Last Updated on 09/09/2026 by TinHN Editor
Looking for the complete guide to the Asian Games 2026 (also widely known as Asiad 2026)? Officially known as the 20th Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, this prestigious multi-sport event will showcase over 15,000 athletes competing across Japan from September 19 to October 4, 2026. Beyond continental glory, the Games serve as a major qualifier for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics (LA28). From the Asian Games 2026 opening ceremony details and star-studded rosters to venue locations, sports lists, and live broadcast channels, this comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know.
Quick Reference: Nagoya Asian Games 2026
| Dates | September 19 – October 4, 2026 |
| Host | Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, Japan |
| Nations | 46 expected |
| Sports / Events | 43 sports, 70 disciplines, 468 events |
| Main Venue | Paloma Mizuho Stadium |
| Motto | Imagine One Asia |
| Asian Para Games | October 18–24, 2026 (same venues) |
When and Where Is the Asian Games 2026?
Aichi Prefecture, with Nagoya as its capital and main hub, hosts the Games. Competition actually starts several days before the opening ceremony, so early events begin ahead of September 19. Closing ceremony is October 4.
Events are spread across 53 venues in Aichi Prefecture — including Okazaki, Toyota, Ichinomiya, Kasugai, Anjō, and Nisshin — combining new builds, renovated facilities, and temporary structures.
Full List of Sports at Nagoya Asian Games 2026
The 2026 program covers 43 sports. Alongside the core Olympic disciplines, this edition features several sports added specifically for this cycle:
- Added by Japan (host nation): Baseball/softball, karate
- Added by the OCA: Squash, esports
- Added by regional zones: Wushu, sepak takraw, kabaddi, wrestling, jujitsu
Beyond these, the program includes athletics, aquatics, gymnastics, badminton, sailing, shooting, archery, volleyball, cricket, tennis, soft tennis, weightlifting, cycling (including BMX and mountain bike), 3×3 basketball, sport climbing, mixed martial arts, and football, among others.
LA28 Olympic Qualification Picture at the Asian Games 2026
The 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya is not only a quest for Asian dominance but also a primary gateway to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28).
- Direct Olympic Quotas: Direct Olympic qualification spots for LA28 will be awarded based on performance in Archery, Hockey, Sailing, Squash, Surfing, Tennis, and Triathlon.
- Ranking Points for LA28: Athletes in Cricket, Judo, Skateboarding, Weightlifting, and Triathlon will earn critical world ranking points toward their LA28 qualification pathways.
Top World Stars Set to Shine at Asiad 2026
Asia’s powerhouse sporting nations — China, Japan, and South Korea — are set to send their top Olympic gold medalists and world champions:
- China: Headlined by world-record swimmer Pan Zhanle, gymnastics champions Zou Jingyuan and Zhang Boheng, diving star Wang Zongyuan, and top-ranked table tennis icons Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha.
- Japan (Host Nation): World No.1 badminton star Yamaguchi Akane, Olympic gymnastics gold medalists Hashimoto Daiki and Oka Shinnosuke, and silver medalist surfer Kanoa Igarashi.
- South Korea: World No.1 badminton champion An Seyoung, alongside esports legend Faker (Lee Sanghyeok) in the League of Legends tournament.
- Southeast Asia & Other Stars: Featuring Olympic gymnastics champion Carlos Yulo and pole vaulter EJ Obiena (Philippines), former world champion Loh Kean Yew and sprinter Veronica Shanti Pereira (Singapore), and world-class doubles pair Pearly Tan / Thinaah Muralitharan (Malaysia).
Asian Games 2026 Schedule: Key Dates by Sport
While most events are centered around Nagoya City and Aichi Prefecture, selected sports will utilize world-class facilities in Tokyo (Aquatics) and Izu (Track Cycling):
- Opening & Closing Ceremonies: Sept 19 & Oct 4 at Paloma Mizuho Stadium, Nagoya.
- Asian Games 2026 Cricket Schedule: Sept 17 – Oct 3 at Kōrogi Athletic Park (Nisshin), featuring the highly anticipated Asian Games 2026 India cricket squad.
- Esports & MLBB: Sept 23 – Oct 2 at Aichi Sky Expo (Tokoname), featuring 11 official medal titles including Asian Games 2026 MLBB.
- Aquatics (Swimming & Diving): Sept 20 – Sept 30 at Tokyo Aquatics Centre.
- Athletics: Sept 23 – Sept 29 at Paloma Mizuho Athletic Stadium.
- Football (Soccer): Sept 14 – Oct 3 across seven regional stadiums.
