2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Schedule and TV
The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will be held from September 19 to October 4. South Korean event times are the same as local time in Japan, and the latest announcements from the organizing committee and broadcasters should be cross-checked for sport-specific schedules and domestic TV coverage.
The opening ceremony is scheduled for September 19, 2026, and the closing ceremony for October 4.
Some sports begin before the opening ceremony, so relying only on September 19 could cause you to miss events.
South Korea and Japan both use UTC+9, so local event times are the same as Korea time.
South Korea’s national baseball team has been placed in Group B, and the group-stage schedule lists games beginning September 21.
Regardless of promotional content from KBS and MBC, the actual broadcast channels should be confirmed again in the day’s programming schedule.
The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will open on September 19 in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, Japan, and close on October 4. Some events will begin before the opening ceremony. There is no time difference between South Korea and Japan, so local event times are the same as Korea Standard Time.
As of September 10, 2026
Key Games Information
The Games will run for 16 days based on the dates of the opening and closing ceremonies. Venues are spread across multiple locations in Aichi Prefecture, not only Nagoya. The start date for each sport may differ from the date of the opening ceremony.
Item | Confirmed Information
Event name | 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games
Host region | Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, Japan
Opening ceremony | September 19, 2026
Closing ceremony | October 4, 2026
Pre-opening events | Some sports begin before September 19
Time difference from South Korea | None; both countries are UTC+9
South Korean baseball team | Listed in Group B
Start of Group B baseball schedule | September 21, 2026, according to the published schedule
Domestic broadcast information | Official KBS and MBC schedules and digital services
Schedule change information | Official Games organizing committee website
Overview of South Korea's Event Schedule
South Korea's full schedule must be checked by separating the preliminary and final rounds for each sport. Relying on a single comprehensive schedule makes it easy to overlook individual events. Times may also change after participating athletes and matchups have been determined.
Some team sports may hold matches before the opening ceremony. Therefore, schedule checks should begin before September 19. Additional events may also be added depending on qualification for the finals.
For accuracy, cross-check each sport's schedule in the following order.
· Check the sport and event date on the organizing committee's schedule.
· Check the South Korean team's matchups or participant list.
· Read the listed time directly as Korea Standard Time.
· Confirm the broadcast channel again on the broadcaster's schedule.
· Check the organizing committee's results page on the day of the event.
Scope of Information to Check by Sport
The currently available information is not enough to confirm the start times of every South Korean event. Schedules after the group stage may vary depending on match results. The organizing committee's latest schedule also takes precedence for venues and individual sessions.
Sport or Category | Currently Confirmed Information | Additional Details to Check
Baseball | South Korea is listed in Group B | All opposing countries, match times, and venues
Baseball Group B | The schedule lists games beginning September 21 | South Korea's first opponent and broadcast channel
Esports | Event schedules and national team rosters must be checked separately | Specific events, matchups, and session times
Pre-opening sports | Some events begin before September 19 | Relevant sports and whether South Korea is participating
Finals | Participation depends on preliminary-round results | Confirmed matchups and broadcast schedules
Published sport documents also include information on esports events such as League of Legends. However, a sport's inclusion does not mean that South Korea's event times have been confirmed. The national team roster and bracket must be checked together.
Baseball Groups and Tournament Format
The South Korean national baseball team is listed in Group B. Taiwan has also been announced as part of the same group. The full list of participating countries and final matchups must be cross-checked against the organizing committee's event schedule.
Baseball begins with the group stage. Qualification for later stages depends on the group-stage results. Head-to-head records and ranking criteria are governed by the competition rules.
The first game date currently shown on the Group B schedule is September 21, 2026. This should not be assumed to be South Korea's first game. The opponent and start time must also be checked in the schedule for each game.
The official bracket also takes precedence over sport summaries for venue names. Even within the same sport, venues may vary by date. Travel plans should be checked against the venue addresses as well.
