The 20th Asian Games will officially run from September 19 to October 4, 2026, bringing Asia’s largest multi-sport competition to Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The Opening Ceremony is set for September 19 and the Closing Ceremony for October 4, but sporting action begins earlier: the wider competition programme starts on September 10, while cricket begins on September 17.1
This complete guide brings the essential information together in one place. It explains the dates, host region, sports programme, India’s participation, cricket fixtures, key athletes, venues, broadcast information and the questions fans are most likely to ask before the Games begin.
Bookmark this guide now. It is designed as a single reference page for the Asian Games 2026 calendar, India’s campaign and the complete men’s and women’s cricket programme.
Asian Games 2026 Quick Facts
| Detail | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| Official name | 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 |
| Official Games dates | September 19–October 4, 2026 |
| Early competition start | September 10, 2026 |
| Host | Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya City, Japan |
| Opening Ceremony | September 19, Paloma Mizuho Stadium |
| Closing Ceremony | October 4, Paloma Mizuho Stadium |
| Current programme | 43 sports, 71 disciplines, 469 medal events |
| Expected participation | 45 countries and regions |
| Official slogan | Imagine One Asia |
| Games mascot | HONOHON |
| India’s participation | 34 sports |
| Cricket dates | September 17–October 3 |
| Cricket venue | Korogi Athletic Park, Aichi Prefecture |
| India broadcaster listed by Olympics.com | Sony Sports Network |
The latest programme figures are important because early 2026 schedules listed 41 sports and 461 events. Padel and teqball were subsequently added, taking the updated programme to 43 sports, 71 disciplines and 469 medal events.2 Older figures may therefore still appear on some pages and promotional material.
When and Where Are the Asian Games 2026?
Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya City are jointly hosting the Games. Most events will be held across Aichi, but selected sports will use venues elsewhere in Japan. Swimming and diving are scheduled for the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, equestrian competition will take place in Tokyo, track cycling will use the Izu Velodrome, and hockey will be played in Gifu.
The official 16-day Games period begins with the Opening Ceremony on September 19. However, organisers have placed some competitions before that date to fit the complete programme. Basketball starts on September 10, football on September 14, modern pentathlon on September 16, and cricket on September 17.1
This means two dates must be understood together:
| Question | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| When do the Asian Games officially run? | September 19–October 4, 2026 |
| When does sporting competition begin? | September 10, 2026 |
| When does cricket begin? | September 17, 2026 |
The Games mark Japan’s third time hosting the Asian Games, after Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994. They also return the event to Japan after a 32-year gap.2
How Big Is Aichi-Nagoya 2026?
The latest event guide expects more than 15,000 athletes to gather for 469 medal events across 43 sports.1 The scale makes Aichi-Nagoya one of the most complex editions in Asian Games history, combining globally recognised Olympic sports with disciplines that have strong cultural or competitive roots across Asia.
The programme includes athletics, swimming, badminton, boxing, hockey, table tennis, wrestling, weightlifting and shooting. It also retains sports such as kabaddi, sepaktakraw, wushu, kurash and esports, giving the Asian Games a distinct identity beyond a standard Olympic programme.
Aichi-Nagoya also introduces several new additions. Padel and teqball were added in 2026. Surfing will make its Asian Games debut, BMX freestyle joins the cycling programme, mixed martial arts appears under combat sports, and virtual taekwondo is included for the first time.2
Complete Asian Games 2026 Sports List
| Group | Sports and disciplines |
|---|---|
| Aquatic and endurance | Aquatics, athletics, triathlon, modern pentathlon, rowing |
| Racket and court | Badminton, table tennis, tennis, soft tennis, squash, padel, teqball |
| Team sports | Basketball, 3×3 basketball, cricket, football, handball, hockey, rugby sevens, volleyball, beach volleyball, baseball, softball |
| Combat | Boxing, judo, karate, taekwondo, wrestling, jiu-jitsu, kurash, mixed martial arts, wushu |
| Precision and skill | Archery, shooting, golf, fencing, sailing |
| Cycling and board sports | Track cycling, road cycling, mountain bike, BMX racing, BMX freestyle, skateboarding, surfing |
| Gymnastics and performance | Artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline, breaking |
| Asian and emerging sports | Kabaddi, sepaktakraw, esports, sport climbing, canoe sprint and canoe slalom |
| Equestrian | Dressage, eventing and jumping |
Aquatics offers the largest number of medal events, followed by athletics, shooting and cycling. India are expected to compete in 34 of the 43 sports, with athletics providing the country’s largest contingent.2
India at Asian Games 2026: What to Expect
India arrive in Japan after a record-breaking Hangzhou 2023 campaign that produced 107 medals. The 2026 programme presents opportunities across athletics, shooting, archery, badminton, boxing, hockey, kabaddi, wrestling and cricket, among other sports.
