2026 Gyeongju Esports Festival

9 Days When Games and Water Meet at Gyeongju Indoor Gymnasium, August 15–23

The 2026 Gyeongju Esports Festival will be held around Gyeongju Indoor Gymnasium from Saturday, August 15, to Sunday, August 23, 2026. It runs daily from 10:00 to 20:00, and the address is 29 Hwangseonggongwon-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Admission is free, making it an easy addition to a summer itinerary in Gyeongju. Korea Tourism Organization event information

On the first weekend, August 15–16, the national finals of the 18th Presidential Cup Amateur Esports Championship will take place. Eternal Return, Brawl Stars, FC Online, and League of Legends are official events, and visitors can also enjoy Puyo Puyo Esports. The opening ceremony on August 15 is scheduled for 12:00–13:00, with matches from 10:00 to 20:30. On August 16, matches will run from 10:00 to 18:30, followed by the closing ceremony from 18:30 to 19:30. Matches can be watched without separate advance reservations, and activities will include a cheer zone, game trials, and a stamp challenge visiting five booths. FC Online Presidential Cup information

The 4th National Esports Championship for People with Disabilities will follow from August 21–23. The opening ceremony on August 21 is scheduled for 17:00–18:00, matches on August 22 for 9:00–18:00, and matches on August 23 for 9:00–12:00. Seven events are scheduled, including League of Legends, FC Online, Fall Guys, Nintendo Switch Tennis, Nintendo Switch Bowling, wheelchair racing, and indoor rowing, creating an opportunity to watch different forms of competition in one venue.

Three Routes to Recommend to Foreign Friends: KeG and the Waterpool Zone

Even if you do not know much about games, there is no need to worry because the stadium and water-play areas have clearly distinct purposes. The Gyeongju Waterpool Festival operates during the same period, August 15–23, from 10:00 to 20:00. The Splash Zone features a large pool accommodating about 200 people and water bounces. In the Waterpang Zone, visitors can use water guns, water balloons, and a ball pool without reservations, although they must bring their own water gun for water-gun play. The retro arcade will feature pump games, classic games, and karaoke, while the F&B Zone is expected to sell slushies, ice cream, mukbap, and chicken skewers.

• Because Gyeongju does not have an urban railway system, it was difficult to provide directions from the nearest subway station or exit. Instead, tourist information included details about using the parking lot in front of Gyeongju Indoor Gymnasium, while the festival layout marked restrooms, showers, changing rooms, an information booth, an emergency area, and photo booths. Gyeongju Culture and Tourism Hwangseong Park information
• The English Korea Tourism Organization page provides the event dates, venue, events, and free-admission information, which was helpful for checking the schedule before departure. However, on-site English signage and interpretation services were not mentioned in the public information, so preparing a translation app made things more convenient.
• Admission is free, but purchases in the F&B Zone are separate. The available payment methods for food had not yet been announced, so it was reassuring to carry both a card and cash.
• The Splash Zone operates entirely by advance reservation, and children under 100 cm cannot use it. Bringing goggles, a swimsuit or rash guard, a towel, water shoes, and a waterproof pouch made it easier to move on to the Waterpang Zone.
• Since the event takes place around the sports facilities inside Hwangseong Park, it would be pleasant to add a leisurely walk around the park before or after enjoying the water activities.

200 People in the Splash Zone and the P2 Parking Lot: Summer Rules to Know First

The first place to head to is the Splash Zone. You can search for the Splash Zone on Ticketlink and make a reservation until 17:00 on the day before your visit. An identification document, water shoes, and a shoe-storage bag are listed as essential items. Children 100 cm or shorter must also wear a life jacket, so families should check the height restriction first. The official information states that air conditioning will be installed in the stadium and all experience booths, while shade canopies will be provided in the water-play area. Gyeongju Cultural Foundation layout and preparation information

After enjoying the water activities, you must dry all water from your clothes and body before entering to watch the indoor matches. Showers and changing rooms are marked on the map, but bringing a towel and a change of clothes separately made the route much simpler. Since the detailed match schedule may change, it is a good idea to check your preferred time slots again before setting out, such as the matches from 10:00 to 20:30 on August 15 and the opening ceremony from 17:00 to 18:00 on August 21.

If you are driving, remember that P2 is marked as parking for competing athletes and event personnel. Parking guidance for general visitors is planned near Gyeongju Indoor Gymnasium, so rather than deciding on a parking spot in advance, it was safer to follow on-site directions. Because the water-play area and the indoor gymnasium entrances are arranged separately, you can also avoid having to turn back after trying to enter the stadium in wet clothes.

From League of Legends to Water Bounces: The Verdict on Summer 2026 in Gyeongju

This festival should suit game fans who want to focus on matches on screen, travelers who want to cool off by getting wet, and people who want to cheer for esports events for people with disabilities in person. Since the Waterpool Festival connects the Presidential Cup finals from August 15–16 and the National Esports Championship for People with Disabilities from August 21–23 over nine days, you could spend one day focused on matches and another focused on water activities.

It would be especially fun if you want to add a scene of contemporary gaming culture to a trip exploring Gyeongju’s historic sites. Moving between the indoor gymnasium filled with cheering and the outdoor area filled with the sound of water guns on the same day could make midsummer Gyeongju a livelier memory.