Asian Games 2026: Schedule, India Team, Sports, Live Streaming & Key Events
The Asian Games 2026, officially known as the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, are being held in Japan from September 19 to October 4, 2026.
The continental multi-sport event brings together athletes from 45 countries and regions, with competition taking place across 43 sports and 469 medal events. Aichi-Nagoya 2026 is the third edition of the Asian Games to be hosted by Japan, following Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994.
India enters the Games after winning a record 107 medals at Hangzhou 2022/2023, including 28 gold, 38 silver and 41 bronze medals. India is participating across 34 sports at Aichi-Nagoya.
The Games are particularly important for Indian sports fans because the schedule includes cricket, hockey, badminton, shooting, athletics, wrestling, boxing, kabaddi, weightlifting and several other disciplines featuring Indian athletes.
Asian Games 2026 Highlights
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | 20th Asian Games |
| Official Name | Aichi-Nagoya 2026 |
| Host Country | Japan |
| Host Region | Aichi-Nagoya |
| Official Games Dates | September 19–October 4, 2026 |
| Participating NOCs | 45 |
| Sports | 43 |
| Medal Events | 469 |
| Opening Ceremony | September 19, 2026 |
| Closing Ceremony | October 4, 2026 |
| India | Participating in 34 sports |
| Previous Edition | Hangzhou 2022/2023 |
| India's Previous Medal Total | 107 |
The official Aichi-Nagoya organising committee lists September 19 as the opening date and October 4 as the closing date, while the Olympic Council of Asia lists the Games as its 20th edition.
When Are the Asian Games 2026?
The Asian Games 2026 officially run from September 19 to October 4, 2026.
However, sporting competition began before the opening ceremony. According to the Olympic Council of Asia and Olympics.com, some events, including men's basketball and other team competitions, started earlier in September. India's campaign also began before the official opening ceremony, with teqball action starting on September 17.
Key dates
- September 17: India's competition began with teqball
- September 19: Official opening ceremony
- September 19 - October 4: Main Games period
- October 4: Closing ceremony
The opening ceremony is being held at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium.
Where Are the Asian Games 2026 Being Held?
The Games are centred around Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, Japan.
Competitions are being staged at multiple venues rather than a single stadium or campus. The official organising committee lists venues for sports including judo, shooting, sailing, cricket and others, while some events are being held in other Japanese cities as part of the Games programme.
One unusual feature of Aichi-Nagoya 2026 is the accommodation arrangement. Organisers did not build a traditional single Asian Games Village. Instead, athletes and officials are being accommodated through a combination of facilities, including a cruise ship used as part of the Games Village setup.
How Many Sports Are There in Asian Games 2026?
The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games feature:
43 sports
71 disciplines
469 medal events
India is competing in 34 sports.
The sports programme includes popular Olympic disciplines such as:
- Athletics
- Archery
- Badminton
- Basketball
- Boxing
- Cycling
- Diving
- Football
- Gymnastics
- Hockey
- Judo
- Rowing
- Shooting
- Swimming
- Table Tennis
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Weightlifting
- Wrestling
It also includes sports such as cricket, kabaddi, teqball, esports and mixed martial arts. MMA is making its Asian Games debut at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
What Are the New Sports in Asian Games 2026?
Aichi-Nagoya 2026 introduces several changes to the sports programme.
Among the notable additions are:
- Mixed martial arts
- Padel
- Surfing
- Virtual taekwondo
- Teqball
The Games also continue to feature esports and breaking. The overall programme contains 43 sports and 469 medal events.
India's Asian Games 2026 Contingent
India is sending a large contingent to Aichi-Nagoya.
The Olympic Council of Asia initially reported that India would send 492 athletes, with athletics forming the largest group at 73 athletes. A subsequent September 8 Government of India/PIB release described the Indian contingent at its send-off as a 503-member contingent, reflecting the broader delegation.