Olympics.com lists India in 34 sports. The country will not compete in nine: baseball/softball, basketball, breaking, football, handball, modern pentathlon, padel, skateboarding and triathlon.
The absence of football is one of the most discussed selection decisions, but India still carry major medal expectations in several areas. Athletics delivered 29 medals at Hangzhou, while shooting contributed 22. India also enter Aichi-Nagoya as defending champions in both men’s and women’s cricket and both kabaddi events.
| Major India focus | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Athletics | India’s highest medal-producing sport at Hangzhou 2023 |
| Shooting | Deep event programme and strong recent Asian performance |
| Hockey | Both teams have major-title expectations and LA28 implications |
| Badminton | India have world-class individual and doubles potential |
| Boxing | Multiple medal categories and established Indian contenders |
| Kabaddi | India defend both men’s and women’s titles |
| Cricket | India defend both T20 gold medals |
The Games also carry Olympic significance. Aichi-Nagoya offers direct LA28 quota pathways in sports including archery, hockey, sailing, squash, surfing, tennis and triathlon. Results in cricket, judo, skateboarding, weightlifting and other disciplines can contribute indirectly through ranking systems.1
Asian Games 2026 Cricket: Format, Venue and Dates
Cricket will be played in the T20 format at Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi Prefecture. The women’s event runs from September 17 to 22, and the men’s event follows from September 24 to October 3.4
This is cricket’s fourth Asian Games appearance. The sport debuted at Guangzhou 2010, returned at Incheon 2014, missed Jakarta 2018 and rejoined the programme at Hangzhou 2023. Separate men’s and women’s competitions have been held at each appearance.
India made their Asian Games cricket debut in Hangzhou and won both gold medals. The women beat Sri Lanka by 19 runs in the final. The men finished above Afghanistan after the rain-affected final could not be completed.
For a shorter breaking-news version with only the key fixtures and squads, read the latest Asian Games 2026 cricket schedule update.
Women’s Cricket Format and India’s Route
The women’s tournament contains eight teams and begins directly with the quarter-finals. India face hosts Japan, Bangladesh meet China, Pakistan play Thailand and Sri Lanka take on Malaysia.
India need three wins to retain gold: a quarter-final on September 18, a semi-final on September 20 and the gold-medal match on September 22.
Asian Games 2026 Women’s Cricket Schedule
| Date | Fixture | Round | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 17 | Bangladesh vs China | Quarter-final | 5:30 AM |
| September 17 | Pakistan vs Thailand | Quarter-final | 10:30 AM |
| September 18 | Sri Lanka vs Malaysia | Quarter-final | 5:30 AM |
| September 18 | India vs Japan | Quarter-final | 10:30 AM |
| September 20 | Pakistan/Thailand winner vs Sri Lanka/Malaysia winner | Semi-final | 5:30 AM |
| September 20 | Bangladesh/China winner vs India/Japan winner | Semi-final | 10:30 AM |
| September 22 | Bronze medal match | Third-place playoff | 5:30 AM |
| September 22 | Gold medal match | Final | 10:30 AM |
India Women’s Cricket Squad
Harmanpreet Kaur captains the defending champions, with Smriti Mandhana as vice-captain. Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Renuka Thakur and Sree Charani add experience across the key departments.
Squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), G. Kamalini (wicketkeeper), Bharti Fulmali, Sree Charani, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav, Nandni Sharma and Pratika Rawal.
The latest squad report lists Shreyanka Patil as subject to fitness. It also says Jemimah Rodrigues has been ruled out by a high-grade right hamstring tear, with a replacement not yet announced at the time of the September 9 update.
India’s quarter-final against Japan will be a knockout match, not a warm-up. The defending champions have the stronger international record, but unfamiliar conditions and an early start mean concentration must be immediate.
