Asian Games 2026 Opening Ceremony: When and Where to Watch the Star-Studded Event from Anywhere

The 20th Asian Games will open in Nagoya, Japan, on Saturday, September 19, with the ceremony at Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium beginning at 6 p.m. local time. More than 11,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions will compete across 43 sports. India’s Manu Bhaker and Tajinderpal Singh Toor will carry the national flag.

A warm-up program begins at 4 p.m., featuring popular Japanese boy band INI, the Shigo District Bo-no-te Preservation Society and MCs Takuichiro Kobayashi and Rina Kato. INI will perform “BEYOND THE SKY.” Organizers have not announced a full lineup for the main ceremony, which will formally welcome Asia’s athletes and mark Japan’s third hosting of the Games.

Ceremony Takes Center Stage

The opening ceremony is scheduled to run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Japan Standard Time. The ceremony will feature the traditional parade of delegations and the formal opening of the Games, with athletes from across Asia gathering in Nagoya. India will be represented by Bhaker, a two-time Olympic medalist, and Toor, a two-time Asian Games shot put champion, as its flag-bearers.

Performers And Attractions

The confirmed entertainment before the ceremony includes INI, the Shigo District Bo-no-te Preservation Society, Kobayashi and Kato. INI is scheduled to perform “BEYOND THE SKY.” The organizers have so far announced these performers for the warm-up stage rather than a complete list for the main ceremony.

Another major attraction will take place hours earlier when Japan’s Blue Impulse aerobatic team stages a demonstration flight over Aichi. The aircraft are scheduled to depart around 9:10 a.m., with an aerial display over the Hisaya-Odori Park area between about 9:15 and 9:35 a.m., weather and operational conditions permitting.

45 Countries, 43 Sports

The Games will bring together 45 Asian National Olympic Committees, along with a refugee team, with more than 11,000 athletes competing. The competition features 43 sports and 469 medal events. Japan is hosting the Asian Games for the third time, following Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994.

How to Watch and Livestream

In India, the ceremony starts at 2:30 p.m. IST and will be televised on Sony Sports 1 and Sony Sports 5, with regional coverage on Sony Sports 3 and Sony Sports 4. Live streaming will be available on SonyLIV.

In Japan, the ceremony begins at 6 p.m. JST, with Games coverage from TBS and live streaming through U-NEXT. U-NEXT has listed the Asian Games across multiple live channels.

In Singapore, the ceremony begins at 5 p.m. SGT. Viewers can follow the Games through Mediacorp’s Channel 5 and mewatch, which is also offering dedicated Asian Games live channels.

In South Korea, the ceremony starts at 5 p.m. KST, with coverage available through major broadcasters including KBS, SBS and TV Chosun. SBS is also offering live streaming through its website.

In Thailand, the ceremony begins at 4 p.m. ICT, with broadcast coverage scheduled from 3:45 p.m. on NBT, T Sports 7 and PPTV HD 36, while AIS PLAY provides online streaming.