The Asian Games is the largest continental multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from across Asia, organized by the Olympic Council of Asia. The first Asian Games were held in 1951, just after the end of World War II, as an opportunity to reestablish the bonds between the peoples of the Asian countries that had been broken by the war. Since then, the Asian Games have grown into an important event that fosters friendship through sports and contributes to peace and prosperity in Asia.
The 20th Asian Games will be held in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya City from September 19 to October 4, 2026 with 40 sports and 15,000 athletes and team officials from 45 countries or regions around the world. The theme of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games is “Imagine One Asia,” aiming to promote Asia’s rich culture through the power of sport and to deepen exchange with other countries in Asia.
Cricket and Mixed Martial Arts have been formally approved by the Olympic Council of Asia to appear in the programme for the 2026 Asian Games, which are being co-hosted by Japan’s Aichi Prefecture and its capital Nagoya. The decision was made at the AINAGOC board meeting in Nagoya on Monday.
The AINAGOC is making arrangements to host both events, working with municipalities that have cricket facilities in the Aichi Prefecture as well as examining possibilities for venues in areas outside of the Aichi Prefecture such as Sano, Tochigi Prefecture. Those arrangements will be made in accordance with the Host City Contract between AINAGOC, the Olympic Council of Asia and the Japanese Olympic Committee.