Nagoya, Japan, May 21, 2026: The scale of the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan from September 19 to October 4 was outlined to the media at the second World Press Briefing at Nagoya Port Messe on Thursday, May 21.
The briefing heard that two new sports had been added to the sports programme since the first World Press Briefing six months ago – padel and teqball.
These additions take the total number of sports from 41 to 43, the disciplines to 70 and events to 468. The competition venues for the two new sports have still to be confirmed, but will increase from the current number of 53. A total of 56 test events are being held.
The briefing heard that advanced ticket sales in select categories were strong, with the opening ceremony on September 19 and closing ceremony on October 4 sold out, along with badminton and artistic swimming. General ticket sales for the public will start next month.
In other news during the second WPB on Thursday:
*The draw for team sports will take place on July 23 at the Hilton Nagoya and feature kabaddi along with football, volleyball, handball, sepaktakraw, rugby sevens, water polo and cricket.
*There will be five events in teqball: men’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles.
*There will be two events in padel: men’s doubles and women’s doubles.
*AINAGOC has secured a total of 54 sponsors in four categories: prestige partners, official partners, official sponsors and official suppliers.
*June 11-21 will feature a series of 100 days to go countdown celebrations.
*Details of full-day or half-day city tours in Aichi-Nagoya and surrounding areas and two-day/one-night tours throughout Japan were also announced. The tours will be free of charge on the condition of reporting/broadcasting tourism information.
The second WPB continued with a venue tour on Thursday afternoon. It will conclude with further AINAGOC presentations on Friday.