Kuwait City, Kuwait, May 18, 2025: The Olympic Council of Asia has announced that the Asian Beach Games will be back next year at Sanya, Hainan Island in southern China.
In an official communique to Olympic stakeholders dated May 18, 2025, OCA Director General Husain Al Musallam said the Asian Beach Games would take place from April 22-30, 2026.
Sanya was due to host the sixth edition of the ABG in 2020 but they were called off because of the global pandemic.
“I have the pleasure to inform you that, during the 45th OCA General Assembly in Kuwait, the OCA and Chinese Olympic Committee met and unanimously decided to revive the Asian Beach Games in Sanya, which was stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Captain Husain stated.
“The Asian Beach Games in Sanya will now be held from 22nd to 30th of April 2026. The detailed sports program as well as other logistical details will be informed to you shortly. I would appreciate if you could kindly mark your calendar for the Asian Beach Games,” the communique concluded.
The letter was sent to OCA Executive Board members, Vice Presidents of Asian Games host cities, Chairs of the OCA Standing Committees, OCA Hon. Executive Board members and to the President/Secretary General of the member National Olympic Committees of the OCA.
The OCA’s Asian Beach Games were first held in Bali, Indonesia in 2008, followed by Muscat, Oman in 2010, Haiyang, China in 2012, Phuket, Thailand in 2014 and Danang, Vietnam in 2016.
The concept of beach and sea sports proved to be very attractive to host cities as the Asian Beach Games promoted tourism as well as creating a fun and family-oriented atmosphere in natural and sustainable conditions.