The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has officially confirmed that cricket will be included in the 2026 Asian Games, to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4. The decision was finalized during the 41st AINAGOC Board of Directors meeting at Nagoya City Hall on April 28, where Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) was also approved for inclusion.
While the specific venue for cricket is yet to be announced, the matches will take place within Japan’s Aichi prefecture. This marks the fourth appearance of cricket in the Asian Games, having previously featured in 2010 (Guangzhou), 2014 (Incheon), and most recently in 2023 (Hangzhou), where matches carried international status for the first time.
Cricket’s inclusion is expected to draw widespread interest, particularly due to its massive fanbase in South Asia and its highly anticipated return to the Olympic Games in 2028 in Los Angeles — the first Olympic appearance for cricket since 1900, when Great Britain defeated France in Paris.
The 2026 Asian Games will feature 41 sports and host around 15,000 athletes and officials from 45 National Olympic Committees. Preparations are intensifying, with the 1st Technical Delegates Meeting scheduled from April 30 to May 2 and the 3rd OCA Coordination Committee Meeting from May 1 to 2.
Cricket’s confirmation adds excitement to the growing lineup of events, setting the stage for another step forward in the sport’s global expansion.
