Asian Games 2026: 19 Sep – 4 Oct 2026

Asian Games 2026: Aichi-Nagoya, Japan

Experience the 20th Asian Games with cricket, esports, and the iconic India vs Pakistan rivalry in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

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Schedule, venues and flights

Compare Asian Games 2026 flights to Nagoya, hotels near key venues, group travel and multi-city Japan itineraries from the UK.

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Quick Overview

Dates, host region and what makes Aichi-Nagoya 2026 huge

The 20th Asian Games, known as Aichi-Nagoya 2026, runs from 19 September to 4 October 2026 across Aichi Prefecture and the city of Nagoya in central Japan. It is the second-largest multi-sport event on the planet after the Summer Olympics, bringing together an expected 46 nations for roughly 43 sports and 469 gold medal events across 53 venues. Selected disciplines such as volleyball and women's cricket begin before the opening ceremony, so the true competition window stretches even wider than the official 19 September to 4 October dates. This is the first Asian Games held in Japan since Hiroshima 1994, and the region — home to Toyota, the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train line and the historic Nagoya Castle — is gearing up for its biggest sporting moment in a generation.

Games Window19 Sep – 4 Oct 2026

Opening ceremony at Paloma Mizuho Stadium

Scale43 Sports, 46 Nations

Around 469 gold medal events, 53 venues

Host RegionAichi & Nagoya

First Japan-hosted Asiad since Hiroshima 1994

Hot TicketIndia vs Pakistan Cricket

Possible only in the gold or bronze medal match

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What Is The Asian Games?

History, purpose and why Aichi-Nagoya 2026 matters

The Asian Games, first held in New Delhi in 1951, have grown into the world’s second-largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics. Aichi-Nagoya 2026 will feature 43 sports, combining Olympic events with popular Asian sports such as kabaddi and sepak takraw, alongside newer additions like esports. Hosted across Japan’s Aichi region, the Games will bring athletes and fans together for a major sporting celebration throughout autumn 2026, with modern venues and easy travel connections across Nagoya.

Asian Games 2026 Aichi-Nagoya multi-sport event

Games Format & Scale

How Asian Games 2026 works, sport by sport

Around 46 nations and territories are expected to send athletes to Aichi-Nagoya 2026 for roughly 469 gold medal events across 43 sports and 53 venues. Some competitions, including volleyball and women's cricket, start before the official 19 September opening ceremony, so the true action window is closer to three weeks than sixteen days.

Opening Ceremony

19 September, Paloma Mizuho Stadium

The ceremony kicks off at 18:00 Japan time at the newly rebuilt Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, which also stages the closing ceremony and athletics.

Early-Start Sports

Volleyball and women's cricket begin first

Volleyball runs 16 September to 3 October, and women's cricket runs 17-22 September — both ahead of the official opening ceremony.

Closing Ceremony

4 October, Paloma Mizuho Stadium

The 20th Asian Games closes on 4 October 2026, handing straight over to the 2026 Asian Para Games from 18-24 October at the same venues.

Medal Table History

Who topped the table at Hangzhou 2022 — and who can challenge in 2026

China has finished top of the Asian Games medal table for eleven consecutive editions since 1982, and only China and Japan have ever won the overall title in Games history. Host nation Japan will be desperate to close that gap on home soil in Aichi-Nagoya, while India arrives aiming to beat its record-breaking 2022 haul.

Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	China	201	111	71	383
2	Japan	52	67	69	188
3	South Korea	42	59	89	190
4	India Record-breaking campaign	28	38	41	107

Hangzhou 2022 (held in 2023) was the first time any nation passed 200 gold medals in a single Games, and India's 107-medal haul made it only the fourth country in history — after China, Japan and South Korea — to break the 100-medal mark in one edition. Expect all four powerhouses, plus a fired-up host nation, to headline the Asian Games 2026 medal race in Aichi-Nagoya.

Asian Games 2026 Schedule

Confirmed Dates & Venues By Sport

Use this stage-by-stage Asian Games 2026 schedule to plan flights and hotels around the sports and cities that matter most to you. Always reconfirm session times against the official Aichi-Nagoya 2026 schedule before booking, since versions are updated as fixtures are finalised.

