Jinju to Host '2026 Asia eSports Games'

Seven Countries to Participate,
Anticipation Builds for K-Culture Festival

An international eSports tournament featuring seven Asian countries will be held in Jinju, Gyeongnam. The city announced that the '2026 Asia eSports Games (ECA 2026)' will take place at Jinju Indoor Gymnasium and surrounding venues for three days from April 24 to 26, 2026.

This event represents a new type of international festival that combines eSports with cultural and tourism content, aiming to become a "K-Culture festival for everyone to enjoy together." Through this global tournament, the city plans to showcase Jinju's cultural charm and future-oriented urban competitiveness both domestically and internationally.

◆ National Teams from 7 Countries Compete... A Preview of the Asian Games

National teams from seven countries—Korea, China, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and Mongolia—will participate in the tournament. Notably, with the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games set for September, many top-tier athletes are expected to compete, promising matches of the highest caliber.

The six official titles are: ▲Battlegrounds Mobile ▲eFootball ▲Street Fighter 6 ▲Tekken 8 ▲The King of Fighters XV ▲Eternal Return, while the AI-powered K-pop dance platform "Stepin" will feature as a demonstration event.

[Photo provided by Jinju City] '2026 Asia eSports Games' Poster

◆ Pre-Tournament Bootcamp... Athletes from Three Countries Gather in Jinju

Prior to the main tournament, a pre-event bootcamp for national teams competing in "Eternal Return" will be held from April 17 to 23, 2026.

The bootcamp will bring together five teams and a total of 21 athletes from three countries—China, Japan, and Thailand—for joint training and scrimmages. The teams will stay at the KSPO Sports Value Center and hone their skills at the Gyeongnam eSports Permanent Stadium's PC zone.

◆ City Festival Blending eSports with Culture and Tourism

During the tournament, a variety of side events will be held in and around the venues, including ▲silk exhibitions ▲game-themed lantern photo zones ▲cosplay parades ▲traditional outdoor theater performances ▲the Jinju Youth Fringe, and more.

In addition, experience programs that connect local tourism resources will be offered for international athletes and visitors, including ▲Hanbok experiences at Jinju Fortress ▲visits to the all-night Saturday night market ▲tours of the Namgang lantern exhibition hall ▲and rides on the Kimsimin Lake cruise.

Visitors can also enjoy the flower paths and garden landscapes of Chojon Park near the Jinju Indoor Gymnasium, offering a unique cultural experience and relaxation.

◆ Boosting the Local Economy and Strengthening the Global City Brand

The city aims to use this tournament to establish a new international event model that goes beyond a "tournament to watch" to one where participants "stay and enjoy" the experience.

The influx of international athletes, officials, and spectators is expected to revitalize the local economy and enhance the value of the city’s brand. Furthermore, Jinju plans to propose a new growth model in which eSports, culture, tourism, and industry are organically interconnected.

A Jinju City official stated, "The 2026 Asia eSports Games is a new city festival unique to Jinju, combining eSports with cultural tourism, and will be an opportunity for Jinju to leap forward as a global cultural city."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.