6th Asian Beach Games kicks off in Sanya with a bang

The 6th Asian Beach Games Sanya 2026 (Sanya 2026 Games) kicks off with a bang in Sanya today — having drawn over 10,000 athletes, officials, media and guests from 45 Asian countries and regions.

As one of Asia's biggest and most influential beach sports events, the Sanya 2026 Games marks the first continental beach sports event hosted by South China's Hainan since it became a province in 1988.

What's more, it's the first major international sports event to be held after the launch of special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port.

The opening ceremony, themed "A Date with the Sea and the Sky", will take place at Yasha Park on the evening of April 22. The extravaganza will last 75 minutes and feature an 18-minute cultural performance.

Unlike traditional stadium events, this performance will use the sea as its background and the beach as its stage — creating a truly immersive experience that highlights the natural beauty of Tianya Haijiao and showcases the vibrant, youthful spirit of the Hainan Free Trade Port.

All in all, Sanya 2026 will feature 14 sports, 15 disciplines and 62 events, with a total of 62 gold medals to be awarded.

The program strikes a balance between competitiveness and spectator appeal — featuring Olympics and Asian Games staples such as swimming and sailing, along with emerging beach sports such as teqball and beach kabaddi, showcasing the diversity of beach sports.

An innovative "coastal + urban" venue layout is being used, with six of the eight venue clusters on the Sanya Bay coastline.

The Chinese delegation will include 255 members, with 171 athletes competing.

They'll participate in all 13 major sports and 60 events, except for beach kabaddi, setting a record for country's involvement in the history of the Asian Beach Games.