The delegation includes athletes from sports such as:
- Athletics
- Badminton
- Boxing
- Cricket
- Hockey
- Kabaddi
- Shooting
- Wrestling
- Weightlifting
- Archery
- Rowing
- Table Tennis
- Volleyball
- Wushu
- Esports
- Teqball
- Soft Tennis
- and other disciplines.
India's Key Athletes at Asian Games 2026
India's squad includes several Olympic and world-level athletes.
Some of the prominent names include:
Athletics
India's athletics contingent includes athletes such as Gulveer Singh, Murali Sreeshankar, Tejaswin Shankar, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, Parul Chaudhary and Annu Rani.
Badminton
The badminton contingent includes established names such as PV Sindhu and Lakshya Sen, along with other Indian shuttlers.
Shooting
India's shooting campaign includes several leading shooters, with the sport being one of the major disciplines to follow during the Games.
Weightlifting
Mirabai Chanu is part of India's weightlifting contingent. The competition is scheduled for September 22–28.
Wrestling
India's wrestling team includes Antim Panghal, Aman Sehrawat, Deepak Punia, Nisha Dahiya, Priya Malik and other wrestlers.
Boxing
India's boxing contingent includes Lovlina Borgohain, among other boxers.
Is Neeraj Chopra Competing at Asian Games 2026?
This is one area where readers should check the latest team update before publication or when updating this article.
The original Indian contingent announcement in August included Neeraj Chopra in the athletics squad. However, later reporting stated that Chopra withdrew because of an ankle injury. Therefore, an older squad announcement should not be treated as the final active-entry list.
For a live article, Shortly should update this section whenever the official athlete list changes.
India's Cricket Teams at Asian Games 2026
Cricket returns to the Asian Games in T20 format.
India's men's and women's teams are participating, with both having been identified by the OCA as defending Asian Games champions from the previous edition.
The women's tournament began before the opening ceremony. India's men's team was seeded directly into the quarter-finals.
Cricket is particularly significant because it is also part of the sports programme connected with the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle.
India's Hockey Campaign
Hockey is another major sport for India at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
Both men's and women's hockey competitions are part of the Games, with the tournaments carrying additional importance because they serve as qualification events for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. The winners of the men's and women's competitions will earn direct Olympic qualification.
India's men's hockey team is the defending Asian Games champion.
India's Kabaddi Teams
India's men's and women's kabaddi teams are also competing at Aichi-Nagoya.
The OCA confirmed that India's men's and women's teams would defend their Asian Games titles.
Kabaddi remains one of the sports with particularly strong Indian interest and is expected to attract substantial attention from Indian viewers throughout the Games.
Asian Games 2026 India Schedule
The complete Indian schedule changes from day to day as competitions progress.
For example, India's schedule on September 20 includes events in hockey, soft tennis and other sports. The current schedule lists:
- Women's Hockey: India vs Uzbekistan
- Men's Soft Tennis: India vs Japan
- Men's Hockey: India vs Indonesia
These events are scheduled at different times in Indian Standard Time.
Because the schedule is continuously updated, readers should check the latest India schedule before watching a particular event.
Asian Games 2026 India Schedule
Asian Games 2026: Where to Watch in India?
Indian viewers can watch the Asian Games on Sony Sports Network and stream the Games through SonyLIV.
Current broadcast information lists:
- Sony Sports 1: English
- Sony Sports 5: English
- Sony Sports 3: Hindi
- Sony Sports 4: Tamil, Telugu and Kannada
- SonyLIV: Live streaming in India
The opening ceremony is also listed for live streaming on SonyLIV.
Watch Asian Games 2026 on SonyLIV
Asian Games 2026 Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony is scheduled for September 19, 2026, at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium.
The official visitor information lists the ceremony start time as 6:00 PM Japan time.
For Indian viewers, the ceremony can be watched through Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV according to current broadcast information.
What Was India's Performance at the Previous Asian Games?
India had its most successful Asian Games campaign at Hangzhou 2022, which was held in 2023.
