Asian Games 2026 Highlights: Official closing announcement made; focus on Qatar now, venue for 2030

The closing ceremony of the 2026 Asian Games has come to a close in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The next Games will be played in Doha, Qatar in 2030.

There is Neeru Dhanda making the country proud. (PTI)

Asian Games 2026 Closing Ceremony Highlights: The Games are officially close now. It had everything. Happy athletes, waving flags and showing off medals. Proud officials and plenty of singing and dancing. Some important messages from the officials. The Games have ended just the way they should. Shooter Neeru Dhanda led the Indian contingent, holding the Tri-colour aloft with a lot of pride. The next edition will now take place in Doha, Qatar. ...Read More

Follow all the updates here:

• 4 Oct 2026, 03:51:09 PM IST

  Japanese dance performance and finally it's over

  Followed by some singing! Performers are still dancing though. Loud, melodious and charming. Great singing and great performance. One has to say, it's been a great closing ceremony. Some more singing and dancing follows. But this one seems very traditional. The singer is attired in a traditional Japanese way. So, the final act is over. With that things really come to a close. See you again in 2030. Just a reminder, India finished fourth with 85 medals.

• 4 Oct 2026, 03:32:36 PM IST

  Qatar's anthem underway

  There is a Qatari singer singing beautifully with the Qatari flag flying pretty close to her. Short performance but it was great. Full of passion. There is an AV being played now, talking about the next Games in Doha. A Qatari sports legend is waving the Olympic Council of Asia flag on the stage. He is a former Olympic champion. He hands it over to a horse rider. The flag is now flying and covering distance in the air on its way to Qatar. Dramatic and beautiful. The AV comes to a close now. The big torch finally put out.

• 4 Oct 2026, 03:23:49 PM IST

  Handover ceremony

  From Japan to Qatar, the next venue for the Asian Games in 203! Flags to be handed over. A put-out small torch handed over too. Officials reminding via a flag that the first Asian Games ever were hosted by India way back in 1951. Just a look back at the history of the event. How things were set in motion long ago.

• 4 Oct 2026, 03:18:24 PM IST

  Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani now

  He is pretty much saying the same things as Omura. Praising athletes and their sportsmanship. Thani says the Aichi-Nagoya Games have raised the bar. He declares the Games “officially close”. The flame will be put out now. The flags are being taken down.

• 4 Oct 2026, 03:13:47 PM IST

  Omura addressing

  Hideaki Omura, the Governor of Aichi Prefecture, and Olympic Council of Asia President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani on the dais to address the athletes. Omura first addressing. Wants a united Asia. Praises athletes for giving the Games their all. And praising their hugging their opponents afterwards, irrespective of the nature of results. It was special. Finally he shows his gratitude towards the athletes and bows down.

• 4 Oct 2026, 03:03:08 PM IST

  Very surreal atmosphere

  Athletes laughing all round. Waving their flags. Showing off their medals. A happy occasion to all intents and purposes. The next Asian Games will be in Qatar in 2030. The Qatari contingent is here. They won 18 medals in all. Six gold, six silver and six bronze. They finished 14th on the medal tally. Next edition at home, they will be a force to reckon with.

• 4 Oct 2026, 02:55:44 PM IST

  India's contingent is here!!

  The Indian contingent now enters the frame in the closing ceremony of the Asian Games 2026. The hockey teams are one of the star attractions in this contingent. They had a fairly successful campaign, with 85 medals to their name.

• 4 Oct 2026, 02:53:13 PM IST

  Pakistan, Bangladesh teams enter

  As the contingents of all countries come and light up the opening ceremony, the Pakistan and Bangladesh contingents can be seen too. Pakistan have won 10 medals, while Bangladesh have won just 1.

• 4 Oct 2026, 02:50:09 PM IST

  Dance performers light up closing ceremony!!

  

  Asian Games - Aichi-Nagoya 2026 - Closing Ceremony - Paloma Mizuho Stadium, Nagoya, Japan - October 4, 2026 Dancers perform during the closing ceremony REUTERS/Issei Kato (REUTERS)

  Dancers have made the Asian Games 2026 closing ceremony more colourful, with them lighting up the stadium.

• 4 Oct 2026, 02:42:47 PM IST

  Neeru Dhanda enters!!!

  One representative of each country is carrying the flags of their respective nations in the closing ceremony. And in comes Neeru Dhanda!! After creating history at the Games, she is now waving the flag with pride. What a moment for the trap shooter.

• 4 Oct 2026, 02:34:44 PM IST

  Ceremony begins!!

  

  The Japanese flag is raised during the closing ceremony (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

  The closing ceremony of the Asian Games 2026 has officially begun, as the representatives of the Japanese Army, Navy and Air Force will hoist the Japanese flag. This will be followed by the Japanese national anthem.

• 4 Oct 2026, 02:16:10 PM IST

  Who will lead Indian contingent?

  Neeru Dhanda, the star trap shooter, will officially lead the Indian contingent at the Asian Games 2026 closing ceremony. Neeru scripted history by winning three medals in Aichi-Nagoya including two golds. She became the first Indian woman to win an individual Asiad gold in trap shooting.

• 4 Oct 2026, 01:58:51 PM IST

  When will the closing ceremony start?

  The closing ceremony of the Asian Games 2026 is set to begin from 6 PM local time, which means that in India the start time in 2:30 PM IST. Fans in India can watch the closing ceremony live on the Sony Sports Network on TV and the SonyLIV app and website.

• 4 Oct 2026, 01:43:49 PM IST

  A ninja performance in store!!

  The closing ceremony will remain witness to some enthralling performances, including a special ninja spectacle. Here's a sneak peak of the what is set to come.

• 4 Oct 2026, 01:26:49 PM IST

  Hello and welcome

  Welcome to Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, as we bring you live updates from the closing ceremony of the Asian Games 2026. This will officially bring the 20th edition of the continental competition to a conclusion.