The Olympic Council of Asia has officially denied reports that esports will leave the Asian Games after Aichi-Nagoya 2026. At the same time, Kuwait is set to host the inaugural Asian Esports and Mind Sports Games in 2027 as a separate competition.
The clarification follows conflicting reports about the future of esports within the Asian Games programme. On September 27, Insider Gaming reported that Aichi-Nagoya 2026 would be the final Asian Games to feature competitive gaming, citing earlier plans to move esports into a standalone continental event.
OCA rejects reports that esports is leaving
One day later, on September 28, the Olympic Council of Asia issued an official statement categorically refuting reports that esports would be withdrawn from the Asian Games after 2026.
OCA Director General Husain Al Musallam said esports would continue “within the Asian Games”. The organisation also stated that it had not made or issued an announcement confirming esports' withdrawal from the Games.
The latest OCA statement therefore changes the picture created by earlier reports that the new standalone event in Kuwait would replace esports at the Asian Games. According to the OCA, the new competition is intended to provide additional opportunities rather than diminish esports' status within the Asian Games system.
League of Legends featured at Aichi-Nagoya 2026
League of Legends was one of 11 esports medal events at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. The OCA listed eight National Olympic Committees for the League of Legends competition.
Esports first appeared at the Asian Games as a demonstration discipline in 2018 before becoming an official medal sport at Hangzhou 2022. The OCA's September 28 clarification indicates that esports is expected to continue within the Asian Games system, although the individual game titles for later editions have not yet been confirmed.
Kuwait will host a separate esports event in 2027
The OCA has separately confirmed Kuwait as host of the first Asian Esports and Mind Sports Games in 2027. The host city contract was signed in September 2026, and the organisation expects around 4,000 athletes to take part.
The full programme will be announced later, meaning League of Legends has not yet been confirmed for the Kuwait event. The Philippines is also in discussions to host the second edition in 2029, with a decision expected at the 2027 OCA General Assembly in Doha.
Why the reports conflicted
The confusion surrounding esports' future at the Asian Games had an official basis. In November 2024, the OCA Executive Board unanimously approved a proposal to remove esports from the Asian Games programme after Aichi-Nagoya 2026 and hold a separate Asian Esports and Mind Games.
However, the OCA's position has since been clarified. On September 28, 2026, the organisation categorically rejected reports that esports would be withdrawn from the Asian Games and stated that it would continue “within the Asian Games”.
Under the OCA's latest official position, the two competitions are therefore set to coexist: esports remains part of the Asian Games system, while the Asian Esports and Mind Sports Games becomes an additional dedicated event.
Sources: Olympic Council of Asia; Insider Gaming.