🎮 2026 Korea National e-Festival for Students with Disabilities — September Finals at Vivaldi Park
Korea's biggest inclusive e-sports tournament is heading to Vivaldi Park in September! 🎮 The 2026 National e-Festival for Students with Disabilities holds its grand finals September 8–9 at Sono Calm Vivaldi Park, Hongcheon — 15 competition categories across IT skills and e-sports, 3,000+ competitors from 17 provinces, and ambassador Dean performing at the event. Here's the full guide: categories, how to attend, and how to get to Vivaldi Park from Seoul. ✨
※ This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you.
※ Check the official website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
The 2026 National e-Festival for Students with Disabilities (전국 장애학생 e페스티벌) is Korea's largest digital and e-sports competition for students enrolled in special education programs. Co-hosted by the National Institute of Special Education (NISE), the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), and co-organized with the Netmarble Cultural Foundation — which has been a continuous partner since 2009 — the event brings together competitors from all 17 of Korea's provincial school systems. The 2026 finals are held September 8 (Tuesday) and 9 (Wednesday) at Sono Calm Vivaldi Park, Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, under the inspiring theme "Opening Up a World with AI — Infinite Possibilities." Ambassador Dean, an internationally recognized Korean R&B and soul artist, has been appointed as the event's honorary ambassador for 2026.
About the Event: Why This Matters
This festival is one of Korea's most significant events in the inclusive digital education space. Its purpose extends well beyond competition — the event is designed to leverage the engagement and motivational power of gaming and digital technology to build self-esteem, technical skills, and healthy leisure habits among students with disabilities. The competition format spans everything from document creation and presentation software to live e-sports matches in popular game titles, mirroring real-world digital literacy demands. After more than 3,000 students and teachers competed in regional preliminaries held from May 27 to July 10, the finalists representing each province now converge at Vivaldi Park.Competition Categories: IT Contest & E-Sports
The 2026 competition is organized across two broad tracks. The IT Information Contest covers categories including document creation, presentation design, multimedia production, and robot coding — skills directly applicable to modern education and employment. The E-Sports Tournament covers popular titles including FC Online (newly added for 2026 as an official category), MAGUMAGU Remastered, and Everybody's Marble, alongside other game titles. This year's expansion from 10 to 11 e-sports categories reflects the growing recognition of competitive gaming as a skill domain accessible to all students.
📊 2026 National e-Festival for Students with Disabilities — At a Glance
Korea's Largest Inclusive Digital & E-Sports Competition Finals
Co-hosted by NISE and KOCCA, with Netmarble Cultural Foundation. All 17 Korean provinces represented. Regional preliminaries (May–July) concluded; finals held in-person at Vivaldi Park, Gangwon.
Finals Dates: Tuesday, September 8 – Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Venue: Sono Calm Vivaldi Park, 262 Vivaldi Park-ro, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Province
Participants: Special education students, winners of 17 provincial preliminaries
Categories: IT Information Contest (18 categories) + E-Sports Tournament (11 categories)
Hosts: National Institute of Special Education (NISE) + Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA)
Ambassador: Dean (Korean R&B artist)
Preliminary registration is closed. Finals observation may be possible — check NISE official channels.
Key Info: Korea e-Festival for Students with Disabilities 2026
September 8 – September 9, 2026
Sono Calm Vivaldi Park, Hongcheon, Gangwon-do. IT contest (document creation, coding, multimedia) + e-sports (FC Online, MAGUMAGU, more). Awards ceremony on September 9. Preliminary registration closed — contact NISE (nise.go.kr) for observer access information.
