The Surinamese gaming and esports community is preparing for the third edition of the Esports Suriname Convention (ESCon). The event will take place on September 25 and 26 at the Assuria Event Center. The organisation expects more than 3,000 visitors this year, compared with an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 visitors during the previous edition.
Whereas ESCon was built primarily around gaming during its first edition, the event has since grown into a broader meeting place for gamers, esports players, cosplayers, content creators, developers, artists, entrepreneurs and other enthusiasts of gaming and pop culture.
According to the organisation, the growth is reflected not only in the expected visitor numbers, but also in the event’s substantive development. ESCon 2026 will feature more gaming stations. In addition, the cosplay competition will be approached more professionally, with a jury and a selection procedure.
The prize pool for the esports competitions has also been significantly expanded. The organisation says this will allow it to further build the competitive side of the Surinamese gaming community.
New ESCon Rivals competition concept
An important addition is ESCon Rivals, a new competition concept being introduced during this edition. The organisation deliberately chose the name Rivals because it did not simply want to organise a traditional championship or competition, but wanted to establish a concept with its own identity.
ESCon Rivals will feature competition in four different games: Tekken 8, VALORANT, Rocket League and Clash Royale. According to the organisation, these titles were selected based on growing interest and the increasing number of active players around these games in Suriname.
A prize pool of SRD 30.000 is available for participants. They can also win trophies, medals and sponsor goodies. Registration for the competitions has now closed.
Cosplay given a more prominent place
Cosplay will also be given a more prominent place during ESCon 2026. A total prize pool of SRD 10.000 is available for the cosplay competition. The amount will be divided among the winners of first, second and third place.
The jury will look not only at the costume, but also at, among other things, the participants’ performance and creativity. According to the organisation, this should make the segment more than just a competition in which participants present their outfits.
Various gaming experiences
In addition to esports and cosplay, visitors can take part in various gaming activities. The programme includes virtual reality (VR), sim racing, retro gaming and console gaming.
There will also be an arcade area, and visitors will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the various exhibitors and creators attending the event.
The organisation has 21 exhibitors this year. They represent a range of sectors, from technology and retail to food and local developers. With this, ESCon aims to show that the event is not exclusively about playing games.
According to the organisation, gaming has become a broader culture in which entrepreneurship, technology, entertainment, art, content creation and development also have a place.
Gaming world has become broader
According to the organisation, this broader approach is necessary because the gaming world has changed significantly in recent years. The creative community ESCon aims to reach includes cosplayers, content creators, developers, artists and others who are active in gaming and pop culture through their own talents.
Gaming is no longer seen solely as playing a video game, but as a world in which different disciplines come together.
Although the organisation cannot provide an exact figure on the size of the Surinamese gaming and esports community, it clearly observes growth. There are increasing numbers of active players, creators and communities around different games. Interest in esports and gaming events is also increasing. ESCon sees itself as a reflection of that development.
Professionalisation at Assuria Event Center
According to the organisation, the choice of the Assuria Event Center is also part of the event’s further professionalisation. The location is centrally situated and has sufficient parking facilities.
The existing technical and logistical facilities also played an important role in the choice. The event centre has, among other things, high-speed internet, sound facilities, an LED screen, a stage and chairs. As a result, the organisation does not have to build part of the technical infrastructure entirely itself.
Platform for gaming and the creative industry
ESCon is increasingly positioning itself as a platform rather than only an annual event. The organisation wants to further promote gaming, esports and the creative industry. It also wants to show young people and other interested parties that there are various opportunities within this world, not only as a player, but also as a creator, developer or entrepreneur.
Foreign participants or guests are not on the programme this year. The organisation is primarily focused on strengthening the local community and creating an environment in which Surinamers with diverse interests and talents can meet each other.
Free admission and separate Play Pass
Admission to ESCon is free. Visitors wishing to make use of the various gaming activities can purchase a separate Play Pass. There are different options for one or two days. There are no VIP tickets for admission to the event.
For the organisation, the success of ESCon 2026 does not depend solely on visitor numbers. Although it is looking forward to growth to more than 3,000 visitors, it is at least as important, according to the organisation, that visitors have fun, meet new people from the community, and that different groups within the gaming and creative world connect with each other.
ESCon is thus increasingly developing from an event where people gather to play games into a platform on which the broader Surinamese gaming and pop culture becomes visible. In the long term, the organisation wants to continue growing and draw more attention to opportunities in gaming, esports, content creation, development and entrepreneurship.
For Issiah Roberts and the team behind ESCon, it ultimately revolves around creating a place where people can share their passion, be themselves and showcase their talent. What began as a relatively small-scale initiative must, according to the organisation, grow into an increasingly larger platform connecting different parts of the community.
