20,000 Sports for All Enthusiasts Compete as the 2026 National Sports for All Festival Kicks Off in Gimhae

by Lee Seryeong

Published 25 Apr.2026 16:32(KST)

The 2026 National Sports for All Festival, a nationwide gathering for sports club members, kicked off on the afternoon of April 24 at the Gimhae Sports Complex in Gyeongnam.

This year’s festival, held under the theme “A Festival of Inspiration and Unity in Gyeongnam,” brought together around 20,000 athletes from teams representing all 17 metropolitan and provincial regions across the country.

These athletes will compete in 41 different events-including soccer, baseball, and badminton-at 60 venues across 15 cities and counties in Gyeongnam, centered around Gimhae, through April 26.

The opening ceremony of the 2026 National Sports for All Festival is taking place at Gimhae Sports Complex in Gimhae City, Gyeongnam Province. <br>Photo by Gyeongnam Province

The opening ceremony of the 2026 National Sports for All Festival is taking place at Gimhae Sports Complex in Gimhae City, Gyeongnam Province.
Photo by Gyeongnam Province

The opening ceremony was held under the vision of “Korea Running Forward Again with Gyeongnam.” It began with pre-ceremony performances by pianist Park Haewon and the fusion band DNS Musician, followed by the official ceremony, a themed performance, and a congratulatory concert.

The main themed performance, “Sports for All in Gyeongnam: Would You(우주) Like Gyeongnam,” captured the narrative of Gyeongnam and was presented in four acts.

The first act featured a dance performance in which the daily routines of people in various professions transformed into scenes of sports for all, delivering the message that “sports for all is for everyone.”

The second act celebrated Gyeongnam’s natural beauty and cultural heritage-such as Jirisan, Gayasan, and the Jinhae Naval Port Festival-through a performance that combined choir, choreography, and stage direction.

The third act combined media art and contemporary dance to depict Gyeongnam’s future as the heart of the aerospace industry, soaring toward space and the world stage.

In the final fourth act, renowned athlete Lee Mangi, who hails from Gyeongnam, took the stage to sing the “Song of Hope” together with the cast.

The subsequent congratulatory concert featured popular singers, including An Seonghun, Enoch, Oh Yujin, and Lee Sang Band. The festivities concluded with a spectacular fireworks display that lit up the night sky over Gimhae.

Gyeongnam Province Governor Park Wansu delivers a welcoming speech at the opening ceremony of the 2026 National Sports for All Festival. [Photo by Gyeongnam Province]

More than 8,000 people attended the opening ceremony-including Governor Park Wansoo, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-yeong, Korean Sport & Olympic Committee President Yoo Seungmin, athletes from across the country, and local citizens-to cheer on the four days of spirited competition.

Governor Park expressed his delight, saying, “I am very pleased to welcome sports for all enthusiasts from across the nation to Gimhae, a city where the vibrant spirit of the 2,000-year-old Gaya civilization still lives and breathes.” He emphasized, “Gyeongnam will further advance as a mecca for sports for all, where anyone can enjoy sports anywhere.”

He continued, “Gyeongnam is now transforming beyond its beautiful nature-such as Jirisan and the southern coastline-and emerging as the heart of the aerospace industry, soaring out into the world and into space. I hope this festival, held in Gyeongnam-the powerful engine that is driving Korea’s economy forward-will serve both as a venue for unity and as a decisive turning point for Korea’s renewed momentum.”

Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongsangnam-do Province (right), is meeting and encouraging athletes at the opening ceremony of the 2026 National Life Sports Festival. [Photo by Gyeongsangnam-do]

Prior to this event, Gyeongnam Province successfully hosted the 2024 National Sports Festival and the 2025 National Youth Sports Festival, marking three consecutive years of hosting large-scale national sports events.

The provincial government is putting its utmost effort into ensuring this festival is conducted safely and comfortably, and plans to continue expanding infrastructure for sports for all and providing customized support in the future.