Asian Games 2026 Begin in Japan with Grand Opening Ceremony

The 20th Asian Games have officially begun in Japan with a spectacular two-hour opening ceremony. Around 11,000 athletes from 45 countries are set to compete across 43 sporting disciplines, with a total of 469 gold medals up for grabs. Although the opening ceremony was held on Saturday, competitions in basketball, football, cricket and several other sports had already got underway. The Games will continue until October 4, with Japan hosting the continental sporting event for the third time after previously staging it in 1958 and 1994.

The opening ceremony, held at the packed Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in front of around 30,000 spectators, was organised around the theme ‘Harmonic Heart Beat’. A heart-shaped stage served as one of the major attractions, while a performance blending Aichi’s industrial technology with traditional artistic expression drew widespread attention. A giant robotic arm waving the Japanese flag was also showcased during the ceremony. Japan’s Emperor Naruhito officially declared the 20th Asian Games open. Music director Taro Hakase and local music band INI added to the celebrations with their performances, while former Japanese swimmer Kosuke Kitajima carried the Asian Games torch into the stadium.