The most-celebrated MOBA Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) is one of the esports titles included in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games medal events, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) announced.
This is big because MLBB will participate in the Asian Games for the first time. Held every four years, the Asiad is like the Olympics for Asia and features different sports, including electronic sports (a competitive tournament for video games).
For the uninitiated, esports was a "demo" sport in the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, more of a test. At the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, it became a medal sport. MLBB will feature at the next one in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, 2026.
Ray Ng, MOONTON Games head of the esports ecosystem, said:
MLBB's inclusion at the 2026 Asian Games reflects its status as a premier mobile esport, known for its accessibility, strategic depth, and global appeal. This historic milestone not only validates MLBB's impact on competitive gaming; it also reinforces MLBB's role in uniting diverse communities through high-level play. We thank the Olympic Council of Asia committee for the honor of showcasing MLBB's qualities on this prestigious stage and look forward to witnessing the Games' top-tier competition that will inspire the next generation of esports athletes.
Other approved titles included in the esports lineup of the upcoming Asian Games 2026 are eFootball, Gran Turismo 7, Honor of Kings, Naraka Bladepoint, Puyo Puyo Champions, Identity V, League of Legends, Pokemon Unite, PUBG Mobile, and Competitive Martial Arts (composed of Street Fighter, Tekken, The King of Fighters; a team competition with only one medal).
On the other hand, Mobile Legends will be again one of the esports events at the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand in December 2025. This will be the fourth time the award-winning mobile Multiplayer Online Battle Arena game has been included as a medalled sport at this biennial multi-sporting event. Men's and women's competitions will be held, and MLBB has smashed SEA Games esports viewership records.
At the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia, the Philippines team Sibol won gold and silver in the men's and women's categories, with a massive viewership of over 1.4 million and 1.3 million streams, respectively, per Esports Charts.
We Filipinos love Mobile Legends, as evidenced by our Pinoy squads' proven track record of winning five out of six M-Series World Championships, with Onic PH being the reigning M6 champions. So, the game's inclusion in the 2026 Asiad in Japan is indeed great news. Any thoughts? Comment below.
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