Language 
Asian Games 2026: Dates, host city, and schedule
A comprehensive guide about Asian Games 2026 in Japan, including the sports, exact dates and times of matches, and travel tips for travelers in Japan.
Recognized as the world’s second-largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics, the Asian Games is a continental athletic event held every four years by the Olympic Council of Asia. The 2026 edition will take place in Japan’s Aichi Prefecture and its capital, Nagoya, from 19 September to 4 October.
This guide explains all you need to know about the 2026 Asian Games (20th Asian Games), including the exact dates, venues, sports programmes, sports included, broadcasting information, and travel tips.
In the end, we will also help you stay connected during the games with Holafly eSIM, offering unlimited data, 5G speeds, and 24/7 customer support.
An eSIM you can rely on
Join over 10 million Holafly customers and get connected with our trusted, global services.
When are the Asian Games 2026?
The 20th Asian Games (Aichi–Nagoya 2026) is a 16-day event starting on 19 September 2026 and running through 4 October 2026. Here are the official dates and key events for each day:
- Opening ceremony: Saturday, 19 September 2026, from 18:00 to 20:00 Japan Standard Time (JST, UTC+9) at Paloma Mizuho Stadium, also known as Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium.
- Competition period: The official Games period runs from 19 September to 4 October 2026. Some events, such as certain team sports preliminaries, begin earlier—around 10 September—ahead of the opening ceremony.
- Closing ceremony: Sunday, 4 October 2026, from 18:00 to 19:30 JST at the same main stadium.
Viewers outside Japan should check local broadcast schedules, as live coverage may be delayed or shifted for primetime in different regions. Here are the approximate local times of the opening and closing ceremonies:
| Region | Time zone difference relative to JST (UTC+9) | Viewing experience |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 1 hour ahead (UTC+10) | Eastern states (AEST, UTC+10): Opening at 19:00–21:00 and closing at 19:00–20:30 local time.Western Australia (AWST, UTC+8): Opening at 17:00–19:00 and closing at 17:00–18:30 local time. |
| United Kingdom (London – BST) | 8 hours behind (UTC+1) | Opening at 10:00–12:00 and closing at 10:00–11:30 local time. |
| United States and Canada (Eastern – EDT) | 13 hours behind (UTC-4) | East Coast (EDT, UTC−4): Opening at 5:00 a.m. and closing at 5:00 a.m. local time. |
| United States and Canada (Pacific – PDT) | 16 hours behind (UTC-7) | West Coast: Opening at 2:00 a.m. and closing at 2:00 a.m. local time. |
Where will the Asian Games 2026 be held?
Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, Japan, will host the 2026 Asian Games. That’s why it is also called Aichi–Nagoya 2026.
Located in central Japan along the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train line, Aichi and Nagoya form Japan’s industrial and automotive heartland, best known as the birthplace of Toyota. As the first Japanese hosts of the Asian Games since Hiroshima in 1994, the region combines deep historical heritage, like the famous Nagoya Castle, with modern transit connections.
Key venues include:
- Paloma Mizuho Stadium (Nagoya): The flagship venue hosting both the Opening Ceremony, Closing Ceremony, and track-and-field athletics.
- Toyota Stadium (Toyota City): Host venue for high-profile football matches.
- IG Arena (Nagoya): A new state-of-the-art venue for major indoor sports like judo and basketball.
- Aichi Sky Expo and Port Messe Nagoya: Large exhibition complexes set to host combat sports, breaking, and indoor climbing.
What sports are included in the Asian Games 2026?
The 2026 Asian Games will feature 41 sports and 60 disciplines, blending classic Olympic sports with regional favorites and exciting modern additions.
- Core Olympic Sports: Athletics, Swimming, Gymnastics, Basketball, Football, Volleyball, Martial Arts (Judo, Boxing, Taekwondo), and Racket Sports.
- New and returning disciplines: Esports (11 medal events), MMA (Asian Games debut), Surfing, and Breaking, alongside traditional Asian sports like Kabaddi, Sepak Takraw, and Wushu.
- Cricket: Returns for its fourth appearance at the Asian Games, played under the Twenty20 (T20) format, holding official T20 International status. Matches will take place at the Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi Prefecture.
Asian Games MLBB 2026: Esports schedule and details
Following its massive success as a medal event in Hangzhou, Esports returns for the 2026 Asian Games with 11 official medal events.
Highlighting the roster is Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), making its official Asian Games medal debut. MLBB is a fast-paced 5v5 mobile Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) where two teams draft unique heroes to destroy the opposing team’s base while defending their own lanes.
The 11 medal events span mobile, PC, racing, and fighting game disciplines:
- Mobile MOBA and Battle Royale: Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Honor of Kings, PUBG Mobile (Asian Games Version), and Pokémon UNITE.
- PC strategy and action: League of Legends, Naraka: Bladepoint, and Identity V (Asian Games Version).
