MENA viewers to enjoy 100 hours of daily live coverage across 16 Arabic and English channels as 10,000 athletes gather in Japan
DOHA, QATAR – 9 September 2026: The 20th Asian Games 2026 are set to take centre stage in Japan as the Games get underway on 10 September across the city of Nagoya and the wider Aichi region, with beIN SPORTS (“beIN”), the leading sports broadcaster in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), bringing fans an extensive live viewing experience throughout the tournament. beIN will deliver more than 1,700 hours of live and exclusive coverage across a dedicated bouquet of 16 channels, spanning 25 consecutive days from the first previews and build-up through to the Closing Ceremony, ensuring audiences across the region can follow the biggest moments, competitions and stories from one of Asia’s most prestigious sporting events.
The 20th edition of the Asian Games is expected to bring together up to 10,000 athletes competing across 461 events in 43 sports, representing nations from across the continent and showcasing a wide range of sporting disciplines, from established Olympic favourites to emerging competitions. While the official Games period runs from 19 September to 4 October, competitive action will begin nine days ahead of the Opening Ceremony, setting the stage for an extended celebration of elite sport and giving fans even more opportunities to follow their favourite athletes and teams.
Alongside traditional disciplines including athletics, swimming and gymnastics, the 2026 edition will also introduce five sports making their Asian Games debut in Japan: padel, mixed martial arts, surfing, freestyle BMX and teqball. Their inclusion adds further variety to an already diverse programme and reflects the continued evolution of the Asian Games, bringing established sporting traditions together with fast-growing and modern disciplines that are attracting new generations of fans across the region.
Mohammed Al Bader, Managing Director of beIN Channels – MENA, said: “The Asian Games is the continent’s largest sporting competition, and we are proud to provide MENA viewers with comprehensive studio and on-the-ground coverage once again. beIN SPORTS is fully committed to showcasing the very best of talent from across Asia. We look forward to broadcasting more than 1,700 hours of coverage over the next few weeks with a special focus on the 1,000-plus Arab athletes expected to take part.”
beIN’s live coverage begins on 10 September with select games featuring Arab teams, building towards the Opening Ceremony on 19 September, with studio coverage starting at 09:00 MECCA and broadcast free-to-air on beIN SPORTS.
From 20 September, beIN will deliver up to around 100 hours of live coverage each day across beIN SPORTS 1-9, beIN SPORTS XTRA channels, and beIN SPORTS English 1 and 2. This will be complemented by a daily live multi-sports studio programme that will run from 09:00 to 15:00 MECCA, broadcast free-to-air on beIN SPORTS and beIN SPORTS NEWS.
Four on-the-ground reporters across Aichi-Nagoya will bring viewers closer to the action, while a daily hour-long highlights programme and a feature-length review following the Games will round off the most comprehensive Asian Games coverage in the region.
Combining in-game coverage, exclusive interviews, and medal moments across the major sports, beIN will shine a spotlight on the 12 Arab nations and estimated 1,000 Arab athletes competing in Japan. Supplementary programming throughout September will include documentaries on previous Asian Games, profiles of Arab athletes, features from the beIN archives, and explainers on the rules and concepts of Asian sports.
On 4 October, as part of the official closing ceremony, Aichi-Nagoya will hand the hosting mantle to Qatar as attention turns to the Asian Games 2030. The multi-sport mega-event will return to Doha for the first time since 2006, with beIN broadcasting special features on both the country’s celebrated first staging and preparations for the next.
beIN’s digital platforms will elevate the experience further, with a dedicated Asian Games category on the network’s official website and mobile app, daily posts, short-form videos, stories, and interactive content across its social channels, and timely alerts for key sports, Arab medals, and breaking news – ensuring fans never miss a moment.
For more information or to subscribe to beIN SPORTS, visit: bein.com/subscribe
