Asian Games 2026

The 2026 Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya will bring together athletes from around the globe to compete in 41 sports in Japan’s Aichi and Nagoya prefectures from September 19 to October 4. From the speed of track and field to the precision of martial arts, this biennial multi-sport event is a celebration of athleticism, culture and unity.

The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will showcase the best of Japan with key venues such as Nippon Gaishi Hall for gymnastics, Vantelin Dome for baseball and Toyota Stadium for football, among others. A new feature this time is the ‘floating village’, where athletes will be housed in hotels and cruise ships rather than in a traditional Games Village to reduce costs and maximize the benefits of advanced sports technologies. But this move throws up a fresh challenge for athletes, as they will be housed during peak typhoon season in a country that sits on the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’.

In a much-needed boost to cricket in baseball-crazy Japan, the Olympic Council of Asia and local cricket administrators have opted to retain the sport as part of the Aichi-Nagoya programme. This decision has been hailed by cricket fans across the globe.

Esports made its debut at the Asian Games in Hangzhou 2023 and will be present again as a medal sport for the Aichi-Nagoya edition. The OCA has announced 11 esports titles for the Aichi-Nagoya Games, four more than in Hangzhou. The choices reflect the strategic balance between regional market dynamics and broadcast optimization, aligning with stringent broadcasting protocols for high-stakes international sporting events.