Spring 2026 Archives - Esports Trade Association

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The Association

Who we are & what we do

Our mission, vision, and the team behind ESTA

Specialized groups tackling key industry challenges

Recognizing excellence across the industry

Foundation

Philanthropic and educational initiatives

About The Foundation

Strengthening Our Community

Esports Academy

Structured learning paths for industry professionals

About ESTA

The Voice of Competitive Gaming

Representing the leading organizations shaping the future of the industry.

100+

Member Companies

8

Active Committees

Media

Year-round content & publishing

Quarterly print & digital edition

Monthly industry roundup, straight to your inbox

Conversations with esports leaders & innovators

Conference

The premier B2B annual

EsportsNext 2026

Apr 29–30 · Botanic Gardens, Fort Worth TX

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Past Conferences

Archives, session recordings & recaps

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EsportsNext 2026

Two transformative days. Join 100+ esports leaders in Fort Worth, TX.

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Education & professional growth

Esports Academy

Strengthening Our Community

Industry Research

Reports, data, and market intelligence

Official announcements from ESTA

Connect

Opportunities & networks

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Latest Research

The Great Disconnect

Our new white paper uncovers the strategic challenges facing North American esports — and actionable strategies to strengthen talent pipelines, partnerships, and career readiness.

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Members

Explore who's in the network

Member Directory

Browse and connect with ESTA member organizations

Member Spotlights

Featuring members doing exceptional work

Everything you need to know about membership

Engage

Events & live programming

Casual regional gatherings for the ESTA network

Monthly live programming with industry guests

Pitch your company to the broader ecosystem

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Connect with 300+ organizations, access exclusive research, and shape the future of competitive gaming.

Magazine Newsletter

Spring 2026

Spring 2026

The Spring 2026 issue of EsportsNext Magazine examines how competitive gaming is moving beyond potential — and into demonstrated, measurable results.

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BLAST Set the Bar for Esports in North America — All $102 Million of It

BLAST didn’t just break records in Austin — it wrote the playbook for what esports can do to a city’s economy.

Features

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2026 Esports Industry Awards

The 2026 ESTA Esports Industry Awards shine a spotlight on the organizations and individuals proving that competitive gaming — built with intention and integrity — is one of the most exciting spaces in sports and entertainment.

The 2026 ESTA Member Directory

The people building competitive gaming are one search away.

Spotlights

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Press Start on Peoria

How One CVB Is Putting a Midwest City on the Esports Map

We Are the Audience

How POV Gaming Is Winning Brands the Trust of Gamers

From Controller to Career

How One Educator Is Building Esports’ Next Workforce

Game On for Good

How Children’s Health Is Turning Play Into Purpose

Rapid Intel

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Playing It Safe Has Never Been More Complicated

From scam detection to AI coaching, two innovators reveal how technology is protecting players—and helping them thrive.

Scotland Loves Gaming. Its Institutions Haven’t Gotten the Memo

The slow, deliberate work of building a regional esports ecosystem — and why getting it right matters more than getting it fast.

The Use of Real-time AI Analytics in Esports

How AI is turning esports’ greatest untapped resource—its own data—into the foundation for a new era of competition, coaching, and careers.