Opening & Closing Ceremony

19 September & 4 October 2026 • Paloma Mizuho Stadium, Nagoya

Opening Ceremony

Saturday 19 September 2026, 18:00 JST at Paloma Mizuho Stadium (35,000 capacity)

Ceremony

Closing Ceremony

Sunday 4 October 2026 at Paloma Mizuho Stadium, Nagoya

Ceremony

Cricket

Korogi Athletic Park, Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture

Women's T20 Tournament

17-22 September 2026 • India begin their title defence against hosts Japan in the quarter-final

Hot Ticket

Men's T20 Tournament

24 September – 3 October 2026 • India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh seeded direct to the quarter-finals

Hot Ticket

Cricket Medal Matches

3 October 2026 • Gold and bronze medal matches, with an India vs Pakistan final still possible

Medal Match

Volleyball

16 September – 3 October 2026 • Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Gymnasium & Park Arena Komaki

Men's & Women's Volleyball

Asia's leading volleyball nations compete across pool play and knockout rounds in Okazaki and Komaki, among the earliest sports to start.

Early Start

Badminton

20-29 September 2026 • Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium, Aichi Prefecture

Individual & Team Events

Badminton makes its 17th consecutive Asian Games appearance, with five events up for grabs in Ichinomiya.

Fan Favourite

Shooting

20 September – 1 October 2026 • Aichi Prefectural General Shooting Gallery, Toyota

Rifle, Pistol & Shotgun Events

Shooting's 19th consecutive Asian Games appearance, staged in Toyota City, home of Toyota Stadium.

Medal Rich

Archery

26 September – 3 October 2026 • Okazaki Central Park Multipurpose Square

Compound & Recurve Events

Archery's 12th consecutive Asian Games appearance, with reigning compound champions defending titles from Hangzhou.

Reigning Champions

Esports

23 September – 2 October 2026 • Aichi International Exhibition Center, Tokoname

Esports Medal Events

A growing category since its 2023 debut, with the OCA approving titles for competition in the build-up to 2026.

Rising Category

Football, Judo & Basketball

Toyota Stadium (football) & IG Arena, Nagoya (judo, basketball)

Exact Fixture Dates

Venue confirmed; check the official Aichi-Nagoya 2026 schedule for match-by-match dates and kick-off times before booking flights.

Confirm Dates

Where To Watch Asian Games 2026 Live

UK, Pakistan, India and international viewing guide

Broadcasting rights vary by country, sport and session. Always verify local listings before each event because not every platform carries every Asian Games 2026 sport live.

United Kingdom

Check dedicated sports channels and streaming apps

UK fans should check major sports broadcasters and streaming platforms for Asian Games 2026 coverage, since rights can differ sport by sport.

Pakistan Viewers

PTV Sports, local cable and streaming apps

Pakistan viewers should check official local sports broadcasters, PTV Sports listings and legal streaming apps close to matchday, especially for Pakistan's cricket and hockey fixtures.

Indian Audience

Sports broadcasters and streaming apps

Indian fans should verify with official sports networks and streaming platforms, particularly for India's cricket, badminton, archery and hockey campaigns.

International

Olympic Council of Asia digital platforms

The OCA and regional broadcasters may show selected sessions online — confirm access and blackout restrictions for your country before relying on any single platform.

Travelling Fans

Check roaming and hotel TV

If you are travelling in Japan, confirm whether your streaming subscription works locally and whether your hotel carries the right sports channels for your team's matches.

Live In Venue

Official ticket portals only

Buy tickets through official national association or OCA-authorised channels only — avoid unofficial resale sites for high-demand sessions like India vs Pakistan cricket.

Medal Contenders To Watch

Top Nations Chasing Gold At Asian Games 2026

From China's eleven-Games dominance to a fired-up host nation and India's record-chasing squad, here are the contingents shaping the Asian Games 2026 medal race.

🏆 11x Defending Champions

China

Table-topper since 1982

383 medals (2022)201 gold (2022)

China has finished top of the Asian Games medal table for eleven consecutive editions and was the first nation ever to pass 200 golds in a single Games, in Hangzhou. Aichi-Nagoya 2026 is expected to extend that streak across swimming, diving, table tennis, badminton and gymnastics.

