Esports Exits Asian Games, Gets Dedicated 2027 Event in Kuwait

Esports is leaving the Asian Games program to become its own international competition. The Olympic Council of Asia announced during the opening of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games that the inaugural Asian Esports and Mind Sports Games will debut in Kuwait in 2027.

The 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya will be the last to feature esports as part of the multi-sport program. This year's games will showcase 13 esports titles with competitors from more than 30 nations participating through October 4.

The OCA Executive Board approved the removal of esports from the Asian Games in November 2024. The formal Host City contract with Kuwait was signed on September 21, establishing the Middle Eastern nation as the host for the new event's first edition.

The new Asian Esports and Mind Sports Games will expand beyond traditional competitive gaming. Chess, go, bridge, and checkers are set to feature alongside esports, broadening the scope of competition. Kuwait's inaugural event could attract as many as 4,000 competitors. The Philippines has been suggested as a potential host for the second iteration.

The timing creates a congested international esports calendar. The Esports Nations Cup, originally scheduled for this year in Saudi Arabia, was postponed to 2027, meaning both events could occur within weeks of each other. Organizations and participants are now preparing for the new event as additional details emerge from the OCA.