Men’s Cricket Format and India’s Route
The men’s tournament contains 10 teams. Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal compete in Group A. Hong Kong China, Malaysia and Oman form Group B. The top two from each group join seeded teams India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the quarter-finals.
India will play the Group A runners-up on September 28. If they advance, the bracket places them in the second semi-final on October 1, followed by a medal match on October 3.
Asian Games 2026 Men’s Cricket Schedule
| Date | Fixture | Round | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 24 | Afghanistan vs Japan | Group A | 5:30 AM |
| September 24 | Hong Kong China vs Malaysia | Group B | 10:30 AM |
| September 25 | Hong Kong China vs Oman | Group B | 5:30 AM |
| September 25 | Afghanistan vs Nepal | Group A | 10:30 AM |
| September 26 | Japan vs Nepal | Group A | 5:30 AM |
| September 26 | Malaysia vs Oman | Group B | 10:30 AM |
| September 28 | Pakistan vs Group B runners-up | Quarter-final | 5:30 AM |
| September 28 | India vs Group A runners-up | Quarter-final | 10:00 AM |
| September 29 | Sri Lanka vs Group A winners | Quarter-final | 5:30 AM |
| September 29 | Bangladesh vs Group B winners | Quarter-final | 10:00 AM |
| October 1 | First semi-final | Semi-final | 5:30 AM |
| October 1 | Second semi-final | Semi-final | 10:00 AM |
| October 3 | Bronze medal match | Third-place playoff | 5:30 AM |
| October 3 | Gold medal match | Final | 10:00 AM |
India Men’s Cricket Squad
Shreyas Iyer leads India, with Tilak Varma as vice-captain. Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan are the two wicketkeeping choices. The batting group includes Abhishek Sharma, Shivam Dube and 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, while Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi headline the bowling options.5
Squad: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.5
The squad overlaps heavily with India’s preceding Delhi series. Our Afghanistan vs India first T20I preview explains the roles and tactical questions around many of those players.
India’s seeded position reduces the number of matches required, but it creates a different challenge. Their quarter-final opponent will have already played group-stage cricket at the venue. India must therefore adjust immediately to the surface and morning start without a preliminary match.
Save both India cricket dates now, share the tables with another fan and follow the 4xSports Cricket section for match-specific previews.
Key Asian Games 2026 Venues
Aichi-Nagoya is using a distributed venue model. Existing facilities are central to the organisers’ plan, with temporary infrastructure added where necessary.7
| Sport or function | Main venue or location |
|---|---|
| Opening and Closing Ceremonies | Paloma Mizuho Stadium, Nagoya |
| Cricket | Korogi Athletic Park, Nisshin, Aichi |
| Athletics | Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium and city road course |
| Badminton | Ichinomiya City Municipal Gymnasium |
| Esports | Aichi Sky Expo |
| Hockey | Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium |
| Swimming and diving | Tokyo Aquatics Centre |
| Track cycling | Izu Velodrome |
| Equestrian | Equestrian Park, Tokyo |
| Surfing | Pacific Long Beach, Tahara |
The use of Tokyo 2020 facilities for swimming, diving, equestrian and track cycling reduces the need to create entirely new venues. It also spreads the Games beyond the immediate Aichi-Nagoya area.1
New Sports and Disciplines to Watch
Aichi-Nagoya expands the Asian Games programme with sports that appeal to different audiences. Padel brings a fast-growing racket sport into the medal programme. Teqball combines football skills with a curved table. Surfing arrives with men’s and women’s shortboard events, and BMX freestyle adds park competitions for both genders.2
Mixed martial arts will be staged as a discipline under combat sports, with six medal events. Virtual taekwondo adds a technology-driven mixed individual event. Breaking and esports, which made their official Asian Games debuts at Hangzhou 2023, remain on the programme.2
These additions make the Games broader, but they also create scheduling complexity. Fans should follow sport-specific timetables rather than assuming every event begins after the Opening Ceremony.
How to Watch Asian Games 2026 in India
Olympics.com lists Sony Sports Network as an India broadcaster for Aichi-Nagoya 2026.1 Because only selected sports and sessions may be shown on particular channels or streams, viewers should confirm daily listings close to the event.
