The 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 will bring together every corner of the continent, with 45 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) expected to send delegations to Japan between September 19 and October 4, 2026.
From powerhouse nations like China, Japan, South Korea, and India to smaller delegations from Bhutan, Timor-Leste, and the Maldives, the Asian Games 2026 teams list represents the largest and most diverse gathering in Asian sport.
This guide covers every participating country, how teams are grouped by region, the sports where specific national squads are making headlines, and everything else you need to know about the nations competing at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
Asian Games 2026 Teams: Quick Overview
Asian Games 2026 will feature teams from across Asia competing in multiple sports. Below is a quick overview of the participating nations.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Participating Teams (NOCs) | 45 |
| Governing Body | Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) |
| Host Nation | Japan |
| Host Region | Aichi Prefecture (Nagoya) |
| Expected Athletes & Officials | ~15,000 |
| OCA Regional Zones | 5 (East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central Asia, West Asia) |
| Defending Overall Champions | China (2023 Hangzhou Games) |
| Next Host After 2026 | Doha, Qatar (2030) |
Full List of Asian Games 2026 Participating Nations
Every one of the OCA’s 45 member NOCs is expected to compete, organized here by their official OCA regional zone.
East Asia Zone Teams
- China (People’s Republic of China)
- Hong Kong, China
- Macau, China
- Japan (host nation)
- North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea)
- South Korea (Republic of Korea)
- Chinese Taipei
- Mongolia
Southeast Asia Zone Teams
- Brunei Darussalam
- Cambodia
- Indonesia
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Philippines
- Singapore
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Vietnam
South Asia Zone Teams
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- India
- Maldives
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Sri Lanka
Central Asia Zone Teams
- Afghanistan
- Iran
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Uzbekistan
West Asia Zone Teams
- Bahrain
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Oman
- Palestine
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Syria
- United Arab Emirates
- Yemen
Host Nation Team: Japan at Asian Games 2026
As the host, Team Japan carries extra significance at Aichi-Nagoya 2026. Japan is competing at the Asian Games on home soil for the third time in its history, following Tokyo 1958 and Hiroshima 1994.
Host-nation status also gives Japanese athletes automatic quota places in several sports, and national trials are being held throughout 2026 to finalize the Japanese squad across all 43 sports on the program.
Traditional Powerhouse Teams to Watch
While all 45 NOCs field teams, a handful of nations have historically dominated the medal table and are expected to lead the standings again in 2026:
- China — the reigning overall champions from Hangzhou 2023, typically sending 600+ athletes and topping the medal table across aquatics, gymnastics, table tennis, and diving.
- Japan — boosted by home advantage, strong in judo, gymnastics, swimming, and wrestling.
- South Korea — consistently strong across archery, taekwondo, shooting, and fencing.
- India — one of the largest South Asian delegations, competitive in shooting, wrestling, badminton, athletics, and hockey, and entering cricket as the defending champion in both the men’s and women’s T20 tournaments.
- Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan — the leading Central Asian teams, particularly dominant in combat sports like wrestling, boxing, and judo.
- Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam — Southeast Asia’s strongest all-round teams, especially competitive in badminton, sepaktakraw, and weightlifting.
Team Sports: Which National Squads Are Competing
Beyond individual events, several sports at Aichi-Nagoya 2026 crown genuine “team” champions, with national squads competing in group formats.
| Team Sport | Format | Notable Participating Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Football | Men’s & Women’s | Japan, South Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Uzbekistan and other AFC nations |
| Cricket (T20) | Men’s & Women’s | India (defending champion), Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal, and other ICC Asian members |
| Basketball & 3×3 | Men’s & Women’s | China, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, Iran |
| Volleyball & Beach Volleyball | Men’s & Women’s | China, Japan, South Korea, Iran, Thailand |
| Hockey | Men’s & Women’s | India, Pakistan, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia |
| Kabaddi | Men’s & Women’s | India, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Korea |
| Handball | Men’s & Women’s | South Korea, Japan, Bahrain, Iran, Qatar |
| Rugby Sevens | Men’s & Women’s | Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka |
| Sepaktakraw | Multiple events | Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam |
| Esports | Team-based titles | China, South Korea, Vietnam, Philippines, and others (see note below) |
Cricket note: Cricket’s return to the Asian Games program also doubles as an Asian qualifying pathway for the LA 2028 Olympics, raising the stakes for the participating cricket nations. Both the Indian men’s and women’s teams enter as defending champions from the 2023 edition.
