Mobile Legends: Bang Bang unveiled as medalled event for 2026 Asian Games
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) has been named a medalled event at the 2026 Asian Games, announced the Olympic Council of Asia yesterday (22 February). MLBB’s selection marks the first time that MLBB will feature at the Asian Games.
The Asian Games is a multi-sport event—and the biggest sports competition in Asia—held every four years. Esports was introduced at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta-Palembang in 2018 as a demonstration sport; it was later made a full medal sport at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023. The 20th edition of the Asian Games will next take place in Nachi-Nagoya, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October 2026.
MLBB is one of the world’s most popular mobile esports titles and is the first esports event series in history to surpass 1 billion hours of watch time, according to Esports Charts. The award-winning mobile Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game has more than 1.5 billion installations and 110 million active monthly users and is the current star game of global video game company, MOONTON Games.
Ray Ng, Head of Esports Ecosystem at MOONTON Games, said: “MLBB’s inclusion at the 2026 Asian Games reflects its status as a premier mobile esport, known for its accessibility, strategic depth, and global appeal. This historic milestone not only validates MLBB’s impact on competitive gaming; it also reinforces MLBB’s role in uniting diverse communities through high-level play. We thank the Olympic Council of Asia committee for the honour of showcasing MLBB’s qualities on this prestigious stage and look forward to witnessing the Games’ top-tier competition that will inspire the next generation of esports athletes.”
MLBB will headline esports at the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand in December 2025—the fourth consecutive time that MLBB is a medalled sport at the biennial multi-sporting event—where it will have both have men’s and women’s medalled competitions. MLBB holds the records as the most-watched esports event in SEA Games history for both the men’s and women’s categories; at the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia, the men’s category had 1,462,871 Peak Concurrent Viewers (PCV) and the women’s category had 1,367,274 PCV, according to Esports Charts.
Learn more about MLBB Esports via the following social media channels:
About Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is one of the most popular mobile Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games worldwide that brings communities together through teamwork and strategy. With over 1.5 billion installations and 110 million active monthly users, the award-winning game is among the top 10 most played in over 80 countries. With an extensive reach across the Asia Pacific region, the multiplayer is available in 139 countries with an expansive global esports presence.
About Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Esports
Established in 2017, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Esports serves as a platform for players to pursue their dreams of becoming esports athletes and illuminate opportunities within the international esports ecosystem. MLBB Esports has since expanded to multiple leagues, including the MPL series hosted in Southeast Asia, Middle East, and Latin America; it is the first esports event series to surpass 1 billion hours of watch time globally.
