Japan: The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has confirmed that Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) will make its official debut at the 2026 Asian Games, to be held in Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October 2026.
The announcement confirmed that cricket will continue to be part of the continental sporting event after its reintroduction at the 2022 Games in Hangzhou.
The inclusion of MMA marks a significant milestone for the fast-growing combat sport, which has gained immense popularity worldwide over the last two decades.
The sport, known for its full-contact format, blends techniques from various martial arts disciplines such as boxing, wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and karate. MMA was previously featured in the 2023 African Games, and its leaders had also pushed for inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, but the International Olympic Committee (IOC) did not approve it for that edition.
According to the OCA, MMA will be categorized under the combat sports discipline and will feature six competitive events during its debut at the Asian Games.
The 2026 Asian Games is expected to draw around 15,000 athletes from across the continent, making it one of the largest multi-sport gatherings in Asia.
Meanwhile, cricket will make a consecutive appearance after featuring in Hangzhou in 2022, where it made a return following an eight-year absence. Its continued presence in the Games aligns with the sport’s growing regional popularity and global ambitions. Notably, cricket has also been approved for inclusion in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The OCA has yet to finalize the specific venue for cricket in Japan. In the previous edition, India dominated the cricket events, securing gold medals in both the men’s and women’s competitions, and will return as defending champions in 2026.
