How cue sports are being featured (— or not) in the upcoming Asian Games and Commonwealth Games 2026

Quick takeaway (TL;DR)

• Asian Games 2026 (Aichi–Nagoya): The officially approved sports programme for the 2026 Asian Games does not include cue sports (billiards/snooker/pool). The OCA-approved list fixes 41 sports and cue sports were not among them; cue sports supporters are campaigning, but the earliest confirmed continental return is currently aimed at Doha 2030.

• Commonwealth Games 2026 (Glasgow): The 2026 Games were re-scoped as a leaner, 10-sport programme. Cue sports are not part of the Glasgow 2026 core programme; however, the cue-sports community has been active — notably with the inaugural Commonwealth Billiards Championship (Mauritius, 2025) endorsed by cue sports bodies and the Commonwealth movement, which strengthens the case for future inclusion.

If you’re a cue-sports stakeholder (player, coach, fan or administrator), read on — this article explains the why, the how, what’s being done, and practical next steps.

1. Short history: cue sports at multisport events

Cue sports (snooker, carom billiards, pool and their variants) have a patchy but passionate history in multisport games:

• Asian Games: Cue sports were part of the Asian Games programme in editions between 1998 and 2010. After 2010 they were dropped; recent efforts by continental federations aimed to get them reinstated, but the first confirmed return accepted by major organisers is Doha 2030. The Times of India

• Commonwealth Games: The Commonwealth movement recognizes billiards/cue sports as part of its family of sports historically associated with member nations, but cue sports have rarely been a fixed, core programme item. That means inclusion depends on the host’s proposed programme and budget considerations. Recent activity — like the first Commonwealth Billiards Championship in 2025 — shows renewed momentum among Commonwealth cue sports bodies. wcbs.sport

Why the stop-start? Cue sports are not Olympic core sports, and multi-sport events choose sports according to host capacity, TV/broadcast appeal, regional interest, and cost. That leaves cue sports in a position where strong lobbying and demonstrable viewership/participation matter.

2. Where things stand for Asian Games 2026 (Aichi–Nagoya)

Official programme and the decision process

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) recommends and approves a final sports programme; the host city then implements it in the Host City Contract. For Aichi–Nagoya 2026 the OCA Executive Board approved a programme with 41 sports (32 Olympic-related plus 9 others), and the sports list was finalised through that governance channel. Cue sports were not included in that approved list for 2026.

Why cue sports missed out for 2026

A combination of factors likely influenced the omission:

• Host priorities & venue constraints: Aichi–Nagoya prioritized a specific mix of Olympic-aligned sports and regional choices. The final list was tailored to facilities, broadcast strategy, and legacy plans. The official Aichi–Nagoya materials and OCA minutes show the programme was deliberately capped and engineered to fit the host’s plans.

• Regional balance & zonal nominations: The OCA also requires zone representation and hosts can propose certain sports. Cue sports were lobbied for by federations (e.g., ACBS and local bodies), but other sports (like cricket for continuity and MMA for debut) found favour in the final negotiations.

• Competitive calendar & strategic planning: Organisers often avoid adding sports that demand many extra venues, officials, and TV production complexity unless there’s a clear strategic payoff in viewership or regional legacy.

What that means practically

• There will be no medal events for snooker/billiards/pool at Aichi–Nagoya 2026. That affects athletes targeting continental medals in 2026; federations will likely seek alternate high-level competition windows (Asian Indoor Games, world championships, regional events) to sustain competition cycles.

• The next confirmed continental opportunity for cue sports appears to be Doha 2030, where cue sports have been specifically talked about as returning to the Asian Games fold. Advocates are positioning 2030 as the formal re-entry. Inside The Games

3. Where things stand for Commonwealth Games 2026 (Glasgow)

The Glasgow re-scope and sport choices

The 2026 Commonwealth Games were re-scoped after Victoria (Australia) withdrew as host; Glasgow stepped in with a “lighter and leaner” plan to ensure a viable Games. The result: a 10-sport programme with a strong integrated Para programme. The ten core sports announced include athletics, swimming, track cycling, bowls, boxing, artistic gymnastics, weightlifting, netball, judo and 3x3 basketball. Cue sports are not among those ten.

