British Esports’ dedicated gaming and esports facility to open in 2026

British Esports has announced that its dedicated video gaming and e-sports arena in Sunderland will open in 2026. The project, driven by the national esports body, was given the green light after funding for the facility was approved.

The 15,000-square-meter venue will be custom-built to host a range of live events, including esports tournaments and “immersive audience experiences.” The facility will feature a 200-seat theater, as well as content and editing studios.

According to British Esports, the arena is the first of its kind to be built in Europe and will serve as a training and education center for players wishing to practice in conditions similar to those found at live e-sports events.

This is our St George’s Park for eSports, a national venue with world-class performance spaces that will help train the next generation of eSports talent and help grow the region to become a key leader in eSports in the UK. This important development marks another crucial step in British Esports’ mission to promote the development of grassroots eSports and the performance of elite athletes across the country and globally.

Andy Payne OBE, Chairman of British Esports

Work on the venue, located next to the National Esports Performance Campus in Sunderland, is due to start in September, with the facility scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2026.