- “Esports Championships Asia Jinju 2026” to Be Held April 24–26, Marking the Largest-Ever Asia-Wide National-Team Esports Tournament with Seven Participating Countries

- Top National-Level Players Across Seven Titles, Including Asian Games Events PUBG Mobile and Street Fighter 6

“Esports Championships Asia Jinju 2026,” hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister CHAE Hwi-young, MCST) and co-organized by the Korea e-Sports Association (KeSPA), Gyeongsangnam-do Province, and Jinju City, will take place at Jinju Arena in Gyeongsangnam-do from April 24 (Friday) to April 26 (Sunday). The tournament will bring together approximately 150 participants, including players and officials, from seven Asian countries. With an expanded pool of participating countries, this edition marks the largest-ever Asia-wide national-team esports tournament to date.

Korea Leads Expansion Beyond East Asia to the Wider Asian Region

Seven Titles Including Asian Games Events; Eternal Return Debuting as an Official Event

The “Esports Championships Asia” is an official national-team esports tournament launched in 2021 through trilateral government cooperation among Korea, China, and Japan. Korea has hosted three previous editions, playing a leading role in the tournament’s growth. Now in its sixth edition, the competition expands beyond East Asia to the broader Asian region. As the participating national esports associations are officially recognized governing bodies—most of which are authorized by their respective National Olympic Committees to select national teams—this edition is expected to further solidify the tournament’s standing as a premier national-team esports competition in Asia.

This year’s tournament will feature six official events. These include three fighting game titles selected as medal events for the “20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026” to be held in September—Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, and The King of Fighters XV—along with the eFootball (PC and mobile), PUBG Mobile, and the Korean-developed title Eternal Return. In addition, the Korean-developed K-pop dance AI platform STEPIN has been included as a demonstration event, bringing the total to seven events. Eternal Return, making its debut as an official event, has recently been rapidly expanding its domestic esports fan base and is expected to be one of the tournament’s key highlights.

Held in the lead-up to the 2026 Asian Games, the tournament will feature top-tier players representing each participating country. The Republic of Korea has also assembled a national squad composed of strong contenders for the Asian Games, positioning this tournament as a preview of the Asian Games.

Global Live Broadcast and a Diverse Lineup of Esports Cultural Events

The tournament will be broadcast live worldwide via Disney+, SOOP, and YouTube. During the event period, a wide range of accompanying events will offer visitors the opportunity to experience esports culture, including experience zones, pop-up stores, and a cosplay parade. Further details are available on the official tournament website at eca2026.kr.