MLBB, HoK, PUBGM, LoL are on 2026 Asian Games esports list

Esports is confirmed to be included again as an official medal event in the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, which would make it the second time once the continental multi-sport event is held from September 19 to October 4, 2026.

On X, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) revealed that the esports category of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will include 11 medal events. Approved titles are as follows:

1. Competitive Martial Arts (Team Competition) Only 1 medal
   • Street Fighter Series
   • Tekken Series
   • King of Fighters (KOF) Series
2. Pokemon Unite
3. Honor of Kings (HoK)
4. League of Legends (LoL)
5. PUBG Mobile - Asian Games Version
6. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB)
7. Identity V - Asian Games Version
8. Naraka: Bladepoint
9. Gran Turismo 7
10. eFootball Series
11. Puyo Puyo Champions

The video game genre MOBA dominated the list, featuring four titles (LoL, MLBB, HoK, and Pokemon Unite). It was followed by three fighting games (Street Fighter 6, Tekken, and The King of Fighters), two battle royales (PUBGM and Naraka Bladepoint), a survival horror game (Identity V), a racing game (Gran Turismo 7), a virtual sport (eFootball), and a puzzle game (Puyo Puyo Champions).

Titles in the 2026 Asian Games esports list are mostly new. However, League of Legends and PUBG Mobile are the only titles carried over from the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, which debuted esports as an official medal event. No more Dota 2, Arena of Valor, and Dream Three Kingdoms 2. Meanwhile, EA Sports FC Online was replaced by eFootball, and Street Fighter 5 was superseded by a fighting game team triathlon concept.

At the last Asian Games, PUBG Mobile was the only title that had a special version. In 2026, joining the battle royale game to have an Asian Games version is Identity V.

To recall, our Philippines esports team, Sibol, participated in six events during the Asian Games 2023 but went home with no medals.

The notable 2023 Asiad esports winner is South Korea in the LoL event, led by Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok, aka The GOAT, who is also part of the country's champion roster during the Asian Games 2018 in Indonesia, where esports is still a demonstration event.

Let us hope that in this upcoming 2026 Asiad, Sibol will bring the coveted gold medal.

This article was originally published on the PinoyTechSaga blog.