- Sports and racing simulators: eFootball Series, Gran Turismo 7, and Puyo Puyo Champions.
- Competitive martial arts (team event): A single combined medal event featuring Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, and The King of Fighters XV.
The primary venue is Aichi Sky Expo (Aichi International Exhibition Center), located in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, close to Chubu Centrair International Airport. Below is the event timeline:
| Date(s) | Medal Event / Title | Format / Details |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 23 | eFootball & Gran Turismo 7 | Solo racing and virtual football finals |
| Sep 23–24 | Naraka: Bladepoint | 8-team melee battle royale stage |
| Sep 25–26 | Competitive Martial Arts | Team event (Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, KOF XV) |
| Sep 26 | Puyo Puyo Champions | Puzzle action single-day tournament |
| Sep 27 | Pokémon UNITE | 11-team mobile strategy tournament |
| Sep 27–28 | Honor of Kings | 12-team mobile MOBA knockouts |
| Sep 28–29 | PUBG Mobile | 12-team mobile battle royale stage |
| Sep 28–30 | Identity V | 10-team asymmetrical tactical matches |
| Oct 1 | Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) | 12 qualified national teams (Group stage Bo3 → Knockout Bo5) |
| Oct 2 | League of Legends | 8-team PC MOBA finals showcase |
How to watch the Asian Games 2026
To watch the Games in person, you should plan a trip to Japan, and also calculate and estimate the cost of a trip to Japan. However, you need to add the price of tickets and transportation between cities to it, too. The Japan travel guide can help you learn more about this country before your trip.
But if for any reason you can’t travel to Japan, you can still follow the 2026 Asian Games live on linear television and digital streaming platforms worldwide, such as SonyLIV in South Korea or the Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Organising Committee portal. Here is a complete guide on how to watch the Asian Games.
How to plan a trip to the Asian Games 2026
Planning a trip to Aichi-Nagoya for the 20th Asian Games requires organizing accommodation, transportation, and event ticketing across Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture.
If you decide to visit attractions in different cities, make sure to learn more about Japan’s cultural norms and what to pack for Japan. Here are the tips to help you visit the country during the Games.
- Where to stay: To easily access most Asian Games 2026 venues by train, consider staying near Nagoya Station (Meieki). For central dining and nightlife, Sakae or Fushimi are excellent choices. If you plan to attend esports events at Aichi Sky Expo, Tokoname would be the most convenient location.
- Getting around: Fly into Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO), which connects directly to central Nagoya in about 28 minutes via the Meitetsu Train line.
- Transit tips: Use a prepaid IC Card (Suica, Pasmo, or manaca) or a 24-Hour Nagoya Subway Pass to seamlessly tap onto all local subways, trains, and buses (note that spectator parking is not provided at venues).
- Itinerary planning: Group matches tickets by geographic zone, like Central Nagoya vs. Toyota City or Tokoname, on the same day to avoid spending hours in transit.
- Local attractions: Pair game sessions with nearby tourist spots like Nagoya Castle, Inuyama Castle, Atsuta Shrine, the Tokoname Pottery Footpath, or Ghibli Park.
- Budgeting for hotels: Expect mid-range business hotels to cost around ($80–$170 USD) per night during event weeks, so book as far in advance as possible.
- Data and connectivity: Install an eSIM on your phone prior to arrival for immediate mobile data, or rent a Pocket Wi-Fi unit directly at the airport. Read more about eSIM vs Pocket WiFi to discover which is better.
Staying connected during the Asian Games 2026
Having a reliable connection while attending the 2026 Asian Games is essential as you need to stay up to date about the matches, use essential travel apps in Japan, and stay connected with family and friends.
Holafly Japan eSIM is a more cost-effective option to stay connected during the Games. It offers unlimited data, 5G speeds where available, and 24/7 customer support. So, you don’t need to purchase a local eSIM and can also avoid roaming charges, which can get very high in Japan.
All Holafly eSIMs include an extra 1GB of backup data as an Always On feature, ensuring you remain connected even after your eSIM duration expires. So, you can rest assured about your connection as long as your eSIM is installed.
Get an unlimited data eSIM
Use code MYESIMNOW5 for 5% off at checkout
Plans that may interest you
哈囉我是來自台灣的 Wen，平常最喜歡旅遊，也喜歡將旅遊的種種化成文字跟大家分享，希望大家能在我的文章中找到有用的資訊，加上 Holafly 的 eSIM，讓你的旅程更美好！✈️✈️✈️ Hi! I'm Wen, a passionate content writer and travel enthusiast from Taiwan. I transform my wanderlust adventures into engaging stories and practical guides, helping fellow travelers make the most of their journeys.Through my articles, I strive to provide travel tips while introducing how our eSIM technology can enhance your travel experience - keeping you connected wherever your adventures take you!
