Sanya Mayor Chen Xi introduces the mascot of the Asian Beach Games at a press conference on January 12, 2026 in Beijing. Photo: VCG

The sixth Asian Beach Games will be held in Sanya, South China's Hainan Province, from April 22 to 30, with preparations entering the final 100-day countdown, officials said Monday at a press conference.

Li Jing, vice chairman of the Asian Beach Games organizing committee and deputy director of the General Administration of Sport of China, said the Sanya Games will be the second time China has hosted the Asian Beach Games, following Haiyang in East China's Shandong Province in 2012.

"The Asian Beach Games is the highest-level beach sports event in Asia," Li said. "Successfully hosting the Sanya Asian Beach Games is of great significance for comprehensively showcasing new achievements in Chinese modernization, new progress in building a strong sports nation, and new outcomes of the Hai­nan Free Trade Port."

According to Li, the Games will feature 14 sports, 15 disciplines and 63 events, including Olympic and Asian Games staples such as swimming and sailing, as well as emerging sports including teqball and beach kabaddi. 

Competition venues will be organized into eight venue clusters, each supported by a dedicated operations team composed of experienced professionals from both the national and provincial levels.

A total of 3,798 athletes from 45 Asian countries and regions have completed initial registration, Li said. Test events for sports including sailing, beach volleyball, teqball and aquathlon will begin from January 16 to assess venue operations, equipment, logistical support and emergency response systems.

The organizing committee is also conducting risk assessments related to competition operations, extreme weather and venue facilities, and will carry out emergency drills to ensure the Games are held safely and smoothly.

The Chinese delegation is expected to send about 190 athletes to compete in 13 sports and 61 events, excluding beach kabaddi. Li noted that events such as beach volleyball, climbing, 3x3 basketball, swimming and sailing will serve as valuable competition opportunities in preparation for the Los Angeles Olympics.

Hainan Vice Governor Xie Jing, also a vice chair of the organizing committee, said the event will be the first major international multi-sport competition held after the island-wide special customs operation of the Hainan Free Trade Port.

"The Games shoulder the important mission of showcasing the achievements of the Free Trade Port and strengthening the cultural foundation for building a community with a shared future for Asia," Xie said.

As this edition unfolds after Hainan's island-wide special customs operation of the Free Trade Port, organizers highlighted the event's role in showcasing the province's development achievements and enhancing cross-border cultural and economic ties.

Hainan's expanded visa-free entry policy, which now covers holders of passports from 86 countries, will allow many visitors to enter conveniently without advance visas. Customs authorities have also set up dedicated windows for Games-related equipment and materials with expedited clearance procedures.

More than 5,000 volunteers have been recruited and trained, Xie said, while electronic ticketing and paperless operations will be fully implemented.

Torch relay for the Beach Games will be held in March, Xie revealed, noting that the relay route will be confirmed later. 

100-day countdown to the sixth Asian Beach Games in Sanya, South China's Hainan Province Photo: VCG

All competition venues are either renovated existing facilities or temporary structures, in line with the principles of green, low-carbon and sustainable use, according to Sanya Mayor Chen Xi. The more than 1,000 official vehicles serving the Games will all be new-energy vehicles, while electronic ticketing and paperless operations will be fully implemented. 

Beyond competition, the Games will feature a wide range of cultural exchange activities, including traditional cultural displays, intangible cultural heritage experiences and beach music events at the athletes' village and key coastal venues.

"The Games will focus on promoting both Chinese culture and the unique culture of the Asian Beach Games, including interactive experiences of Hainan's intangible cultural heritage, showcases of Li and Miao ethnic customs, and beach music performances," Xie noted.

Zhang Bin, a Beijing-based sports commentator, said the significance of Sanya hosting the Asian Beach Games goes far beyond sports.

"For many young athletes, the Games could be their first exposure to a large-scale multi-sport event. They gain experience in competition pressure and different sporting environments, all of which are critical for future success at the continental and Olympic level," Zhang told the Global Times. 

"But hosting the Asian Beach Games in Sanya is about far more than sports. It's an opportunity to showcase Hainan's uniqueness after the establishment of the Hainan Free Trade Port, as well as a means for Sanya to promote its image as a global destination and highlight the region's rich cultural identity."