A promotional poster for the Esports Championships Asia 2026 in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province / Courtesy of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) will host the Esports Championships Asia 2026 in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province from Friday to Sunday, officials said Thursday.
The event, to be held at Jinju Indoor Gymnasium, is co-organized by the Korea e-Sports Association, South Gyeongsang Province and the city of Jinju. About 150 participants, including players and officials from seven Asian countries, are expected to attend, making it the largest edition of the tournament since its inception.
Launched in 2021 through cooperation among Korea, China and Japan, the competition has evolved from an East Asian event into a broader Asian regional tournament. Korea has hosted the event three times and played a leading role in its expansion. Players are selected by national esports federations authorized by their respective Olympic committees, reinforcing the tournament’s status as an official national team competition.
This year’s event will feature six official titles and one demonstration event. Official competitions include three fighting games — Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8 and The King of Fighters XV — all of which are medal events at the upcoming 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Other titles include the eFootball series (PC and mobile versions), PUBG Mobile, and Eternal Return, which has been added as an official event for the first time.
Stepin, an artificial intelligence-powered K-pop dance application that provides real-time motion tracking for scoring, dance battles and challenges, will be showcased in a demonstration event.
The tournament is seen as a precursor to the 2026 Asian Games, with many participating countries expected to send top-tier players likely to compete in the continental event. Korea will also field a national team composed of leading players considered strong candidates for the Asian Games.
Matches will be broadcast globally via platforms including Disney+, SOOP and YouTube.
Organizers said the event will also feature cultural programs such as interactive experience zones, pop-up stores and cosplay parades for visitors.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
Source: Korea Times News