Confirmed schedules for some of the most-searched sports:
- Cricket: The Asian Games 2026 cricket schedule runs from Sept 17 – Oct 3 at Kōrogi Sports Park (Nisshin). Both men’s and women’s T20I tournaments will feature top nations, with massive anticipation surrounding the Asian Games 2026 India cricket squad as they return to defend their titles.
- Esports: Sept 23 – Oct 2, Aichi International Exhibition Center. The official lineup features 11 approved titles, with huge regional interest focused on Asian Games 2026 MLBB (Mobile Legends: Bang Bang).
- Volleyball: Sept 16 – Oct 3, venues across Aichi and Nagoya (group draw below)
- Athletics: Sept 20–25, with the marathon and other headline finals expected Sept 26–27
- Artistic gymnastics: Sept 20–24, Kasugai City Gymnasium
- Badminton: Sept 20–29, Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium
- Shooting: Sept 20 – Oct 1, Aichi Prefectural General Shooting Gallery
- Archery: Sept 26 – Oct 3, Okazaki Central Park
- Sailing: Sept 26 – Oct 3, Kaiyoh Yacht Harbor
Event-by-event timings for some marquee sessions, including sprint finals in athletics, had not been finalized as of the last official schedule update. Check the AINAGOC site closer to the Games for confirmed heats and finals.
Asian Games 2026 Cricket Schedule & Squads
Cricket at Aichi-Nagoya 2026 is a full T20 programme at Kōrogi Sports Park (Nisshin), about 15 km from central Nagoya. Matches run from 17 September to 3 October, starting two days before the Opening Ceremony. India arrive as defending champions in both events after Hangzhou 2023. Results also feed the ranking pathway toward cricket’s return at LA28. Temporary stands lift capacity to around 2,000; the ground uses turf and hybrid pitches after hosting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific qualifier earlier in 2026.
Women (8 teams, straight knockout): 17–22 September
Men (10 teams): 24 September – 3 October. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are seeded into the quarter-finals. The other six play two groups of three; the top two from each group join the seeds.
Women’s fixtures (times IST)
| Date | Match | Round | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Sep | Bangladesh vs China | Quarter-final | 5:30 AM |
| 17 Sep | Pakistan vs Thailand | Quarter-final | 10:30 AM |
| 18 Sep | Sri Lanka vs Malaysia | Quarter-final | 5:30 AM |
| 18 Sep | India vs Japan | Quarter-final | 10:30 AM |
| 20 Sep | Winner PAK/THA vs Winner SL/MAS | Semi-final | 5:30 AM |
| 20 Sep | Winner BAN/CHN vs Winner IND/JPN | Semi-final | 10:30 AM |
| 22 Sep | Bronze medal match | 3rd-place | 5:30 AM |
| 22 Sep | Gold medal match | Final | 10:30 AM |
Add 3 hours 30 minutes for Japan time (JST). India women open against hosts Japan on 18 September.
Men’s groups and fixtures (times IST)
Group A: Afghanistan, Japan, Nepal
Group B: Hong Kong China, Malaysia, Oman
Seeded: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
| Date | Match | Round | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Sep | Afghanistan vs Japan | Group A | 5:30 AM |
| 24 Sep | Hong Kong China vs Malaysia | Group B | 10:30 AM |
| 25 Sep | Hong Kong China vs Oman | Group B | 5:30 AM |
| 25 Sep | Afghanistan vs Nepal | Group A | 10:30 AM |
| 26 Sep | Japan vs Nepal | Group A | 5:30 AM |
| 26 Sep | Malaysia vs Oman | Group B | 10:30 AM |
| 28 Sep | Pakistan vs Group B runner-up | Quarter-final | 5:30 AM |
| 28 Sep | India vs Group A runner-up | Quarter-final | 10:00 AM |
| 29 Sep | Sri Lanka vs Group A winner | Quarter-final | 5:30 AM |
| 29 Sep | Bangladesh vs Group B winner | Quarter-final | 10:00 AM |
| 1 Oct | Winner PAK/B2 vs Winner BAN/B1 | Semi-final | 5:30 AM |
| 1 Oct | Winner IND/A2 vs Winner SL/A1 | Semi-final | 10:00 AM |
| 3 Oct | Bronze medal match | 3rd-place | 5:30 AM |
| 3 Oct | Gold medal match | Final | 10:00 AM |
India men need three wins from the last eight to keep the gold.
India squads
Men (captain Shreyas Iyer, vice-captain Tilak Varma):
Shreyas Iyer, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Reserves travelling: Rasikh Salam, Kartik Tyagi, Vicky Ostwal.
Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the youngest player India have sent to a multi-sport Games cricket squad. Bumrah returns after being rested from the mid-year T20I tours.