Why cue sports weren’t added to Glasgow 2026

• Budget & logistics: Glasgow’s priority was a compact, broadcast-friendly schedule in a short geographic corridor. This made it harder to add optional or niche sports that would need distinct venues and extra days of competition.

• Competitive trade-offs: Several traditionally medal-rich sports for some nations—squash, badminton, table tennis, cricket, etc.—were excluded for the same reasons. The effect was a broad trimming of the programme; cue sports were not prioritized in the compact slate.

But there is positive movement within the Commonwealth

• The Commonwealth Billiards Championship (Mauritius, 2025) — the inaugural event — was a major, organised effort to bring cue sports under a Commonwealth-wide competitive umbrella. The championship included snooker, 10-ball pool, blackball and more, drew participants from dozens of Commonwealth countries, and carried endorsements from cue-sports governing bodies. This tournament strengthens arguments for formal CWG inclusion in future editions and demonstrates a unified, pan-Commonwealth structure for cue-sport competition.

• The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and national bodies watch demonstrations and multi-nation championships as proof-of-concept before restoring optional versus core sports — so that 2026 omission is not the end of the story.

4. Why multi-sport events exclude or include cue sports — the mechanics

Understanding the decision framework helps explain the 2026 outcomes.

1. Host city contract & core list: The Host City Contract ties the host to a base set of sports (often Olympic core plus regionally important additions). The OCA/CGF then agree a final programme. If cue sports are not on that roster, they don’t happen unless the host requests them.

2. Cost, broadcast and venue considerations: Cue sports need quiet halls, specialised tables, lighting rigs and longer match windows — which can be at odds with a tight venue schedule or limited broadcast appetite compared with athletics or swimming. The cost-to-viewership ratio matters.

3. Regional appeal and medal distribution: Organisers weigh whether a sport has broad geographic competitiveness. If a sport is dominant among a few nations only, hosts sometimes deprioritize it.

4. Legacy & development: Hosts often select sports that leave venue or participation legacies locally. If a city or region sees grassroots growth through inclusion, that helps the case.

5. Federation lobbying and demonstrable competition: Recent multinational events (e.g., Commonwealth Billiards Championship) and ACBS/IBSF campaigns are the grassroots to governance pipeline needed for inclusion.

5. What the cue-sports community is doing (and what works)

The cue sports world has not been idle. Successful steps taken or underway include:

• Organising pan-Commonwealth championships (Mauritius 2025) to show viability and multisport federation alignment. This event showcased cross-national participation and governance maturity.

• Lobbying continental bodies (e.g., ACBS) and the OCA: lobbying is long-term — the ACBS has publicly campaigned for reinstatement and for a clear roadmap toward Doha 2030.

• Demonstration events & media packaging: Cue federations are packaging snooker/10-ball formats with spectator-friendly timing and TV formats (shorter shootouts, mixed-team events) to increase broadcast appeal.

• Regional inclusion through other Games: Cue sports are active in regional multisport events (e.g., Southeast Asian Games, Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games), helping maintain competition and athlete development pipelines.

What works: Show consistent, multinational competition (not just national opens), present spectator-friendly formats, and align with host legacy goals.

6. Practical guidance for athletes, coaches and federations (2024–2026)

For stakeholders planning around 2026:

• Athletes: Treat 2026 as a year for world championships, regional championships (e.g., Asian Indoor, commonwealth tournaments) and invitational events. If you're targeting an Asian Games medal, note that 2026 won’t provide that opportunity — plan your peak cycles for world events and the 2030 Asian Games prospect.

• Coaches & performance directors: Use 2026 to broaden athlete exposure (team formats, mixed events, faster formats). Leverage the Commonwealth Billiards Championship and other multi-nation tournaments for match play under pressure.

• National federations: Keep engaging with OCA/CGF channels, produce TV-friendly event formats, and coordinate regional bids to demonstrate growth. Invest in youth and grassroots visibility to boost the sport’s public profile in host nations.

• Organisers & promoters: Pack event weekends with fan engagement (coaching clinics, exhibition matches), collaborate with broadcast producers for highlight reels and leverage social media short-form content to build viewership metrics.

