League of Legends Esports Will Leave the Asian Games After 2026

The Olympic Council of Asia confirmed Kuwait as host of the first Asian Esports and Mind Sports Games, which could bring up to 4,000 competitors together in 2027.

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Conceptual esports trophy scene between an Asian-style arena and a Kuwait skyline with cheering spectators.

League of Legends esports will leave the Asian Games after Aichi-Nagoya 2026, with the Olympic Council of Asia confirming a new dedicated competition for the following year.

The first Asian Esports and Mind Sports Games will take place in Kuwait in 2027. The Olympic Council of Asia confirmed the change during the opening of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, giving esports its own place on the Asian competition calendar instead of returning as part of the wider event after 2026.

Esports to leave Asian Games after 2026 as new dedicated event confirmed in Kuwait for 2027
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Kuwait’s hosting agreement was signed on September 21, while the idea of a standalone competition had been under discussion since 2024. The OCA has indicated that the event will take place every two years, and a second edition could later be held in the Philippines.

Kuwait will host the first standalone event

As many as 4,000 competitors could attend the inaugural competition. Its program will extend beyond traditional esports with chess, go, bridge, and checkers also included.

Aichi-Nagoya 2026 is scheduled to run through October 4. By the event’s conclusion, 13 games will have been represented by professional players from more than 30 nations. League of Legends has been part of the Asian Games esports program, making the shift relevant to players and teams competing across Asia.

Two major esports events could arrive close together

The new Kuwait event will join an already crowded international schedule. The Esports Nations Cup, which was due to take place in Saudi Arabia in 2026, was postponed to 2027. Both competitions could now be held within weeks of one another, although dates for either event have not been supplied.

Organizations and competitors will have time to prepare while the OCA provides more information about the Kuwait event. Esports is leaving the Asian Games, but it is not leaving the region’s major sporting calendar.

Would you rather see esports remain inside the Asian Games, or does a dedicated event make more sense? Share your view in the comments and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.

League of Legends is a fast-paced, competitive online game that blends the speed and intensity of an RTS with RPG elements. Two teams of powerful champions, each with a unique design and playstyle, battle head-to-head across multiple battlefields and game modes. With an ever-expanding roster of champions, frequent updates and a thriving tournament scene, League of Legends offers endless replayability for players of every skill level.