The 2026 Asia Esports Championship (ECA 2026) wrapped up after three days of competition held at Jinju Indoor Gymnasium in South Gyeongsang Province from the 24th to the 26th.The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism hosted the international tournament, which was co-organized by the Korea Esports Association, South Gyeongsang Province and Jinju City. About 160 players and officials from seven Asian countries — South Korea, China, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines and Mongolia — participated, and roughly 5,700 spectators attended the event, signaling strong public interest.
Back in Korea for the first time in three years, the tournament set a record for participation with seven nations and was broadcast to more than 50 countries, underscoring its growing international profile. Teams also treated the event as a crucial tune-up ahead of the 2026 Aichi–Nagoya Asian Games to gauge regional competitiveness.
Seven titles were contested: PUBG Mobile, eFootball, Eternal Return, Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, The King of Fighters XV and Steppin. Athletes competed fiercely for national pride and podium finishes.
At the closing ceremony, organizers handed out medals and announced the overall standings. Host nation South Korea claimed top honors with 2,625 points — its first overall title since the competition began. Korea placed second in both the fighting-game division and PUBG Mobile, earning 500 points in each, and dominated Steppin by taking first and second in the singles and first in the team event for an additional 625 points.
Korea sealed the overall victory by winning Eternal Return, which added another 1,000 points. The champions received the trophy and prize money of 17,900,000 KRW (approximately $13,425). Vietnam and Japan finished second and third overall, respectively.
Off the competition floor, the event featured a K-Culture Festival that blended esports with local cultural tourism. Highlights included a cosplay parade, game OST performances, a silk-lantern exhibition, a game-character lantern photo zone and tea-culture experiences — drawing attention as a fresh model for regional cultural events.
A Jinju city official said the tournament confirmed the potential for international exchange and cultural tourism through esports, and the city plans to continue expanding related programming.
Meanwhile, Kim Young-man, president of the Korea Esports Association, said the association is considering hosting the KeSPA Cup — the national team selection tournament — in Jinju, sparking interest in whether the city could emerge as a major esports hub.
