Key Highlights
- Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) will debut with six medal events.
- Cricket returns for its fourth appearance, featuring T20 format for both genders.
- Games hosted in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan from 19 September to 4 October 2026.
- Decision approved by the Olympic Council of Asia on 28 April 2025.
Detailed Insights
For the first time in Asian Games history, the combat sport of Mixed Martial Arts will be part of the programme. The inclusion reflects the sport’s rapid rise in popularity across Asia, especially in India where prominent fighters have entered the UFC.
Cricket, which was omitted in the 2018 edition, will re‑enter the Games in its T20 format for both men and women, continuing a tradition that began with its debut in Guangzhou 2010.
The Olympic Council of Asia’s board meeting on 28 April 2025 formally sanctioned both sports, signalling a broader shift toward diverse and globally resonant disciplines.
Alongside MMA, other combat sports such as kurash and jujitsu will compete under the Combat Sports umbrella, underscoring the Games’ commitment to showcasing a wide array of martial traditions.
Key Concepts
- Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) – A full‑contact combat sport that incorporates techniques from various martial arts disciplines.
- T20 Cricket – A short‑format cricket match where each side plays a maximum of 20 overs.
- Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) – The governing body responsible for the Asian Games and other continental sporting events.
- Combat Sports – Athletic competitions that involve direct physical confrontation, such as boxing, wrestling, and jujitsu.
- Kurash – A traditional Central Asian wrestling style featured in the Asian Games.