The 2026 Asian Games, officially known as the XX Asiad and Aichi-Nagoya 2026, will be the third time Japan hosts the Asian Games, following Tokyo 1958 and Hiroshima 1994. The Olympic Council of Asia approved a comprehensive sports program featuring competitions across diverse disciplines, from traditional Olympic sports to regional Asian favorites.

weight lifting at the Asian Games

Weight lifting remains a core sport at the Asian Games

Sports Program Overview

The 2026 Asian Games sports program represents a balance between Olympic sports and regional Asian disciplines. According to the Olympic Council of Asia's final approval in July 2025, the program includes 32 sports from the 2024 Paris Olympics plus 9 additional sports and disciplines unique to Asia or with strong regional significance.

Compared to the 2022 Games (held in 2023), several changes have been made to the program. Notable additions include surfing, making its Asian Games debut, breaking (breakdancing) continuing from the Olympic program, and mixed martial arts as a new combat sport discipline. Cricket returns in T20 format after appearing in 2010, 2014, and 2023, while esports expands to 11 medal events.

“The Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games sports programme will include Olympic sports, traditional Asian disciplines and regionally diffused games, ensuring representation from across Asia’s zones.”
— Yasuhiro Nakamori (Acting Director General, Aichi-Nagoya 2026) / Decision by OCA and AINAGOC, July 8, 2023

Complete List of Sports for Aichi-Nagoya 2026

The following 41 sports will be contested at the 2026 Asian Games, organized by category:

Aquatics

  • Swimming
  • Diving
  • Artistic Swimming
  • Water Polo

Athletics & Endurance Sports

  • Athletics (Track and field, marathon, race walk)
  • Triathlon
  • Modern Pentathlon

Ball & Team Sports

  • Badminton
  • Baseball
  • Softball
  • Basketball
  • Basketball 3x3
  • Cricket (T20 format - men's and women's)
  • Hockey
  • Football (Soccer)
  • Handball
  • Rugby Sevens
  • Sepak Takraw
  • Squash
  • Table Tennis
  • Tennis
  • Soft Tennis
  • Volleyball
  • Beach Volleyball

Combat Sports

  • Boxing
  • Judo
  • Jiu-Jitsu
  • Karate
  • Kurash
  • Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) - New for 2026
  • Taekwondo
  • Wrestling (Freestyle and Greco-Roman)
  • Wushu (Taolu and Sanda)

Cycling Disciplines

  • Cycling Track
  • Cycling Road
  • Cycling Mountain Bike
  • Cycling BMX Racing
  • Cycling BMX Freestyle

Water & Nautical Sports

  • Canoe Sprint
  • Canoe Slalom
  • Rowing
  • Sailing
  • Surfing - New for 2026

Gymnastics

  • Artistic Gymnastics
  • Rhythmic Gymnastics
  • Trampoline Gymnastics

Other Sports

  • Archery (Recurve and Compound)
  • Breaking (Breakdancing)
  • Equestrian (Dressage, Eventing, Jumping)
  • Esports - 11 medal events
  • Fencing (Foil, Épée, Sabre)
  • Golf
  • Kabaddi
  • Shooting (Rifle, Pistol, Shotgun)
  • Skateboarding
  • Sport Climbing
  • Weightlifting

Esports at Aichi-Nagoya 2026

Esports continues its growth at the Asian Games with an expanded program of 11 medal events, up from seven at Hangzhou 2023. Research by Robert J. Wood, PhD in Exercise Physiology from the University of Western Australia and founder of Topend Sports, indicates that the inclusion of esports reflects the significant role of competitive gaming in Asian youth culture and sports development.

The 11 esports titles for 2026 include:

MOBA Games

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, League of Legends, Honor of Kings

Battle Royale

PUBG Mobile (Asian Games Version), Pokémon UNITE, Nakara: Bladepoint, Identity V (Asian Games Version)

Sports Games

eFootball, Gran Turismo 7

Fighting Games

Street Fighter Series, Tekken Series, King of Fighters Series

Note: The three fighting games (Street Fighter Series, Tekken Series, and The King of Fighters Series) will be grouped together as a single medal event titled "Competitive Martial Arts (Team Competition)". This means that while there are 13 named video game titles, they are organized into 11 medal events.

New Sports for 2026

Several sports make their debut or return to the Asian Games program for 2026:

💡 Pro Tip: The addition of surfing takes advantage of Japan's excellent Pacific coastline facilities, with competitions held at Pacific Long Beach in Tahara, Aichi.

  • Surfing: Making its Asian Games debut, capitalizing on Japan's coastal location and Olympic infrastructure
  • Mixed Martial Arts (MMA): Six medal events in this combat sport debut, classified under Combat Sports alongside kurash and jiu-jitsu
  • Breaking (Breakdancing): Continuing from its Olympic debut at Paris 2024
  • Cricket (Returning): T20 format returns with 8 women's teams and 10 men's teams, serving as Asian qualifiers for LA 2028 Olympics

Sports Removed from 2023 Program

Several sports that appeared at the 2022 Games (held in 2023) have been removed from the 2026 program:

  • Bowling
  • Jet Ski
  • Paragliding
  • Pencak Silat
  • Sambo
  • Open Water Swimming (removed after initial inclusion)
  • Bridge
  • Chess
  • Go
  • Xiangqi

Venue Information

The 2026 Asian Games will utilize 53 competition venues across Aichi Prefecture and surrounding regions. Most events will be held in existing sports facilities to minimize costs, with some temporary facilities constructed as needed. Key venues include:

Venue Sports Location
Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium Athletics, Opening/Closing Ceremonies Nagoya
Nippon Gaishi Hall / Dolpphin's Arena Nagoya Swimming, Diving Tokyo
Aichi Sky Expo Breaking, Esports, Fencing, Skateboarding, BMX Freestyle Tokoname
Izu Velodrome Cycling Track Shizuoka Prefecture
Pacific Long Beach Surfing Tahara, Aichi

Notably, the organizing committee decided against constructing a permanent athletes' village due to cost concerns. Instead, approximately 4,600 athletes and officials will be accommodated on a cruise ship docked at Kinjo Pier in Nagoya Port, with additional athletes housed in hotels and temporary container-based facilities.

Historical Context

The 2026 Asian Games will be Japan's third time hosting the event, marking a significant milestone in Asian sports history. Data compiled by Robert Wood, PhD, shows that the number of sports has steadily increased from 14 at the first Games in 1951 to 41 in 2026, reflecting the growth and diversification of athletic competition across Asia.

This edition returns the Asian Games to its traditional four-year cycle after the 2022 edition was postponed to 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the motto "Imagine One Asia," the Games aim to promote unity and cultural exchange among the 45 participating National Olympic Committees.