UK Launches International Defence Esports Games for 2026

After recognizing esports as a “military sport,” the United Kingdom has formally announced, on Nov. 21, the International Defence Esports Games 2026 (IDEG26), with personnel from ‘40 allied nations.' The initiative is aimed at advancing the military's cyber and digital skills, necessary for modern warfare. 

The program, in partnership with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and founding partner British Esports, will see armed forces personnel compete across four digital and simulation-based titles, including Call of Duty and VelociDrone. 

Apart from British Esports, the launch event was supported by Babcock International, the founding mission partner and BAE Systems, while the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provided thorough coverage to personnel across allied nations. Global advertising firm M&C Saatchi joined the initiative as a founding partner of IDEG26.

While the full game roster has not been disclosed, the finals are scheduled for Oct. 9-11, 2026, at Sunderland’s National Gaming and Esports Arena, as a collaborative effort between British Esports and U.K. Cyber and Specialist Operations Command (CSOC). According to the former, there will be online qualifiers, selecting the top eight countries before the finals.

Vision Behind IDEG26

IDEG26 is intended to act as a global platform for digital-skills development across partner nations, marking one of the most structured attempts by any defence ministry to integrate esports into military training pipelines. U.K. Minister for Veterans and People, Louise Sandher-Jones, stated that “lessons from Ukraine have shown how gaming technology can train drone operators and develop the rapid decision-making skills essential for modern warfare,” to underscore the importance of IDEG26. 

He added that “the nature of war is changing,” with contemporary warfare demanding swift digital decision-making, proficiency in drone operations, and cyber capabilities. The press release stated that the U.K. alone observes 90,000 cyberattacks annually, and gaming-driven simulations can develop competencies relevant to drone piloting and digital threat response to secure the country’s military capabilities. 

Echoing the statement, Deputy Commander of CSOC, General Sir Tom Copinger-Symes, added, “The International Defence Esports Games represent a significant step forward in developing the cyber and digital skills” that will strengthen military readiness across the allied forces in domains where conventional training alone is insufficient.

Chester King, the President of British Esports, informed that the initiative is already making an impact on other nations, with the USA and Australia showing interest in hosting IDEG27.