Hub
The clock above counts down to the opening of the 2026 Asian Games on September 19, 2026 in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, Japan, the 20th edition of Asia's largest multi-sport event.
The Asian Games are organised by the Olympic Council of Asia and contested every four years by athletes from 45 National Olympic Committees across the continent. The 2026 edition is the third hosted in Japan after Tokyo 1958 and Hiroshima 1994, and the first centred on Aichi Prefecture, where the city of Nagoya serves as the main hub. The Games are also the largest sports event in Japan since the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
The 2026 programme features 41 sports across 61 disciplines, including 32 Olympic sports plus regional additions like cricket, kabaddi, sepak takraw, dragon boat, esports, and wushu. Cricket is included in T20 format and is widely followed across South Asia ahead of the LA28 Olympic cricket return. Around 15,000 athletes are expected to compete across 17 days, with the closing ceremony on October 4. Esports gold-medal events return after a successful debut at Hangzhou 2022.
Per the OCA schedule, the opening ceremony begins at 20:00 JST at Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium. The Games span 17 days with finals across all 41 sports. Japan, China, South Korea, India, Iran, and the Central Asian nations typically lead the medal table. The 2026 edition is also a key qualifying window for the LA28 Olympics in athletics, swimming, gymnastics, and table tennis.
In Japan the Games are on NHK and the official AICHI-NAGOYA 2026 streaming platform. India is on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV. China on CCTV. South Korea on KBS. The UK has limited coverage on Eurosport. The 20:00 JST opening ceremony converts to 12:00 BST, 13:00 CEST, 07:00 ET, 16:30 IST, and 21:00 AEST.
Asian Games viewers can also follow the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, the LA28 Olympics Opening Ceremony, the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027, and the World Athletics Championships 2027.
When does the 2026 Asian Games start? Saturday September 19, 2026 with the opening ceremony at 20:00 JST. Where is the 2026 Asian Games held? Aichi Prefecture and the city of Nagoya, Japan. How can I watch the 2026 Asian Games? Live on NHK in Japan, Sony Sports in India, CCTV in China, and the OCA official stream globally. Is cricket in the 2026 Asian Games? Yes, cricket is included in T20 format for both men and women, an important rehearsal for the LA28 Olympic cricket return.