Japan

Home Advantage

188 medals (2022)52 gold (2022)

Hosting for the first time since Hiroshima 1994, Japan finished second overall in Hangzhou and will expect a home-crowd boost across swimming, judo, gymnastics and its new IG Arena and Aichi International Arena venues.

South Korea

Perennial Top-Three

190 medals (2022)42 gold (2022)

South Korea's blend of archery, shooting, fencing and taekwondo strength kept it inside the top three at Hangzhou, and its baseball team has won four straight Asian Games golds heading into 2026.

India

Chasing A New Record

107 medals (2022)28 gold (2022)

India's 2022 campaign was its best ever — the first time it passed 100 medals — built on archery, badminton, chess, athletics, wrestling, shooting, hockey and gold medals in both men's and women's cricket and kabaddi. India defends its cricket titles and heads to Aichi-Nagoya aiming to break 107 medals for the first time.

Pakistan

Youthful Rebuild

Cricket, hockey & squash focus2023: 4th in cricket

Pakistan travels with a young, largely experimental men's cricket squad under new captain Sahibzada Farhan, alongside traditional medal hopes in hockey, squash, wrestling and athletics as it looks to improve on its fourth-place cricket finish from Hangzhou.

Philippines & Southeast Asia

Basketball, Sepak Takraw & More

Gilas PilipinasRegional specialities

The Philippines' Gilas Pilipinas won a historic men's basketball gold in Hangzhou — its first since 1962 — while Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia chase medals in sepak takraw, badminton and weightlifting across the wider Southeast Asian contingent.

Squads & Stars To Watch

Confirmed Cricket Squads For Asian Games 2026

Cricket is one of the hottest tickets of Aichi-Nagoya 2026. Here is what has been confirmed for the two biggest draws in the men's competition, plus past Asian Games stars carrying momentum into 2026.

India Men's Cricket

Shreyas Iyer (Captain)

India enter as defending men's and women's cricket champions from Hangzhou 2023 and are seeded directly into the quarter-finals. The squad includes teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

Pakistan Men's Cricket

Sahibzada Farhan (Captain)

A youthful, experimental Pakistan squad with Abdul Samad as vice-captain and Usman Khan as wicketkeeper. Regular white-ball captain Salman Ali Agha, Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan were left out as Pakistan builds toward the future.

Archery

India's reigning compound champions

Jyothi Surekha Vennam headlined India's compound women's team gold in Hangzhou alongside Aditi Gopichand Swami and Parneet Kaur, while Ojas Pravin Deotale led the men's team to gold — titles they'll defend in Okazaki.

Badminton

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy & Chirag Shetty

The Indian pair won India's first-ever Asian Games badminton gold in men's doubles at Hangzhou and head to Ichinomiya as one of the format's most watched teams.

Chess

D Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi & co.

India's men's team, featuring Arjun Erigaisi, D Gukesh, Vidit Gujrathi and R Praggnanandhaa, won team gold at Hangzhou and carry serious pedigree into 2026's board.

Baseball

South Korea's four-in-a-row streak

South Korea has won four consecutive Asian Games baseball golds and is favourite to defend the title again in 2026 against Japan and Chinese Taipei.

Rivalries & Hot Topics

Must-Watch Storylines At Asian Games 2026

From the continent's fiercest cricket rivalry to a host nation chasing history, these are the storylines driving searches and ticket demand for Aichi-Nagoya 2026.

Blockbuster Watch

IndiavsPakistan

Sport: Cricket (men's & women's T20). Draw status: Placed on opposite sides of the bracket, so a clash is only possible in the gold or bronze medal match. Why it matters: both nations won cricket gold at Hangzhou 2023 and any Nagoya meeting would be for a medal, not just bragging rights.

Historic Rivalry

IndiavsPakistan

Sport: Hockey & Kabaddi. India's men's hockey and women's kabaddi teams both won gold in Hangzhou, and India-Pakistan meetings in hockey and kabaddi have long been among the continent's most watched fixtures whenever the draw allows.