Esports Teams: A Few Notable Withdrawals
Esports returns as a medal sport in 2026 with an expanded slate of titles. Team participation here has been more fluid than in traditional sports, with some national federations opting out of specific titles for financial, logistical, or geopolitical reasons:
- Host nation Japan, along with Thailand and Indonesia, has opted out of the League of Legends event.
- China withdrew from the League of Legends competition amid diplomatic tensions with Japan.
- Iran, Iraq, and Syria have also confirmed non-participation in League of Legends due to funding and regional conflict issues.
- Despite these individual withdrawals, the overall esports program still features strong representation from South Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, and other Southeast and East Asian nations across titles such as PUBG Mobile, Honor of Kings, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Street Fighter 6, and Tekken 8.
New and Returning Teams: Debut Sports for 2026
Six new sports/disciplines are joining the Asian Games program in 2026, and national federations across the continent have been forming squads specifically for these debuts:
- Surfing — up to 48 surfers from qualifying NOCs, capped at 2 athletes per nation per gender
- Breaking (breakdancing) — B-boy and B-girl competitors from across Asia
- Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) — 4 men’s and 2 women’s weight-class teams
- Padel — teams still finalizing qualification as of mid-2026
- Teqball — a growing competitive field across Asia
- Virtual Taekwondo — a 16-player mixed-gender knockout format
Where Will Teams Stay? No Traditional Athletes’ Village
Unlike most editions of the Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya 2026 will not have a single, permanent athletes’ village. Instead, participating teams will be housed across:
- Hotels throughout Aichi Prefecture
- Temporary container-style housing at Port of Nagoya Garden Wharf
- The Costa Serena cruise ship, docked at Kinjo Pier, accommodating roughly 4,000–4,600 athletes and officials
This decentralized housing model is one of the more unusual logistical features of the 2026 Games and reflects organizers’ effort to control costs.
Asian Games 2026 Teams: Frequently Asked Questions
How many teams/countries are participating in the Asian Games 2026? All 45 National Olympic Committees affiliated with the Olympic Council of Asia are expected to send teams to Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
Which is the host team at the Asian Games 2026? Japan is the host nation, competing at the Asian Games on home soil for the third time after Tokyo 1958 and Hiroshima 1994.
Is Australia part of the Asian Games teams? No. Australia is a member of Oceania’s National Olympic Committees and competes in the Pacific Games instead; the OCA has previously rejected proposals for Australian participation in the Asian Games.
Which country won the most medals last time and is favored again in 2026? China topped the medal table at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games and is expected to be the team to beat again in 2026.
Is Israel part of the Asian Games 2026 teams? No. Israel was excluded from the Olympic Council of Asia in 1981 for political reasons and has not participated in the Asian Games since 1974.
Which teams are defending champions in cricket? Both the Indian men’s and women’s T20 cricket teams enter Aichi-Nagoya 2026 as defending champions from the previous edition.
How many athletes make up all the Asian Games 2026 teams combined? Organizers expect approximately 15,000 athletes and officials across all 45 participating teams.
Final Word
With 45 teams spanning five OCA regions, the Asian Games 2026 will once again be the most geographically and culturally diverse multi-sport event in Asia.
From China and Japan’s medal-table battles to debut appearances in surfing, breaking, and MMA, and India’s title defense in cricket, Aichi-Nagoya 2026 promises compelling storylines across every participating nation.
Bookmark this page for team roster updates as national federations finalize their squads closer to the September 19 opening ceremony.