The 2026 Asian Games, held in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya city from 19 September to 4 October, will be the 20th Asian Games and the third time Japan hosts the event. The games will feature 40 sports, 15,000 athletes and team officials from 45 countries and regions around Asia and have a theme of ‘Imagine One Asia’ to promote international exchange and deepen growing friendship in Asia through the power of sports.
Among the new events, cricket and mixed martial arts have been added to the programme, and kabaddi has been reinstated as a medal event after making its debut at Hangzhou 2023. The organising committee has also confirmed that the games will include six MMA competitions and three events in kurash, a martial art that combines wrestling with boxing and other techniques.
In addition, the committee is actively working to formulate a comprehensive transport plan that will be centered on train services from Japan and overseas. It will also seek to use various methods of promoting the games and the transportation system, including public announcements and shuttle buses.
The Aichi-Nagoya Organising Committee aims to hold the Games with the cooperation of the government, local communities and businesses such as transport service providers, mass media and sports-related organizations. It will strive to provide visitors with a comfortable and safe visit, while making full use of the rich culture that Aichi-Nagoya offers, including its history as home to many warlords during the Sengoku period and its unique food culture, in order to ensure that all people have a positive experience at the games.