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Mobile Legends: Bang Bang added to 2026 Asian Games as esports lineup expands

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang will be a medalled event at the 2026 Asian Games, joining a growing esports lineup at the international competition.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) will be a medalled event at the 2026 Asian Games, marking a significant milestone for the popular mobile game. The 20th edition of the Olympic Council of Asia-organised event will take place in Nagoya, Japan, where MLBB will compete alongside other top esports titles.

MLBB joins an expanded esports roster

Esports officially debuted as a medalled event at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, with just seven titles in the lineup. The upcoming 2026 edition will see a broader selection, with MLBB joining games like Street Fighter 6, PUBG, and League of Legends. Some titles from the previous competition, including Dota 2 and FIFA Online 4, have been removed in favour of a refreshed roster.

This inclusion is a major step forward for MLBBโ€™s presence in international sporting events. The game was also recently announced as one of the headline esports titles for the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand this December. However, the Asian Games, which featured 45 competing nations in its last edition, covers the entire continent, making it a much bigger stage. It is also the first time MLBB has been included in a competition linked to an Olympic body.

A growing global presence for MLBB

MLBB continues strengthening its standing as one of the biggest mobile esports games worldwide. Recent data from Esports Charts reveals that the game has surpassed 1 billion hours of watch time globally. Meanwhile, its developer, Moonton Games, reports that MLBB has been downloaded more than 1.5 billion times and boasts over 110 million active monthly users.

With its increasing popularity and now an official place in the Asian Games, MLBBโ€™s influence in the esports world is set to grow even further.

Complete list of esports titles for the 2026 Asian Games

The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will take place from September 9 to October 4, 2026, featuring 41 disciplines, including esports. Here is the complete list of games that will be contested in the esports category:

  • Street Fighter 6
  • Pokรฉmon Unite
  • Honor of Kings
  • League of Legends (Asian Games Version)
  • PUBG (Asian Games Version)
  • Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
  • Dream Three Kingdoms
  • Naraka: Bladepoint
  • Gran Turismo 7
  • eFootball Series
  • Puyo Puyo Champions

As esports continues to gain recognition on the global stage, the 2026 Asian Games is set to be a landmark event for competitive gaming.

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