The official Aichi-Nagoya website also provides sections for schedules, live results and the medal table. Time differences are important: many cricket matches begin at 5:30 AM or 10:30 AM IST, while India Men’s quarter-final is listed for 10:00 AM IST.4
A practical viewing plan is to save the sport-specific dates, check the official schedule the evening before, and verify any last-minute change on the morning of competition.
Why Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Matters Beyond Medals
The Asian Games are the continent’s leading multi-sport competition, but the 2026 edition also connects directly to the next Olympic cycle. Several sports award direct LA28 quota positions, while others contribute ranking points or pathway results.1
For cricket, Aichi-Nagoya is especially meaningful. The sport returned to the Asian Games in 2023 and will join the Olympic programme at Los Angeles 2028. A strong, competitive tournament in Japan gives national teams another high-pressure T20 event inside a multi-sport environment.
The competition also exposes emerging cricket nations to larger audiences. Japan appear in both cricket tournaments as hosts, while Malaysia, Thailand, China and Oman participate in important knockout or preliminary fixtures. For readers interested in the continued growth of women’s cricket, our Bangladesh Women vs UAE Women preview and Pakistan Women vs Hong Kong Women preview provide more regional context.
Asian Games 2026 FAQ
When are the Asian Games 2026?
The official Games period is September 19 to October 4, 2026. Some competitions begin before the Opening Ceremony, with the wider sports schedule starting on September 10.1
Where will the Asian Games 2026 be held?
The Games are jointly hosted by Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya City in Japan. Most competitions are in Aichi, while selected events use venues in Tokyo, Izu, Gifu and Hamamatsu.1
When is the Asian Games 2026 Opening Ceremony?
The Opening Ceremony is scheduled for September 19, 2026, at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya.1
When is the Asian Games 2026 Closing Ceremony?
The Closing Ceremony is scheduled for October 4, 2026, at the same Nagoya venue.1
How many sports are in the Asian Games 2026?
The latest programme contains 43 sports, 71 disciplines and 469 medal events. Padel and teqball were added after earlier schedules had listed 41 sports.2
When does cricket start at the Asian Games 2026?
Women’s cricket begins on September 17 and ends on September 22. Men’s cricket starts on September 24 and concludes on October 3.4
Where will Asian Games cricket be played?
All cricket matches are scheduled for Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi Prefecture, also described in schedules as being in Nisshin, Japan.1
When do India Women play their first cricket match?
India Women face Japan in the quarter-finals on September 18 at 10:30 AM IST.4
When do India Men play their first cricket match?
India Men face the Group A runners-up in the quarter-finals on September 28 at 10:00 AM IST.4
Who captains India in Asian Games cricket?
Harmanpreet Kaur captains India Women, while Shreyas Iyer leads India Men. Smriti Mandhana and Tilak Varma are the respective vice-captains.5
How many cricket matches must India win to take gold?
Both Indian teams enter at the quarter-final stage. Each side must win a quarter-final, a semi-final and the gold-medal match—three consecutive knockout victories—to claim the title.4
Which channel will show the Asian Games 2026 in India?
Olympics.com lists Sony Sports Network as an India broadcaster. Fans should check local television and streaming listings near the event because sport-by-sport availability can change.1
Is cricket part of the LA28 Olympic pathway?
Cricket is scheduled for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Olympics.com reports that Asian Games results contribute indirectly to cricket’s ranking pathway rather than awarding a direct quota at Aichi-Nagoya.1
Is this the first Asian Games in Japan?
No. Japan previously hosted the Asian Games in Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994. Aichi-Nagoya 2026 is the country’s third edition.2
What is the Asian Games 2026 slogan?
The official slogan is “Imagine One Asia.” The Games mascot is named HONOHON.3
Final Word: Save the Calendar Before the Action Starts
Aichi-Nagoya 2026 officially begins on September 19, but fans should not wait until the Opening Ceremony. Competition starts on September 10, India Women play their first cricket knockout on September 18, and dozens of medals will be decided before the Closing Ceremony on October 4.
India’s 34-sport campaign combines established medal strengths with two cricket title defences. The size of the programme means no single broadcast or daily schedule can show everything, so planning matters.
Bookmark this complete guide, share it with your sports group and follow the 4xSports News section for verified daily updates, match previews and results throughout the Asian Games.
