Asian Games 2026 to feature 11 esports disciplines in Japan

Esports just got promoted again. The 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, will include 11 esports medal events, a significant jump from the seven contested at the Hangzhou 2023 edition. The competitions will run from September 23 to October 2 at the Aichi International Exhibition Center in Tokoname, nestled within the broader Games window of September 19 to October 4. The Olympic Council of Asia formalized the decision during its executive board meeting in Harbin, China, back in February 2025. From demo sport to medal contender Esports first appeared as a demonstration sport at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games with no medals at stake. By 2022 (held in 2023 due to COVID delays), it had graduated to full medal sport status in Hangzhou, where China claimed the inaugural esports gold in Arena of Valor. Now the format is expanding by more than 50%, going from seven medal events to 11 across 13 gaming titles. Confirmed titles for the 2026 edition include Street Fighter Series, Tekken Series, League of Legends, PUBG Mobile (Asian Games Version), and Pokemon UNITE. Why Japan matters The Japan Esports Union, one of the key organizing bodies for the 2026 events, was only established in 2018 af...