International Visitor Forecast & Country Participation at Asian Games 2026
Projected Visitors by Continent (placed at the very top)
The 20th Asian Games will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October 2026. As of now, the organizing bodies have not released an official spectator forecast broken down by continent. To help stakeholders plan, the table below provides a cautious, clearly labeled working assumption derived from historical attendance patterns at prior continental multi-sport events and Japan's hosting capacity. These figures are placeholders and should be replaced once official data is issued.
| Continent | Share of Visitors (working assumption) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Asia | ~80-85% | Proximity, visa facilitation, strong regional interest. |
| North America | ~5-7% | Diaspora travel, media, sports tourism. |
| Europe | ~4-6% | Broad multi-sport following; sponsors and press. |
| Oceania | ~2-3% | Expat communities; event workforce. |
| Africa & Latin America | ~1% combined | Officials, press, and general spectators. |
In addition to spectators, approximately 15,000 athletes and officials are expected. The majority of in-person attendees will originate within Asia, while digital audiences will be global.
Event Context
Aichi-Nagoya 2026 is a large multi-sport gathering representing all regions of Asia. Venues are distributed across the host area to spread economic impact and improve access. The program combines Olympic core sports with disciplines that reflect Asia's sporting heritage and contemporary interests, strengthening both elite performance and cultural exchange.
Japan's transport connectivity, multilingual signage, and event operations experience support high spectator throughput. While detailed venue-by-venue spectator caps are not included here, the local model emphasizes efficient flows, short inter-venue travel times, and accessibility for visitors with diverse needs.
Participating Nations (All 45 Asian NOCs)
All 45 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) recognized within Asia are expected to send delegations. Representation spans five macro-regions:
- East Asia: China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mongolia, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Macau
- Southeast Asia: Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Brunei, Timor-Leste
- South Asia: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives
- Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan
- West Asia: Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Palestine, Yemen
Delegation sizes vary by nation and sport. Larger teams typically reflect broad multi-sport depth and qualification across numerous disciplines, while smaller delegations focus on targeted events aligned with national strengths.
Sports Program Overview
The Games plan to stage 43 sports. This includes the 32 Olympic disciplines alongside additional Asian and emerging sports. Final event lists, quotas, and schedules are confirmed closer to the opening date; the structure below reflects the established framework discussed across prior planning updates.
Core Olympic Sports (32)
- Athletics, Aquatics (e.g., swimming), Gymnastics
- Judo, Taekwondo, Boxing, Wrestling, Weightlifting
- Archery, Shooting, Fencing
- Badminton, Table Tennis, Tennis
- Basketball, Volleyball, Handball, Hockey, Football
- Cycling, Canoe, Rowing, Sailing
- Golf, Triathlon, Rugby Sevens
- Sport Climbing, Surfing, Baseball/Softball (where staged)
Asian Regional Sports (5)
- Wushu (East Asia)
- Sepak Takraw (Southeast Asia)
- Kabaddi (South Asia)
- Kurash (Central Asia)
- Jujitsu (West Asia)
Additional / Newer Disciplines
- Esports (multiple titles; medal events)
- Cricket
- Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
This combined program is designed to balance universality (via Olympic sports), regional identity (through Asian disciplines), and new audience engagement (with Esports and MMA). Exact medal events, formats, and quotas are finalized by the organizers and technical committees as the Games approach.
Regional Strengths & Examples of Country-Event Alignment
The following examples illustrate how countries typically align with specific events based on longstanding participation and competitive depth. These examples are not exhaustive selections or entry confirmations; final entries are published by the organizing committee and the NOCs.
Wushu
- Commonly strong: China, Hong Kong, Macau
- Regular contenders: Chinese Taipei, Vietnam, Japan
- Breadth across East & Southeast Asia
Sepak Takraw
- Leaders: Thailand, Malaysia
- Frequent finalists: Indonesia, Philippines
- Regional focus: Southeast Asia
Kabaddi
- Core nations: India, Iran, Pakistan
- Established programs: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal
- South Asia at the forefront
Kurash
- Central Asian strength: Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan
- Regular participation: Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan
Jujitsu
- Notable programs: UAE, Jordan, Bahrain
- Competitive spread across West Asia
Cricket
- Powerhouses: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh
- Regulars/Emerging: Afghanistan, Nepal
- Additional participation possible from Gulf and host development teams
Esports
- Frequent leaders: Republic of Korea, China
- Strong depth: Japan, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Chinese Taipei
- Popular titles include strategy, MOBA, and fighting games
MMA
- Established scenes: Japan, Republic of Korea, Thailand
- Grappling/striking depth: Iran, Kazakhstan
- Growing federation support across Asia
In Olympic core sports, depth is widespread: Japan, China, and the Republic of Korea traditionally excel in judo, gymnastics, and aquatics; Southeast Asia contributes world-class badminton and weightlifting programs; Central Asia shows sustained results in wrestling and weightlifting; West Asia competes strongly in combat and strength sports; South Asia fields competitive shooting and archery squads alongside team sports.
Category Snapshot
| Category | Indicative Scope | Typical Participation |
|---|---|---|
| Olympic Core | 32 disciplines | All 45 NOCs represented |
| Asian Regional | 5 disciplines | Concentrated regional specialists |
| Additional / New | Esports, Cricket, MMA | Broad, youth-focused engagement |
This high-level snapshot balances a compact mobile-friendly layout with enough specificity for planning. Wider technical tables (e.g., entry quotas by event) are intentionally excluded here to maintain mobile compatibility.
Practical Notes for Planners
- Final sport entries and event-by-event participation are confirmed by the organizing committee and NOCs closer to the Games.
- Spectator projections by continent are not officially published at this time; the working assumptions provided here are clearly labeled for internal planning.
- Venue distribution across Aichi is designed to reduce congestion and provide multiple local economic touchpoints.
- Digital viewership is expected to be global and substantial, complementing on-site attendance.
Conclusion
Aichi-Nagoya 2026 combines a comprehensive multi-sport program with regional hallmarks and contemporary disciplines. With all 45 Asian NOCs participating, robust athlete and official numbers, and broad spectator interest centered in Asia and extending worldwide, the Games are positioned to deliver competitive excellence and cultural exchange at scale. As official data is released, planners should update visitor models and event allocations while retaining the mobile-first presentation approach outlined in this article.