The Asian Games, which are the biggest multi-sport events in Asia, are held every four years. The 2026 edition will be held from 19 September to 4 October, with 40 sports and 15,000 athletes and team officials from 45 countries and regions. It will be hosted by Aichi Prefecture and the city of Nagoya, making it the third time Japan has hosted the Games after Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994.
The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games mascot is a golden dragon, symbolizing strength and perseverance. The dragon is an important mythical creature in Chinese, Indian, and Japanese cultures. A dragon is also a symbol of strength and power, as well as compassion and wisdom. It is believed that if a person can overcome hardships with courage and persistence, they will be rewarded with great success in life.
It is common for the host city of an Asian Games to also host an Asian Para Games, which are exclusive to athletes with disabilities. However, in the case of the Aichi-Nagoya Games, there is no clause in the host city contract requiring that the two events be jointly hosted. This will likely lead to future occasions where the Asian Games and the Asian Para Games are held in different cities, and even in different countries.
The Aichi-Nagoya Organising Committee is putting together a plan to efficiently and comfortably transport visitors to competition venues. It will take advantage of Japan’s extensive transportation network, including JR lines (Tokaido Shinkansen, Chuo Main Line, Tokaido Subway, and Kintetsu Railway), private rail companies, and bus lines.