7. The longer-term outlook (2030 and beyond)

• Asian Games 2030 (Doha): Cue sports advocates have a clearer target for a formal return at the continental level. Doha 2030 has been mentioned in multiple sources as the edition where cue sports could be reinstated. If this happens, it will be evidence that persistent federation lobbying and demonstration events work.

• Commonwealth Games future editions: The Commonwealth billiards community’s success in staging the 2025 championship provides a proof-of-concept for reinstatement in future editions — especially if a future host chooses to expand beyond the lean Glasgow 2026 programme.

• Olympic prospects: Inclusion in the Olympics is a much taller order (requires global reach, IOC acceptance and a strong commercial case). However, success at continental or Commonwealth levels strengthens long-term Olympic credibility.

8. Fan & media checklist: how to follow and support cue sports during 2026

• Subscribe to ACBS, IBSF and World Cue Sport channels for tournament announcements. (Federation sites and social channels post news about continental bids and events.)

• Follow the Commonwealth Billiards Championship results and highlights to see which nations are investing in cue disciplines — that’s where future medal powerhouses can emerge.

• Support live-streamed or hybrid events; engagement metrics help federations make a TV/broadcast case.

• Attend regional cuesport festivals and grassroots events — local participation numbers feed into host-city legacy arguments.

9. Summary of the current state (quick bullets)

• Asian Games 2026 (Aichi–Nagoya): cue sports not on the final OCA-approved programme.

• Commonwealth Games 2026 (Glasgow): 10-sport lean programme; cue sports not included.

• Momentum-building: Commonwealth Billiards Championship 2025 (Mauritius) is a major push showing cross-nation interest and competitive structure; cue sports aiming for Doha 2030 re-entry at the Asian Games.

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FAQs — Helpful and valid answers

Q1: Are snooker or pool part of the Asian Games 2026 medal programme?

A: No. The OCA-approved sports list for Aichi–Nagoya 2026 does not include cue sports; the next formal return being discussed publicly is for Doha 2030.

Q2: Will cue sports feature at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow?

A: No. Glasgow 2026 is a compact 10-sport edition and cue sports were not included in that core programme. That said, Commonwealth-wide cue initiatives (like the 2025 Commonwealth Billiards Championship) are building a case for future CWG inclusion.

Q3: What major cue-sports events should fans follow in 2026 instead?

A: World Championships (by discipline: e.g., WPA/WDBS/IBSF events), regional championships, the Commonwealth Billiards series and Asian Indoor Championships are the main multi-nation competitions to watch. Check federation calendars (IBSF, WPA, ACBS) for exact dates.

Q4: How can federations increase the chance of cue sports returning to big multi-sport events?

A: Run robust multi-nation championships, create spectator-friendly shorter formats for TV, demonstrate venue/legacy benefits to host cities, and coordinate with continental federations to align bids with host legacy goals. The 2025 Commonwealth Billiards Championship is an example of the right approach.

Q5: If I’m an athlete, should I stop training for multi-sport events because cue sports aren’t at Glasgow/Nagoya?

A: No. Maintain and sharpen your competitive schedule — world and regional events will be the proving ground in 2026. Federations and athletes should treat 2026 as an opportunity to experiment with new formats and to gain international match experience outside the multi-sport window.

Final thoughts — hope and strategy

The 2026 picture is mixed: no continental or Commonwealth medals for cue sports at those two flagship events, but that doesn’t mean decline — it reflects host priorities, budgets and strategic decisions. The cue-sports community has responded strategically: staging multinational championships, courting media partners, and building a compelling case for the next cycles (notably Doha 2030 and future Commonwealth Games).

If you’re part of the cue-sports ecosystem, use 2024–2026 to build measurable proof: TV viewership numbers, strong cross-nation entries, unified governance, and youth participation. Those metrics will be the currency that wins places on future multisport programmes.

Author Bio:

Dr. Robin Alexander

Dr. Robin Alexander is an MD Pathologist, passionate guitar enthusiast, and lifelong snooker fan. He combines medical precision with a love for music and sport. Connect with him on LinkedIn.