VOL.211 JANUARY 2026
JAPAN AND UME [POLICY-RELATED NEWS] Hosting the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 and 5th Asian Para Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026

Illuminations at Nagoya TV Tower (Chubu Electric Power MIRAI TOWER) and Mizube Hiroba at the Hisaya-odori Park in September 2025, one year before the events are to be held.

In the fall of 2026, the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 and 5th Asian Para Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 will be held at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium as the main venue of the event. This will mark 32 years since the Asian Games was last held in Japan; it is also the first time for the Asian Para Games to be hosted in this country. This article provides an overview of the two events and their highlights.

What are the Asian Games and Asian Para Games?

The Asian Games were first held by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) in New Delhi in 1951, with 11 participating countries including Japan. The Asian Games were advocated with the hope of establishing the ties between Asian countries that had been broken in the Second World War through sports and contributing to everlasting peace in Asia. Since then, the Asian Games have been held in various Asian cities every four years as a general rule. The events in the fall of 2026 will be the first in 32 years and the third time since the 12th Asian Games in Hiroshima in 1994.

The previous incarnation of the Asian Para Games was the Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disabled (FESPIC) Games, an event first held in 1975 at the invitation of Japan as a sports tournament for people with disabilities in the Far East and South Pacific regions; the Asian Para Games have had their current name since 2010. The sight of athletes with a variety of disabilities using their ingenuity to challenge to their limits has moved spectators and filled them with new wonder over the years.

As the world’s second-largest international multi-sports events after the Olympic and Paralympic Games, these tournaments offer unique opportunities to observe Asia’s top athletes in action. In addition, hosting the Asian Para Games contributes to the realization of an inclusive society that respects diversity.

Some key spectacles to look out for at the 2026 tournament, and Supporter ID

A distinctive feature of the Asian Games is, in addition to the Olympic sports, to include events that are widely popular across the Asian region. The 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 will have  several categories with a strongly regional flavor, including Jiu Jitsu¹ (whose roots lie in Japanese martial arts), Wushu² (popular across East Asia), and Kabaddi (a sport beloved in South Asia). Under the slogan “Imagine One Asia,” the 2026 tournament will see contests in 41 categories, including esports, competitive play using computer games, adopted from the previous Games which were held in Hangzhou, China. Meanwhile, there will be 18 categories at the Asian Para Games, including Blind Football and Wheelchair Tennis, under the slogan of “Imagine One Heart.”

The 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 has a registration system for supporters.By registering with the Supporter ID, users can obtain the latest information about the Games, including information about competing athletes, related events and merchandise. Since a Supporter ID is required to purchase tickets, registration is recommended. Users can register from both the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 official ticket site and the 5th Asian Para Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 official ticket site.

Overview of the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 and 5th Asian Para Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026

	20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026	5th Asian Para Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026
Time periods	September 19 to October 4 2026  (16 days)	October 18 to October 24 2026 (7 days)
Number of countries participating	45 Asian countries and regions
Main venue	Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium
Numbers of categories	41 categories	18 categories

For details, please refer to the official website of the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 and the official website of the 5th Asian Para Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026.

• 1.  Jiu Jitsu is a martial arts rooted in Japanese martial traditions. It emphasizes grappling and ground techniques, aiming to control opponents using joint locks and chokeholds known as submissions.
• 2. Wushu's origin can be traced back to Chinese martial arts. There are two types of competition: an individual or group choreographed performance, and a full-contact combat match.