The 14th South Asian Games will be held in Pakistan from January 23 to 31  2026, marking the return of the regional multi-sport event after a gap of several years, the South Asian Olympic Council (SAOC) has confirmed.

According to the Maldives Olympic Committee (MOC), the games will be hosted across three cities: Islamabad, Faisalabad, and Lahore. The announcement followed an SAOC Executive Committee meeting in Lahore, attended by MOC Vice President Ahmed Muthagim and Secretary General Thamooh Ahmed Saeed.

The last edition of the South Asian Games took place in Nepal in 2019, where Maldivian sprinter Hassan Saaid secured the country’s first-ever gold medal in the 100m athletics event, setting a record time of 10.49 seconds. That year, 216 Maldivian athletes competed in 22 sports.

For the 2026 Games, 27 sports have been shortlisted, with the final selection to be confirmed next month. The MOC is currently working with sports associations to determine the Maldivian athletes who will participate in the competition.