Archive · 19 Sep 2026
Asian Games 2026 Opening Ceremony Set For Aichi-Nagoya
The Asian Games are a big sports competition for countries and regions in Asia.
The 2026 event will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Its opening ceremony is planned for September 19 at Paloma Mizuho Stadium.
It will take place from 2:30 p.m.
to 4:30 p.m.
Indian time.
India is sending 503 athletes to compete.
Manu Bhaker is named as one of India’s flag-bearers in both reports.
The reports disagree about the second flag-bearer, naming either Pawan Sehrawat or Tajinderpal Singh Toor.
India will compete in many sports and hopes to win more medals than it did at the 2023 Asian Games.
People in India can watch the ceremony on Sony Sports Network or Sony LIV.
The Asian Games 2026 opening ceremony is scheduled for September 19 at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
The ceremony will run from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. IST and air on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV.
Reports differ on India’s flag-bearers: one names Manu Bhaker and Pawan Sehrawat, while another names Bhaker and Tajinderpal Singh Toor.
India is sending 503 athletes—269 men and 234 women—with reports describing participation in either 36 or 37 sports.
The 20th Asian Games will continue through October 4, with India seeking to improve on its record 107-medal haul from Hangzhou 2023.
- Who
- India’s contingent includes 503 athletes; Manu Bhaker is named as a flag-bearer, while reports differ between Pawan Sehrawat and Tajinderpal Singh Toor for the second position.
- What
- The 20th Asian Games will begin with an opening ceremony.
- When
- The ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. IST; the Games conclude on October 4.
- Where
- Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
- Why
- The ceremony marks the start of the Asian Games, a continental sports competition held every four years.
One Report
Another Report
Second Indian flag-bearer
One Report
The live-updates report says Pawan Sehrawat will join Manu Bhaker, replacing Tajinderpal Singh Toor because Toor could not attend due to an issue receiving his official Games kit.
Another Report
The other report says Manu Bhaker and Tajinderpal Singh Toor were named as India’s flag-bearers.
India’s sports participation
One Report
The live-updates report says India’s 503 athletes will compete across 36 sporting disciplines.
Another Report
The other report says more than 500 Indian athletes will compete in 37 sports.
- Opening ceremony
- September 19, 2026
- Ceremony time
- 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. IST
- Venue
- Paloma Mizuho Stadium, Aichi-Nagoya, Japan
- Indian contingent
- 503 athletes: 269 men and 234 women
- Indian sports participation
- One report says 36 sporting disciplines; another says 37 sports
- Games scale
- 45 countries and regions competing across 43 sports
- Broadcast and streaming
- Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV
- Closing date
- October 4, 2026
