The Asian Games 2026 will be a celebration of athleticism, culture and unity, as competitors from around the continent showcase their skill and sportsmanship in the heart of Japan. From the precision of martial arts to the speed of track and field, the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will showcase a range of sports that highlight the very best of Asia. The Games will be held from September 19 to October 4, 2026, with the city of Nagoya serving as the host.
The organizers are working hard to ramp up interest, with Saturday marking a year to go before the sporting spectacular gets underway. Organisers admit public awareness still needs to be improved, but hope that will change as the Games approach.
Organizers are looking to build on the success of the pandemic-delayed 2023 edition in Hangzhou, where more than 12,000 athletes competed, including North and South Korea, who marched together at the opening ceremony and competed as a single team in basketball, rowing and canoeing. Aichi-Nagoya organizers are hoping to replicate that unified feel, although the Games will not be formally endorsed by the Olympic Council of Asia due to its ban on North Korean citizens.
The Aichi-Nagoya Organizing Committee has signed the Host City Contract with the Japanese Olympic Committee, which details the rights and responsibilities of all parties involved in hosting the Asian Games. The agreement also stipulates the terms for the allocation of sports and venues in the host city.