Esports expands to 11 events for Aichi Nagoya Asian Games 2026
Photo from Olympic Council of Asia
Esports expands to 11 events for Aichi Nagoya Asian Games 2026
(UPDATED on February 24) The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Executive Board has officially expanded the esports lineup for the 2026 Aichi Nagoya Asian Games, increasing the number of events to 11.
This marks another significant step in the growth of competitive gaming within multi-sport events, following its successful debut as a medal event at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.
Official Esports Titles for Aichi Nagoya 2026
The following titles have been approved for the 2026 Asian Games after the 93rd OCA Executive Board Meeting:
- Competitive Martial Arts (Team Event, one medal only)
- Pokémon Unite (New)
- Honor of Kings (Replacing Arena of Valor)
- League of Legends – Asian Games Version
- PUBG Mobile – Asian Games Version
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (New)
- Identity V
- NARAKA: BLADEPOINT (New)
- Gran Turismo 7 (New)
- eFootball Series (New)
- Puyo Puyo Champions (New)
This lineup introduces seven new titles, including Honor of Kings, Pokémon Unite, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, NARAKA: BLADEPOINT, Gran Turismo 7, eFootball, and Puyo Puyo Champions.
Competitive Martial Arts is a new addition and will be composed of three titles: Street Fighter, Tekken, and the King of Fighters. This will be a team event and will only have one set of medals.
Notably, Arena of Valor has been replaced by Honor of Kings, while Dota 2 and Hearthstone have been removed from the competition. Additionally, eFootball makes its debut, but EA Sports FC is absent from the selection.
Identity V will also make its debut, replacing Dream Three Kingdoms, which was initially slated in the previous proposal.
Esports at the Asian Games: A Growing Legacy
Esports first entered the Asian Games as a demonstration event at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games. It later became a full-fledged medal event at the 2022 Hangzhou Games, featuring titles such as League of Legends, Dota 2, Street Fighter V, Arena of Valor, FIFA Online 4, Hearthstone, PUBG Mobile, and Dream Three Kingdoms.
With the expansion to 11 events in Aichi Nagoya 2026, the selection reflects the evolving competitive gaming landscape. The addition of new games underscores the rising mainstream recognition of esports, solidifying its status alongside traditional sports.
Governance Updates and Task Force Dissolution
Beyond game selection, the OCA Executive Board has mandated that the Asian Esports Federation (AESF) amend its Constitution to align with good governance practices before its Elective General Assembly on April 6, 2025. Failure to comply will result in the withdrawal of AESF’s recognition by the OCA.
Additionally, the OCA has dissolved the Task Force responsible for finalizing esports titles, signaling the completion of the selection process for Aichi Nagoya 2026.
The 2026 Asian Games will be held from September 19 to October 6, with all Asian National Olympic Committees expected to send delegation to the event.
As esports continues its rise in international sports events, its inclusion in the Asian Games strengthens its legitimacy alongside more traditional sports.
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