Nagoya’s new IG Arena is taking center stage during the 2026 Asian Games, giving the recently opened venue an opportunity to establish itself as one of Japan’s major destinations for international sports and entertainment.
The five-story arena opened in July 2025 and has a capacity of about 17,000 spectators, including standing areas. It was built to accommodate major sporting competitions, concerts and other large-scale events, with the 2026 Asian Games among its first major international tests.
The venue is hosting basketball and judo during the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, bringing thousands of athletes, officials and spectators to the facility during the Games. Its location near Meijo Park also places it within Nagoya’s wider network of public transportation and tourist attractions.
IG Arena was developed as part of Aichi Prefecture’s effort to create an international-standard indoor sports facility capable of hosting events beyond the Asian Games. The project replaced the aging Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium, which had been in use since 1964.
The arena also represents a major commercial development for Nagoya. Its naming-rights partnership with British financial-services company IG Group runs through 2035, making IG Arena one of the prominent examples of corporate naming rights attached to a major new Japanese venue.
Designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates, the facility features a hybrid oval seating bowl intended to work for different types of sports and live entertainment. Its flexible configuration is designed to accommodate everything from basketball and other indoor competitions to concerts and family events.
The Asian Games are therefore serving as more than a sporting event for the venue. They are providing an early test of its ability to handle large international crowds and multiple sporting requirements while showcasing Nagoya’s investment in modern event infrastructure.
With the Asian Games running through Oct. 4, the performance of IG Arena during the competition could help shape its reputation as Nagoya seeks to attract more major sporting events, concerts and international entertainment productions in the years ahead.
