Despite being held every four years and having a smaller number of athletes competing than the Olympic Games, Asian Games are one of the world’s largest sporting events. The Asian Games, or Asiad for short, are organised by the Olympic Council of Asia and hosted by a different city each time. In 2026, the Asian Games will be held in Nagoya and Aichi prefectures and feature competitions in 41 sports, including esports. A dedicated task force has been tasked with selecting titles to be included in the event and it’s a strategic move that highlights how organisers and stakeholders must balance competitive integrity with broadcast optimization, in line with the stringent requirements of high-stakes international events.
The selection of cricket and MMA is a significant milestone for the Games, which will be the first to include both cricket and Mixed Martial Arts. Despite being the world’s second most popular sport, cricket has only featured in three of the 19 previous editions of the Asian Games and the latest inclusion marks a real push for its expansion into non-traditional regions. The move is also an important test for a game that has been tripped up by the difficulty in finding venues that are able to host matches on a pitch that’s significantly larger than baseball’s diamond field.
The AINAGOC has started the 1,500-day countdown to the Games, with an official website launched that features inspirational slogans and messages in a ‘thought corner’. The organisation has also confirmed the host city contract, which details the rights and responsibilities between the Olympic Council of Asia, the Japanese Olympic Committee, and the City of Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture.
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