India won a record:
- 28 Gold
- 38 Silver
- 41 Bronze
- 107 Total Medals
India finished fourth in the overall medal standings.
The 2026 Games therefore begin with considerable attention on whether India's medal total can improve on its previous record
Asian Games 2026 Medal Table
The medal table will change throughout the Games.
For the most reliable live standings, readers should use the official Asian Games/OCA results or a current competition results service rather than relying on an older article snapshot.
India Medal Tally
| Medal | India |
|---|---|
| 🥇 Gold | Update during Games |
| 🥈 Silver | Update during Games |
| 🥉 Bronze | Update during Games |
| Total | Update during Games |
Note: This section should be updated regularly after publication as official results become available.
Which Sports Are Important for India?
Indian viewers will have particular interest in:
Athletics
India has a large athletics contingent, including defending Asian Games champions and other leading athletes.
Shooting
Shooting has traditionally been an important medal-producing discipline for India and has a substantial Indian presence at Aichi-Nagoya.
Badminton
PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen and other Indian shuttlers are part of India's badminton campaign.
Hockey
Both Indian hockey teams are competing, with Olympic qualification implications attached to the tournament.
Cricket
Both Indian cricket teams are competing in the T20 competition.
Kabaddi
India's men's and women's teams enter the Games as defending champions.
Wrestling
India has a sizeable wrestling contingent featuring established international competitors.
Weightlifting
Mirabai Chanu leads India's weightlifting contingent.
Asian Games 2026: Important New Features
Aichi-Nagoya 2026 is notable for more than just its number of sports.
MMA makes its Asian Games debut
Mixed martial arts is appearing at the Asian Games for the first time, with six events on the programme.
Teqball
Teqball is another new addition, and India's campaign began in the sport before the opening ceremony.
Cruise ship as Games accommodation
The Games are using a cruise ship as part of the accommodation setup for athletes and officials, rather than relying exclusively on a traditional purpose-built Games Village.
Olympic qualification opportunities
Several sports at Aichi-Nagoya have qualification implications for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, including hockey and other disciplines.
Asian Games 2026 FAQs
When are the Asian Games 2026?
The Asian Games 2026 officially take place from September 19 to October 4, 2026, in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Where are the Asian Games 2026 being held?
The Games are centred in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, Japan, with events also being held at other Japanese venues.
How many countries are participating?
Athletes from 45 countries and regions are participating.
How many sports are there in Asian Games 2026?
There are 43 sports and 469 medal events.
How many sports is India participating in?
India is participating in 34 sports.
Where can I watch Asian Games 2026 in India?
The Games are being broadcast on Sony Sports Network and streamed on SonyLIV in India.
When is the Asian Games 2026 opening ceremony?
The opening ceremony is scheduled for September 19, 2026, at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium.
Is cricket included in Asian Games 2026?
Yes. Cricket is included in T20 format, with men's and women's competitions.
Is kabaddi included in Asian Games 2026?
Yes. India is participating in both men's and women's kabaddi.
Is Neeraj Chopra competing at Asian Games 2026?
The original Indian squad announcement included Neeraj Chopra, but later reporting said he withdrew because of an ankle injury. Readers should check the latest official squad information for the final status.
How did India perform at the previous Asian Games?
India won a record 107 medals at Hangzhou, including 28 gold, 38 silver and 41 bronze medals.
Important Links
Official Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Website
Olympic Council of Asia – Aichi-Nagoya 2026
India's Asian Games Schedule – Olympics.com
Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports – Asian Games 2026
Final Takeaway
The Asian Games 2026 are underway in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with the official Games period running from September 19 to October 4. The 20th edition features 43 sports, 469 medal events and athletes from 45 countries and regions.
For Indian viewers, cricket, hockey, athletics, shooting, badminton, wrestling, boxing, kabaddi and weightlifting are among the major sports to follow. India is participating across 34 sports and comes into the Games after its record 107-medal performance at Hangzhou.
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