The Olympic Council of Asia has confirmed that the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will be the last time esports appears as part of the Asian Games. In 2027, the inaugural "Asian Esports and Mind Sports Games" will be held in Kuwait, marking the launch of an independent continental esports tournament.
Previously, the idea of incorporating esports into an Olympic-style event system had stalled, but the process of integrating esports into major sporting events continues. In 2024, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) proposed holding independent esports events every two years; by the end of that year, the plan to remove esports from the Asian Games and establish a separate Asian Esports and Mind Sports Games was approved.
The current Asian Games will conclude on October 4. As currently scheduled, 13 games will be featured during the event, with professional players from over 30 countries competing.
The official agreement for Kuwait to host the inaugural Asian Esports and Mind Sports Games was signed on September 21. The first edition could see up to 4,000 participants, with competitions featuring not only esports but also mind sports such as chess, Go, bridge, and checkers.
Following the inaugural event, the second Asian Esports and Mind Sports Games may be held in the Philippines. The Esports Nations Cup, originally scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia this year, has been postponed to 2027; the two events may be held just weeks apart. The Olympic Council of Asia has yet to announce further details regarding the new tournament.