of partners, include:

 

• Collaborating with global organisations to bring more large-scale events to London.
• Bringing together employers, education providers and young people to tackle skills gaps and create more opportunities.
• Expanding access to esports careers through schools, apprenticeships and training providers.
• Bringing together universities and employers to build partnership and talent pipelines.

 

The Mayor has shown his commitment to both the gaming and esports industries over the last 10 years, including providing £3.5m to support the work of Games London, to grow the capital’s games industry. Through his work with London & Partners, Sadiq has already helped to bring esports events to London and City Hall has held panel discussions with key industry leaders and Fnatic about the potential of the industry.

 

The Mayor’s visit today was part of Sadiq’s trade mission to Singapore and Tokyo, Japan, banging the drum for the capital as a place to invest and developing cultural links. Over five days, Sadiq is meeting with political, business and cultural leaders to promote London, working to drive trade and investment across critical sectors including finance, tech, real estate, sport and the creative industries.

 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Esports is experiencing phenomenal growth across the globe and I am determined for London to be at the heart of this success. 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.”

 

Georgina Macauley, Marketing Director at Fnatic, said: “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. 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."

 

Robbie Douek, CEO of BLAST, said: "London has firmly established itself as one of the world's top destinations for live events and competitive gaming. The city combines world-class venues, outstanding infrastructure, global connectivity and one of the most diverse and creative populations anywhere in the world. At BLAST, we've seen first-hand the appetite for major esports events in London, from packed arenas and passionate fans to the significant economic impact these events can generate for local businesses and communities. This report highlights a huge opportunity. By continuing to invest in talent, education, innovation and live experiences, London can strengthen its position as a global esports capital, attracting international events, creating new jobs and inspiring the next generation to build careers across one of the world's fastest-growing entertainment industries."

 

John Needham, President of Publishing and Esports at Riot Games, said: “There’s something special about bringing esports to London—the passion from fans, the atmosphere in the arena, and the way the city continues to embrace these events. What we experienced during the League of Legends World Championship Final in 2024 was incredible, and we're excited to be back for VALORANT Masters. London has delivered unforgettable experiences for players, teams, and fans, while helping introduce esports to new audiences around the world. We're grateful for our partnership with the city and excited about the role London can continue to play in shaping the future of global esports.”

 

Simon McCaugherty, Director of the Experience Economy at London & Partners, said: "London is the place to be for esports. We've already hosted some of the biggest events in the world, including the League of Legends World Championship Final and BLAST Premier London. Our city has all the ingredients to help this industry grow even further with access to huge event going audiences, big brand partnerships, and an excellent talent pipeline. There is huge enthusiasm for esports across the capital, and this new report sets out how we can build on that momentum by attracting more major international esports events to the city."

 

Shazia Hussain, CEO London Legacy Development Corporation, the organisation behind Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, said: ‘’As an innovation district at the heart of London’s growing esports sector, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is proud to showcase the opportunities highlighted in this report. From events at Copper Box Arena, to Sports Interactive at Here East, to the emerging talent at the College of esports - the Park brings together the ingredients needed to support the sector’s continued growth. By creating new pathways into skills and careers and connecting businesses, communities and cultural organisations, we are helping to open doors for Londoners.’’