The esports schedule for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan has officially been announced, giving millions of gaming fans across Asia a clear timetable for one of the biggest esports events of the year. The competition will feature 11 medal events across 13 game titles, with esports taking place from September 23 to October 2, 2026, at Aichi Sky Expo.
Esports is returning as a full medal competition for the second consecutive Asian Games after making its official medal debut at Hangzhou 2022. This year’s program expands the number of medal disciplines, bringing together major competitive games ranging from League of Legends and PUBG Mobile to eFootball, Gran Turismo 7 and fighting games.
Asian Games 2026 Esports Schedule at a Glance
The esports competition will run for 10 days, beginning on September 23 and concluding on October 2.
The Olympic Council of Asia has confirmed participating National Olympic Committees for all 11 medal events. E-football has the largest field with 24 participating NOCs, followed by Gran Turismo 7 with 16 and the fighting-game competition with 14.
The complete competition schedule is:
| Date | Esports event |
|---|---|
| September 23 | Gran Turismo 7 |
| September 23 | eFootball |
| September 24 | Naraka: Bladepoint |
| September 25 | Fighting Game Team Battle |
| September 26 | Puyo Puyo Champions |
| September 26 | Fighting Game Team Battle Final |
| September 27 | Pokémon UNITE |
| September 28 | Honor of Kings |
| September 29 | PUBG Mobile |
| September 30 | Identity V |
| October 1 | Mobile Legends: Bang Bang |
| October 2 | League of Legends |
The published schedule places the events across consecutive days, creating a packed esports calendar throughout the second half of the Asian Games.
League of Legends Gets the Final Day Spotlight
One of the biggest highlights will be League of Legends, which is scheduled for October 2, the final day of the esports competition.
The League of Legends tournament is expected to feature eight National Olympic Committee teams. The Olympic Council of Asia lists South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Vietnam, India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia among the participating NOCs.
The tournament will be particularly notable because host nation Japan will not field a League of Legends team despite hosting the Asian Games. Japan’s esports federation previously announced that it would not participate in League of Legends at Aichi-Nagoya.
The competition is therefore expected to attract significant attention from fans across Asia, particularly because League of Legends has one of the region’s largest professional esports audiences.
PUBG Mobile and Mobile Legends Take Center Stage
Mobile esports will also have a major presence at the Asian Games.
PUBG Mobile is scheduled for September 29, while Mobile Legends: Bang Bang will be played on October 1. Both titles have enormous player bases across Asia and are among the most important mobile esports games in the region.
The Olympic Council of Asia has confirmed 12 NOCs for PUBG Mobile and 11 NOCs for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.
Their inclusion highlights how mobile gaming has become a major part of competitive esports in Asia, where smartphone gaming represents a huge portion of the overall gaming market.
Fighting Games Combine Three Major Titles
The fighting-game medal event will be particularly unusual because it combines Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8 and The King of Fighters XV into a single team competition.
The event begins on September 25, with the final scheduled for September 26. Instead of awarding separate medals for each fighting game, the three titles contribute to one competitive team event.
This format gives the fighting-game community a major international stage while allowing players from different competitive scenes to compete under one national-team structure.
eFootball and Gran Turismo 7 Open the Competition
The esports program begins on September 23 with Gran Turismo 7 and eFootball.
Gran Turismo 7 is scheduled to run from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., followed by eFootball from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., according to the schedule released by the Japan Esports Union.
Both titles provide a strong connection between traditional sports and esports. eFootball represents football competition in digital form, while Gran Turismo 7 brings competitive motorsport into the Asian Games environment.
Gran Turismo 7 has 16 participating NOCs, while eFootball has the largest field of the entire esports program with 24 NOCs.
Pokémon UNITE, Honor of Kings and Puyo Puyo Join the Lineup
The schedule also includes several games with enormous popularity across Asian markets.
Pokémon UNITE will take place on September 27, followed by Honor of Kings on September 28. Puyo Puyo Champions is scheduled for September 26.
These games demonstrate the broad range of esports being represented at Aichi-Nagoya. Rather than concentrating entirely on traditional PC esports, the Asian Games program includes console, PC and mobile-based competitive titles.
The official program also includes Identity V, scheduled for September 30, and Naraka: Bladepoint, scheduled for September 24.
India Set for Another Major Esports Opportunity
India will be among the countries competing in the esports program, with the country’s presence particularly relevant in titles where Asian competition is highly developed.
India is listed among the eight participating NOCs for the League of Legends event.
The Asian Games provide Indian esports athletes with an opportunity to compete under the national flag on a major international sporting platform. Esports’ continued inclusion in the Asian Games also gives competitive gaming greater visibility within India’s broader sports ecosystem.
The final rosters and selections vary by title, meaning India’s participation and player lineups will differ between individual competitions.
A Bigger Esports Program Than Hangzhou
The 2026 Asian Games represent an expansion of esports compared with the previous edition.
At Hangzhou, esports featured seven medal titles. For Aichi-Nagoya, the Olympic Council of Asia approved 11 esports titles, with the fighting-game team competition incorporating three individual game titles, resulting in 13 games across the 11 medal events.
That expansion reflects the growing importance of competitive gaming across Asia.
The selection also demonstrates that esports at major multi-sport competitions is no longer limited to a small group of established PC games. Mobile gaming, racing, football simulations, puzzle games, battle royale titles and fighting games are all represented.
Where Will Asian Games Esports Be Held?
All esports competitions will be held at Aichi Sky Expo, the large international exhibition center located near Chubu Centrair International Airport.
The venue is being used as the main esports location during the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The official Asian Games website identifies Aichi Sky Expo as the esports competition venue.
The centralized venue will allow spectators to watch multiple esports disciplines during the 10-day competition.
The Asian Games Esports Schedule Is Now Set
With the complete schedule announced, the focus now shifts toward national-team selections, final rosters and the competitions themselves.
From Gran Turismo 7 and eFootball on September 23 to League of Legends on October 2, fans will have esports competition on almost every day of the Asian Games program.
The event represents another major step for esports within traditional international sports. With 11 medal events, 13 game titles and participating teams from across Asia, Aichi-Nagoya 2026 is set to be one of the largest esports programs ever staged at the Asian Games.
The final day could prove particularly significant, with League of Legends closing the esports schedule on October 2. For players, teams and fans across Asia, the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will provide a major international stage where esports athletes compete for medals alongside the continent’s traditional sporting stars.
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