Interest is growing in terrestrial broadcast schedules ahead of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. The key points currently confirmed are the official event dates, when each broadcaster is preparing to begin coverage, and the fact that programming changes for individual dramas and variety shows are not yet difficult to confirm at the program level. The Games will begin with the opening ceremony on September 19, 2026, and conclude with the closing ceremony on October 4. The OCA’s official event page identifies this as the 20th Asian Games and lists Aichi-Nagoya as the host location.
When planning what to watch, first check the event dates and each broadcaster’s announced coverage plans, then confirm individual program times again when the programming schedules are released.
Coverage Period
The officially announced event period is September 19 through October 4, 2026. The opening and closing ceremonies are scheduled for September 19 and October 4, respectively. During this period, viewers can expect sports coverage and related programming to form a major part of terrestrial broadcast schedules. However, whether a specific drama or variety show will actually be canceled or moved requires a final programming notice for each program.
MBC announced that it plans to begin coverage before the Games’ opening ceremony, with the men’s basketball match between South Korea and Saudi Arabia on September 10. In other words, MBC’s related broadcasts may begin before the official event period starts on September 19.
Key Dates
The currently confirmed broadcast-related schedule is as follows.
| Date | Confirmed schedule |
|---|---|
| September 10, 2026 | MBC is scheduled to broadcast the men’s basketball match between South Korea and Saudi Arabia |
| September 19, 2026 | Asian Games opening ceremony; MBC scheduled to broadcast the ceremony; SBS scheduled to begin live coverage |
| October 4, 2026 | Asian Games closing ceremony; MBC coverage scheduled; SBS scheduled to conclude live coverage |
MBC disclosed that announcer Kim Sung-joo and presenter Kim Cho-rong will host its opening ceremony coverage on September 19. SBS announced 16 days of live Asian Games coverage from September 19 through October 4. The commentators SBS has announced are Bae Seong-jae, Jung Woo-young, and Jun Hyun-moo, along with plans to assign coverage of major sports including football, baseball, badminton, swimming, judo, and archery.
Preparation Timeline
The first date to check is September 10. Since MBC plans to begin broadcasting a preliminary match on that day, viewers will be able to watch Asian Games-related coverage even before the opening ceremony. From September 19 onward, the official event period overlaps with SBS’s live coverage period.
The details released by each broadcaster differ in nature. MBC disclosed the opening match and the opening ceremony presenters, and said it plans to release related programs and digital content sequentially during the Games. SBS introduced its live coverage period, commentators, and plans for major sports, and also announced that it is preparing the Asian Games tie-in variety program ‘Going to Nagoya’.
Reservations and Applications
The currently available materials do not mention any separate reservation or application process for terrestrial Asian Games coverage. Viewers should manage their schedules by checking whether their desired date and program are listed on the broadcaster’s official programming schedule.
The relevant sources are the KBS, MBC, and SBS programming schedules. The detailed match times for the full event period, as well as the broadcast status of individual dramas and variety shows, have not been confirmed all at once. If there is a program you want to watch, check the relevant broadcaster’s official schedule again as the date approaches.
Possibility of Changes
No official notice has currently been confirmed that specifies the cancellation or time change of a particular terrestrial drama or variety show. Rather than stating that a specific program will definitely be canceled, viewers should consider that program schedules may vary depending on the dates and times when Games coverage is scheduled.
A KBS business plan document includes wording about an exclusive broadcasting plan for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, but MBC and SBS have also each disclosed their own coverage plans. Because the wording in the broadcasters’ materials differs, it is difficult to conclusively interpret the arrangements as exclusive rights for KBS or to determine the overall domestic broadcast-rights structure. The channels and program schedules actually available for viewing should be confirmed through each broadcaster’s official announcements.
The publicly released information from MBC and SBS is sufficient to understand the broadcast flow before and during the Games. MBC has announced plans running from the preliminary match coverage on September 10 through the closing ceremony on October 4, while SBS has announced 16 days of live coverage from September 19 through October 4. Viewing schedules for dramas and variety shows will be finalized separately for each program after the relevant programming schedules are released.