The 2026 Korean Esports League (KEL), hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and co-organized by KeSPA, Krafton, Nimble Neuron, and Nexon Korea, is set to kick off on 18 April. Now in its second year, this tournament aims to foster local talent and strengthen regional competitiveness. Featuring PUBG Mobile, Eternal Return, and FC Mobile, the event has expanded to include 19 regional teams.

The 2026 KEL features three titles: PUBG Mobile, Eternal Return, and FC Mobile. A total of 19 regional teams are participating, an increase of five teams compared to last year. Breaking it down, 16 teams will compete in PUBG Mobile (including two partner teams), 16 in Eternal Return, and 12 in FC Mobile. The PUBG Mobile opening matches will be held from 18 to 19 April at the Gyeongnam Esports Stadium, followed by the FC Mobile opening matches from 16 to 17 May. Eternal Return will take place during the 2026 PlayX4 at KINTEX on 22 May as part of its Super Week.

The competition boasts a total prize pool of 150 million KRW. Specifically, PUBG Mobile offers 30 million KRW, Eternal Return 100 million KRW, and FC Mobile 20 million KRW. Winners will receive the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award, while second and third place will earn the Korea Creative Content Agency President Award and KeSPA President Award, respectively. Top PUBG Mobile teams will be granted seeds for the PUBG Mobile International Cup (BMIC), and the top two FC Mobile players will qualify to represent Korea globally. For Eternal Return, a Season 11 Team Support Package will be produced for the 16 teams, with revenue shared among participants.

Beyond sharpening players' competitive skills, KEL aims to cultivate professional talent and create jobs. Offline matches will be hosted in collaboration with esports arenas in Busan, Gwangju, Gyeongnam (Jinju), and Daejeon. The PUBG Mobile matches will serve as a selection ground for national representatives, while the FC Mobile section aims to bolster school-based esports in connection with events like the National Youth Sports Festival. Matches will be broadcast live on the official KEL channels via Naver Chzzk, SOOP, and YouTube.

When the KEL first launched in 2025, it featured 14 regional teams and 182 players. The inaugural season ran from May through October, concluding with the Eternal Return finals. The first champions were Dplus KIA for PUBG Mobile, Ahina (Yoo Chang-ho) of Jeollanam-do Dragons Esports for FC Mobile, and Seongnam ROX for Eternal Return. With around 15,000 spectators visiting the regional arenas, the event proved the potential for locally-rooted competition.

The 19 regions participating in the 2026 KEL are Busan, Daegu, Incheon, Gwangju, Daejeon, Sejong, Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Chungcheongnam-do, Jeollanam-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Gyeongsangnam-do, Jeju, Goyang, Suwon, Seongnam, Yangju, Jecheon, and Jeonju. Tournament news can be found on the official website, X, and Instagram.