Highlights to Watch
The first point to watch is the events that begin before the opening ceremony. The opening day of the Games and the first day of competition are not the same concept. Advance schedules need to be checked, particularly for team sports.
The second is the Group B baseball standings race. South Korea's schedule for the next stage may vary depending on its group-stage results. Setting an unconfirmed finals time in advance can cause confusion.
The third is the event-by-event scheduling for esports. Even within one event, competition sessions may be divided among several time slots. The sessions involving the national team may differ from the broadcast of the overall competition.
The fourth is broadcast delays and channel changes. If several South Korean events overlap on the same day, they may be divided between TV and digital coverage. Recorded broadcasts must also be distinguished from live broadcasts.
Why No Conversion to Korea Standard Time Is Needed
Event times in South Korea and Aichi-Nagoya are identical. Korea Standard Time and Japan Standard Time are both UTC+9. Neither country observes daylight saving time during the Games.
For example, if the official schedule lists an event at 7:00 p.m., it will also be at 7:00 p.m. in South Korea. The date will not shift to the previous or following day. The time-zone calculations commonly required for overseas competitions are unnecessary for these Games.
Official Schedule Listing | Time in South Korea
September 21, 10:00 a.m. | September 21, 10:00 a.m.
September 21, 7:00 p.m. | September 21, 7:00 p.m.
October 4, 8:00 p.m. | October 4, 8:00 p.m.
This table provides examples of time-zone conversion. It does not indicate actual event times. Exact start times must be checked on the official schedule for each sport.
Comparison of Domestic Broadcast Viewing Options
Domestic coverage must be checked against broadcasters' schedules. KBS and MBC have released official promotional content related to the Games. The release of promotional videos does not mean that every event will be broadcast live.
Source | Information Available | Notes
KBS TV schedule | Live and recorded broadcasts by channel | Programming may change on the day of the event
Digital KBS | Online videos and information on major events | Some videos may be region-restricted
MBC TV schedule | Programming on terrestrial and affiliated channels | Coverage of all sports must be checked separately
MBC digital services | Information on online live streams and replays | Access requirements and available events may vary
Organizing committee website | Schedules, venues, and results | Not a domestic video broadcasting service
Some unofficial schedules list NOW or SPOTV channel names. However, final programming for each channel must be checked on the service's official schedule. Domestic broadcasting rights cannot be determined from the organizing committee's event schedule alone.
When checking broadcasts, compare the following items together.
· Check whether the coverage is live or recorded.
· Distinguish TV channel numbers from digital-only streams.
· Check whether only South Korean events are scheduled.
· Check login or paid-access requirements.
· Check again for change notices immediately before the event begins.
Standards for Checking Schedules and Results
First, check the organizing committee's event schedule for each sport. Changes to matchups and venues may be reflected on the official website. Each broadcaster's schedule is the authoritative source for broadcast programming.
No quotable wording from the official rules is included in the confirmed announcements. The original text can be found on the detailed announcements page of the Games organizing committee. On the website, check the news and event schedule menus in order.
Reddit posts and fan community reactions can be useful for gauging interest. However, they are not suitable as evidence for confirming event schedules or broadcast channels. Schedules may also have changed since the posts were published.
Details Commonly Missed on Schedules
It may be incorrect to interpret the opening ceremony as the first event of the Games. Some sports begin before the opening ceremony. The first viewing date should be based on the start date of each sport.
Converting the local time again is also unnecessary. The time in Aichi-Nagoya is the same as Korea Standard Time. Arbitrarily adding or subtracting an hour will produce the wrong time.
Care should also be taken not to assume that the first date of the group stage is South Korea's first game. Another country in the same group may play first. The game number and participating countries must be checked together.
Broadcasters' promotion of the Games should not be interpreted as a promise to cover every event. The scope of coverage for each sport is determined by the broadcast schedule. TV and digital services may also have different programming.
Injoys
