2026 Asian Games
The 2026 Asian Games, also known as 20th Asian Games and Aichi–Nagoya 2026, will be a multi-sport event celebrated around Aichi Prefecture in Japan from 19 September to 4 October 2026. The prefecture capital Nagoya will be the epicenter of the events. Nagoya will be the third Japanese city to host the Asian Games, after Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994. The event is set to return to its traditional four-year cycle, after the 2022 edition was postponed to 2023 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bidding process
The Olympic Council of Asia welcomed the joint proposal from Aichi Prefecture and its capital Nagoya to host the Games at their annual general assembly session in Da Nang, Vietnam, on 25 September 2016. The joint bid proposal almost did not happen due to financial differences between the two interested parties; these were resolved in 2015 and 2016, allowing the joint bid to be accepted. The OCA originally planned to choose the 2026 host city in 2018, but brought the planning date forward due to the intensity of the region's sporting calendar, including the next two Winter Olympic Games and FIFA World Cups between 2018 and 2022 and the next Summer Olympic Games.| City | NOC | Result |
| Aichi and Nagoya | Unanimous |
Development and preparations
Costs
The city of Nagoya received an estimate of roughly ¥85 billion in costs from the Aichi Prefecture government for the Games, 30% of which is expected to be covered by sponsorships and other revenue, while the remainder is planned to be split on a 70–30 basis between Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture. In February 2023, the cost was reported to have ballooned to ¥140.5 billion.Athletes Village
The Aichi–Nagoya Organising Committee decided not to construct a permanent athletes village due to high costs, and instead chose to have several athletes villages spread across the prefecture. 4,000 athletes will be hosted in the Costa Serena cruise ship docked at Kinjo Pier. The rest of the athletes will be hosted in temporary villas made from repurposed shipping containers near the Port of Nagoya, and in several hotels across the prefecture and outlying cities. Regarding the cruise ship, organisers have put in place several contingency plans if athletes were to be evacuated from the venue due to tsunamis, typhoons or other natural disasters.Logistics
The Aichi–Nagoya Organising Committee is in the process of formulating a comprehensive transport plan that will include specific routes, coordination with transport service providers, and operational preparations for arrival/departure, opening/closing ceremonies, and daily movements to competition venues. They aim to leverage existing infrastructure and technology to provide efficient and comfortable transportation during the Games.In principle, spectators are expected to rely on public transport. Aichi and Nagoya have an extensive public transportation network, including:
- Trains: JR lines, Kintetsu Railway, Meitetsu, and various other local rail lines.
- Subway: The Nagoya Municipal Subway has a comprehensive subway system with six lines.
- Buses: Numerous private and public bus companies operate throughout the region, complementing the rail services.
- Shuttle Buses: If necessary, shuttle buses between competition venues and the nearest public transport stations will be considered to aid spectator movement.
- Travel Demand Management: Measures to curb private cars use around Games-related facilities, such as public announcements, will be implemented to ensure smooth transportation and maintain urban order.
Venues
Nagoya
[Aichi Prefecture]
Outlying venues
[Gifu Prefecture]
[Shizuoka Prefecture]
[Tokyo]
[Osaka Prefecture]
Ceremonies
Opening ceremony
The opening ceremony will be held on 19 September 2026 at Paloma Mizuho Stadium.Closing ceremony
The closing ceremony was held on 4 October 2026 in Paloma Mizuho Stadium; it will include a cultural presentation, closing remarks, and the formal handover to Doha, Qatar, as hosts of next edition in 2030.The Games
Sports
Core sports
32 sports from the 2024 Summer Olympics + 11 other sports and disciplines.- Five regional sports that were nominated by each region of the Olympic Council of Asia:
- Three sports that were part of the 2024 Summer Olympics and are not part of the core Asian Games program:
- Four sports proposed by the Olympic Council of Asia:
Calendar
Participation
All 45 National Olympic Committees who are members of the Olympic Council of Asia, as well as a potential refugee team, are expected to send delegations.| Participating National Olympic Committees | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
EmblemThe emblem of the Games was unveiled during a ceremony on 1 April 2020. Each colour has its own meaning, with purple representing the iris laevigata, gold for Shachihoko, the golden tiger-fish roof ornaments which are the symbol of Nagoya Castle, and green representing environmental consciousness.MascotThe mascot of the Games, Honohon was unveiled on 14 July 2024. Its design is based on the shachihoko.MottoThe official motto of the 2026 Asian Games, "Imagine One Asia" was announced on 1 April 2020 to mark six years before the opening ceremony.Corporate sponsorshipBroadcastingIn January 2025, the Aichi–Nagoya Organising Committee mentioned the "Host Broadcaster's Work" in a Q&A session. This indicates that a host broadcaster will be appointed to manage the primary coverage of the Games. The Nagoya International Exhibition Hall will serve as the Main Media Centre, which will include the Main Press Centre and the International Broadcast Centre. However, the contract was terminated in July 2025 due to deficiencies.
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Afghanistan|2026 Asian Games