Medal Race

ChinavsJapan

China has topped every Asian Games medal table since 1982. Host nation Japan will hope home advantage across judo, swimming and gymnastics can narrow the gap in front of its own crowd for the first time since Hiroshima 1994.

Record Chase

IndiavsOwn Best

India's 107-medal haul in Hangzhou was a national record. Aichi-Nagoya 2026 is being framed at home as the Games where India tries to beat 100 medals again and push closer to South Korea's tally.

Türkiye

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Best For

Budget-conscious fans building a longer multi-city Japan and Asian Games trip.

Hotels Near Asian Games Venues

Where to stay for Aichi-Nagoya 2026

The best hotel is not always the closest to your venue. Prioritise Shinkansen and metro access, late check-in, breakfast and cancellation flexibility, since sessions can run late into the evening.

Nagoya City Centre

Hotels near Paloma Mizuho Stadium

Central Nagoya, on the Sakura-dori or Meijo subway lines, keeps you close to the opening ceremony, closing ceremony and athletics while staying well connected to the wider Aichi venue cluster.

Nisshin

Hotels near Korogi Athletic Park (cricket)

Stay in central Nagoya and use the Higashiyama subway line and connecting buses out to Nisshin for cricket sessions — a smoother option than basing yourself directly in Nisshin for most trips.

Ichinomiya

Hotels near the badminton venue

Ichinomiya sits on the JR Tokaido Main Line, making it an easy day-trip base from Nagoya for badminton fans who want to combine sessions with sightseeing.

Toyota City

Hotels near Toyota Stadium & the shooting venue

Toyota City is reachable via the Meitetsu Toyota Line from central Nagoya; a Nagoya base with a direct rail link works well for both football and shooting sessions.

Okazaki & Komaki

Hotels near archery & volleyball venues

Okazaki (archery, volleyball) and Komaki (volleyball, near Nagoya's Centrair-adjacent airport routes) are both accessible by rail from Nagoya without needing to switch hotels.

Groups

Book rooms together early

Group trips for the Games need flexible room types, baggage storage and clear plans for late-night transport back from evening sessions.

Venue Guide

Asian Games 2026 stadiums, arenas and how to reach them

Aichi-Nagoya 2026 spans 53 venues. Here are the headline arenas fans are searching for most.

Main Venue

Paloma Mizuho Stadium, Nagoya

Opening and closing ceremonies plus athletics, at a rebuilt 35,000-capacity stadium in central Nagoya.

Football

Toyota Stadium, Toyota City

The host venue for high-profile football matches, reachable via the Meitetsu Toyota Line.

Judo & Basketball

IG Arena, Nagoya

A brand-new, state-of-the-art indoor arena built for the Games in central Nagoya.

Cricket

Korogi Athletic Park, Nisshin

Home to both the men's and women's T20 tournaments, including the medal matches.

Badminton

Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium

Stages all five badminton events from 20-29 September.

Esports

Aichi International Exhibition Center, Tokoname

Hosts the Games' esports programme from 23 September to 2 October.

Travel Tips

Booking, budgets and matchday checklist

For the cheapest flights to Asian Games 2026, compare Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya's own Chubu Centrair airport, avoid peak return dates around the closing ceremony, and check hand versus checked baggage allowances.

Book Smart

Watch the fixture releases

Lock flights once venue and session times are confirmed. High-demand sessions like India vs Pakistan cricket will move fast if the draw lines up.

Budget

Plan three levels

Budget trip: flights, basic hotel and rail pass. Premium: better timings and a central Nagoya hotel. Luxury: premium cabin flights and private transfers.

Checklist

Matchday essentials

Passport, event tickets, charger, power bank, travel insurance, weather layers, cash and IC card for transport, SIM or eSIM, and the official Games app.

Getting Around

Use the Tokaido Shinkansen

Nagoya sits directly on Japan's bullet train line, making day trips between Tokyo, Osaka and the Games venues fast and simple.

Solo Fans

Stay central in Nagoya

Central Nagoya keeps every venue cluster within reach and offers late-night transport back from evening sessions.

Groups

Coordinate early

Agree baggage, payment deadlines, room sharing and airport transfers before fares rise closer to September 2026.

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Hot Asian Games 2026 searches this page targets

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