Asian Games 2026

Asian Games 2026 at a Glance

The Asian Games is the world's second-largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics, held every four years by the Olympic Council of Asia. The 2026 edition — the 20th Asian Games, known as Aichi-Nagoya 2026 — marks Japan's third time hosting the Games, after Tokyo 1958 and Hiroshima 1994. The event carries the motto "Imagine One Asia" and is expected to be one of the largest editions yet, blending core Olympic sports with regional favourites like kabaddi, sepak takraw and wushu, alongside newer additions such as breaking, MMA and esports.

Although the official opening ceremony falls on 19 September, competitive action actually begins earlier — football preliminaries and women's cricket are both scheduled to start in the week before the opening ceremony, so fans planning around a specific sport should check individual competition dates rather than assuming everything starts on the same day.

Pakistan vs India at Asian Games 2026

No storyline drives more search interest around any Asian Games than the possibility of a Pakistan vs India clash — and 2026 is no exception. The two nations' rivalry spans multiple sports at the Asian Games, each with its own history, and fans on both sides are already asking the same question: can Pakistan face India in 2026, and in which sports is it most likely?

While the exact fixtures for 2026 will only be finalised once the full draws and group stages are confirmed, the pattern from recent editions suggests Pakistan and India are most likely to cross paths in cricket, hockey, squash, kabaddi and possibly volleyball — and any of these meetings tend to be among the most-watched sessions of the entire Games. We'll update this section with confirmed fixture dates as the schedule firms up.

Asian Games Cricket 2026

Cricket returns to the Asian Games for the fourth time in 2026, and for only the second time carrying full T20 International status recognised by the ICC (the first being Hangzhou 2023). For Pakistan, India and the wider South Asian diaspora in the UK, cricket is likely to be the single biggest traffic and travel driver of the entire Games.

India enter as defending champions in both the men's and women's competitions, having swept gold in both categories at Hangzhou 2023. That gives India direct quarter-final entry in 2026 as well. Pakistan's men's side, also seeded into the quarter-finals directly, will be one of the tournament favourites given the depth of Pakistani T20 cricket, though — as with any short-format tournament — a single bad day can end a campaign early.

Planning to follow the cricket in person? See our travel guide section below for flights and hotels near Korogi Athletic Park, or contact TripNext directly to start planning your cricket-focused itinerary.

Pakistan Medal Hopes at Asian Games 2026

Pakistan's recent Asian Games record has been modest by historical standards — the country finished with just three medals (one silver, two bronze) at Hangzhou 2023, ranking 31st overall. Still, several sports offer realistic medal chances heading into 2026, and Pakistani fans searching "Pakistan medal chances Asian Games 2026" and "Pakistan gold medal prediction" are watching these events most closely.

We'll continue to update this section with confirmed squad announcements and athlete storylines as Pakistan's contingent for Aichi-Nagoya 2026 is finalised closer to the Games.

India Medal Predictions for Asian Games 2026

India enters Aichi-Nagoya 2026 off the back of its best-ever Asian Games performance at Hangzhou 2023, where the country crossed 100 medals for the first time in Asian Games history. With reports pointing to one of India's largest-ever contingents for 2026, search demand around "India medal tally prediction" and "India gold medal chances" is expected to be significant throughout the Games.

Given the scale of India's 2023 performance and a similarly large squad expected for 2026, most observers expect India to again finish among the top nations on the medal table — though China, Japan and South Korea have traditionally dominated the very top of the standings at recent editions.

Complete Asian Games 2026 Schedule

With 43 sports spread across roughly 16 days of competition (plus preliminary rounds beforehand), the Asian Games 2026 schedule is dense. Here's a snapshot of when some of the most-searched sports are taking place — always confirm exact session times with the official AINAGOC schedule closer to your travel dates.

*Dates reflect the latest confirmed schedule from the Olympic Council of Asia and AINAGOC at the time of publication. Exact session times for individual events, including marathon day and track finals, are released closer to the Games — always check the official schedule before finalising travel dates around a specific event.

Asian Games 2026 Medal Table (Live Updates)

Once competition begins on 19 September 2026, this section will track the live medal table — gold, silver, bronze and total medals by nation — updated throughout the Games. Historically, China, Japan and South Korea have dominated the top of the Asian Games medal table, with India, Uzbekistan, Chinese Taipei and Iran typically rounding out the next tier, and Pakistan competing further down the table for individual and team-sport medals.

For context, at the previous edition (Hangzhou 2023), India recorded its best-ever Asian Games performance, crossing 100 total medals for the first time in the country's history, while Pakistan finished with three medals (one silver, two bronze), ranking 31st overall. Both nations will be looking to build on — or in Pakistan's case, significantly improve — those results in Aichi-Nagoya.

Travel Guide to Japan for Asian Games Fans

Following the Asian Games in person means planning around Japan's entry requirements, flight routing, and the practicalities of getting between venues spread across Aichi Prefecture. Here's what fans from Pakistan, India, the UK and USA need to know.

Flights to Japan for the Asian Games

Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO) is the primary gateway for Aichi-Nagoya 2026, connected to central Nagoya by the Meitetsu (Nagoya Railroad) line, with the fastest μ-SKY service taking around 28 minutes.

*Journey times are indicative and depend on the specific connection used. Direct long-haul options into Tokyo (Narita/Haneda) followed by a domestic connection or Shinkansen to Nagoya are also worth comparing, particularly from the UK and USA.

Hotels Near Asian Games Venues

Given the scale of demand a multi-sport event of this size generates across an entire region, hotel availability — particularly around the opening ceremony (19 September) and the cricket medal matches — is expected to tighten significantly the closer you get to the Games. Get in touch with TripNext as early as possible to secure your preferred base.

Getting Around: Transport in Japan

Cost of Attending the Asian Games 2026

"How much does it cost to attend the Asian Games from Pakistan / India / the UK / the USA" is one of the most common questions we get — here's a realistic per-person budget range for a 5-7 day trip covering flights, a mid-range hotel, local transport, food and a handful of ticketed sessions.

*Figures are indicative estimates for a 5-7 day trip including flights, mid-range accommodation, local transport and food, and vary significantly by exact dates, booking lead time, and ticket costs for individual sessions. Prices are likely to rise closer to the Games as demand increases — booking early is strongly recommended.

Stadium & Venue Guide

Asian Games 2026 events are spread across roughly 53 venues in Aichi Prefecture, with a small number of events also taking place in neighbouring Tokyo, Shizuoka and Gifu.

Most venues are accessible from central Nagoya within 30-60 minutes by rail, making central Nagoya the most practical single base for fans planning to attend multiple sports across the Games.

Tickets & Opening Ceremony

Tickets for the 2026 Asian Games are sold through the official Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee (AINAGOC) ticketing channels. As with any major multi-sport event, always purchase through official or clearly licensed resellers — unofficial resale markets carry real risk of invalid tickets, particularly for high-demand sessions like the opening ceremony (19 September) and cricket medal matches.

Latest Asian Games 2026 News

This section will become the fastest-moving part of the guide once the Games get underway — daily updates on medal wins, India-Pakistan headlines, record-breaking performances, upsets, and viral moments from across the 43 sports on the programme.

Check back throughout the Games (19 September – 4 October 2026) for live updates to this section.