How to Get to Sono Calm Vivaldi Park from Seoul
Sono Calm Vivaldi Park is located in Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Province — approximately 1.5–2 hours from Seoul by car or express bus. By Express Bus (Most Common): From Dong-Seoul Bus Terminal (동서울터미널, accessible via Metro Line 2 → Gangbyeon Station) or Gangnam Express Bus Terminal, take an express bus to Hongcheon (홍천). Journey time is approximately 1.5 hours, fare around 12,000–15,000 KRW. From Hongcheon Bus Terminal, take a local taxi to Vivaldi Park (approximately 20–30 minutes, 15,000–20,000 KRW). Vivaldi Park also operates its own shuttle bus service from select Seoul pickup points — check the Vivaldi Park official website for the current schedule. By Car: Take the Seoul-Yangyang Expressway and exit at Donghongcheon IC. Vivaldi Park is approximately 15 minutes from the exit. From Incheon Airport: Take Airport Bus or AREX to Seoul Station, then transfer to express bus as above. Total journey approximately 2.5–3 hours.Competition Schedule & Prize Overview
The two-day finals program begins on September 8 with opening ceremony, preliminary rounds, and IT contest heats. September 9 features e-sports semifinals and finals, IT category finals, and the awards ceremony. Based on 2025 regional preliminary prize data, e-sports first place received a 350,000 KRW (~$260 USD) cultural gift voucher; second place 200,000 KRW; third place 100,000 KRW per team. Finals-level prizes are expected to be higher — exact amounts are confirmed via official NISE announcements.Tips for International Visitors Interested in This Event
While this event is primarily designed for participating students and their teacher escorts, it is a remarkable event for anyone interested in inclusive technology, Korean e-sports culture, or special education innovation. Observer access is possible subject to official confirmation — contact the National Institute of Special Education at nise.go.kr for observer guidelines. English-speaking contact may also be made through the Netmarble Cultural Foundation's public communications team. For those combining a Vivaldi Park visit with the event, the resort itself offers one of Korea's most complete year-round facilities: a water park, ski slopes, a spa, and extensive convention spaces. Gangwon Province outdoor experiences — river rafting on the Hongcheon River, hiking near Suta Temple (수타사), and the stunning Seoraksan National Park further east — can round out a 2–3 day Gangwon itinerary beautifully. For more mountain adventures in Korea, check out the Seoraksan Cable Car 2026 guide — a spectacular scenic ride near Sokcho, approximately 1.5 hours east of Vivaldi Park. Also, for camping in the region, the Tohamsan Camping 2026 guide is a helpful reference for nature-based accommodation options across Korea.IT Contest vs E-Sports Tournament: A Comparison
| IT Information Contest | E-Sports Tournament | |
|---|---|---|
| Core Skills | Document creation, presentations, coding | Competitive game titles |
| Number of Categories | 18 categories | 11 categories |
| Format | Individual/team skill submissions | Tournament brackets (1v1 or team) |
| Preliminary Period | May 27 – July 10, 2026 | May 27 – July 10, 2026 |
| Finals Venue | Sono Calm Vivaldi Park (Sep 8–9) | Sono Calm Vivaldi Park (Sep 8–9) |
Frequently Asked Questions
A. Sono Calm Vivaldi Park is one of Korea's largest resort-convention complexes, with the capacity and facilities to host hundreds of participants, support staff, and observers simultaneously across multiple competition halls. Its location in Gangwon Province also provides access to resort amenities for student participants traveling from across the country.
A. Confirmed titles include FC Online (newly added 2026 official category), MAGUMAGU Remastered, and Everybody's Marble. Additional titles across the 11 total e-sports categories are announced via the official NISE and Netmarble Cultural Foundation channels.
A. Currently, the competition is open to students enrolled in Korean special education programs under the 17 provincial school systems. For future participation opportunities or educational partnerships, contact the National Institute of Special Education at nise.go.kr.
A. The awards ceremony is scheduled for September 9, 2026 (Day 2 of the finals). Results and highlights are typically shared via the Netmarble Cultural Foundation's official website and social media channels shortly after the ceremony.
Curious about more Korean festivals & events?
View All Korea Events & Festivals →Korea travel, events, and festivals expert | 5 years of on-the-ground experience
Sharing firsthand festival visits, booking tips, and insider guides for international travelers.
koreaeventmap.jhs29.com
#KoreaEsports2026 #DisabledStudentsFestival #VivaldiPark #HongcheonKorea #InclusiveGaming #KoreaDigitalEducation #NetmarbleCulture #VisitKorea #GangwonTravel #KoreaEvents2026