Women (captain Harmanpreet Kaur, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana):
Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), G. Kamalini (wk), Bharti Fulmali, Sree Charani, Renuka Singh, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil (subject to fitness), Radha Yadav, Nandni Sharma.
Jemimah Rodrigues is out with a high-grade hamstring tear; Pratika Rawal has been added.
Other confirmed squads (selected)
- Pakistan men (Sahibzada Farhan): Abdul Samad (vc), Saim Ayub, Usman Khan (wk), Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Arafat Minhas, Abrar Ahmed, Sufyan Moqim, Akif Javed, Ali Raza and others.
- Afghanistan men (Darwish Rasooli): a young core plus Najibullah Zadran and Karim Janat.
- Bangladesh men (Litton Das): Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tawhid Hridoy.
- Nepal men (Dipendra Singh Airee): Sandeep Lamichhane, Rohit Paudel, Kushal Malla.
- Japan men (Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming): the same core that will also play a one-off T20I against India in Sano on 22 September.
- Pakistan women (Fatima Sana): Muneeba Ali, Aliya Riaz, Tuba Hassan, Nashra Sundhu.
- Bangladesh women (Nigar Sultana): Nahida Akter, Marufa Akter, Shorna Akter.
- Japan women (Mai Yanagida): Erika Oda, Ahilya Chandel, Elena Kusuda-Nairn.
Hong Kong China, Malaysia and Sri Lanka men’s lists, plus China, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Thailand women’s lists, were still being finalised as of early September.
In India, cricket at the Games is on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV. Tickets for Kōrogi sessions are sold through the official Aichi-Nagoya 2026 ticket portal.
How Nagoya 2026 Compares to Hangzhou 2022
The last edition, Hangzhou 2022 (held in 2023 due to pandemic postponement), remains the benchmark for scale:
| Hangzhou 2022 | Aichi-Nagoya 2026 | |
| Nations | 45 | 46 (expected) |
| Athletes | 11,909 | TBC |
| Sports | 40 (61 disciplines) | 43 (70 disciplines) |
| Events | 481 | 468 |
| Duration | 16 days | 16 days |
China has topped the medal table at every Asian Games since 1982, and at Hangzhou 2022 became the first nation to pass 100 gold medals, 200 gold medals, 300 total medals, and 400 total medals in a single edition. Japan, as host in 2026, will be aiming to close that gap on home soil — Japan’s overall medal tally has typically approached 200 at recent Games.
A Games Village on a Cruise Ship
Instead of building a traditional Games Village, organizers are using the cruise ship Costa Serena, docked at Kinjo Wharf in Nagoya Port for the duration of the Games, to house around 4,000 athletes and officials — a first for the Asian Games.
Asian Para Games 2026
The Asian Para Games follow directly after, from October 18–24, 2026, using the same core venues in Aichi and Nagoya. This marks the first time Japan has hosted the Para Games, with 45 nations expected across 18 sports.
Getting to Aichi-Nagoya 2026
Organizers expect most spectators to rely on public transport. Aichi and Nagoya have an extensive network, including:
- JR lines, including the Tokaido Shinkansen and Tokaido Main Line
- Chuo Main Line and other local JR routes
- Kintetsu Railway and Meitetsu private rail lines
- Nagoya’s subway network connecting central venues
FAQ: Nagoya Asian Games 2026
How many sports are at the 2026 Asian Games?
43 sports across 70 disciplines, with 468 medal events.
Is esports a medal sport at Nagoya 2026?
Yes. Esports debuts as an OCA-added sport, running September 23 to October 2 at the Aichi International Exhibition Center.
Where do the Nagoya Asian Games rank against Hangzhou 2022 in size?
Nagoya 2026 has more sports (43 vs. 40) but slightly fewer total events (468 vs. 481) than Hangzhou 2022.
When is the next Asian Games after 2026?
The 2030 Asian Games are scheduled for Doha, Qatar.
How to Watch 2026 Asian Games Live: Official Broadcasters
China Media Group-International Media Port (CMG-IMP) serves as the host broadcaster, producing live world feeds for 28 sports. Fans across Asia and globally can tune in through official regional broadcasting partners:
- Japan: TBS
- India & Subcontinent: Sony Sports Network
- Philippines: Cignal TV / One Sports
- Singapore: Mediacorp
- South Korea: MBC, SBS, TV Chosun
- Malaysia: Astro
- Indonesia: TVRI
- Middle East & North Africa: beIN Sports
- Official Updates & Streaming Portals: Official Website of Asian Games 2026
As the Nagoya Asian Games 2026 approaches, schedules, venues, and ticket details may be updated by organizers — this page will be kept current as new information is confirmed.