After Repeated Delays, Nepal’s 10th National Games Finally Get New December Dates

KATHMANDU, August 14, 2026

Nepal’s National Sports Council (NSC) has fixed December 2–15, 2026, for the long-delayed 10th National Games in Surkhet, Karnali Province, giving athletes and organizers a new schedule for the country’s biggest domestic multi-sport competition. The decision was taken at the NSC’s 125th board meeting at Singha Durbar, attended by the Youth and Sports Minister, representatives from all seven provinces, and other council members, as authorities move to finally hold an event that has been repeatedly delayed by infrastructure, administrative, and political complications.

A Tournament Delayed Again and Again

The 10th National Games have faced a long series of postponements. The competition was originally planned for November 17–24, 2024, before being shifted several times, including to April and May 2025 and later to February 2026. Earlier this year, the government again postponed the Games, saying they would be held at a suitable time after the House of Representatives election.

Infrastructure has been one of the biggest concerns. The Karnali Provincial Stadium in Surkhet, the main venue for the Games, had reached around 99 percent physical completion, but remaining construction and handover issues continued to affect preparations.

Why Surkhet Matters

Hosting the Games is particularly significant for Karnali because the province has never previously hosted Nepal's National Games. Past editions have been staged in places including Kathmandu, Pokhara, Nepalgunj, Birgunj, the Dhangadhi-Mahendranagar area and Biratnagar.

Karnali has consequently invested heavily in sports infrastructure, while the provincial sports authorities have continued preparations for the competition despite repeated delays. The Karnali Sports Development Council has recently said preparations for the 10th National Games are being accelerated.

Government Had Already Set Aside Funding

The federal government has also kept the National Games in its current sports plans. The FY 2026/27 budget includes funding for the 10th National Games in Surkhet, while money has also been allocated toward preparations for the 11th National Games in Madhesh Province.

The latest NSC meeting also approved the necessary standards and guidelines required to organize the 10th National Games, according to reports.

Nepal’s Asian Games Participation Approved

The NSC board also gave final approval to Nepal’s participation in the 20th Asian Games, scheduled in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with reports stating that Nepal’s approved delegation includes 218 athletes and officials.

The Asian Games are officially the 20th edition, and the event is scheduled to take place in Japan in 2026.

First National Para Games Also Planned

Another major decision was to move forward with Nepal’s first National Para Games, with the competition scheduled to begin on December 30.

The Para Games have also faced postponements. An earlier NSC decision had scheduled the inaugural event for May 2025, but it did not take place as planned.

Holding a dedicated national-level competition would provide a larger competitive platform for para-athletes and bring para sports more directly into Nepal’s national sporting structure.

ANFA Dispute Remains on the Agenda

The board meeting also discussed the continuing issues surrounding the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA).

Nepali football has faced months of administrative conflict involving ANFA, the NSC and government authorities, including disagreements over governance, elections and compliance with official directives. The NSC has said coordination with relevant stakeholders is continuing in an effort to resolve the dispute.

NSC Approves Administrative Measures

Alongside the major sporting decisions, the board endorsed measures related to staff management, internal resource allocation and certification of the current fiscal year's budget.

These decisions are intended to improve the NSC's administrative operations while preparations move ahead for several major domestic and international sporting commitments.

The Bigger Question: Will December Finally Hold?

For athletes, the latest announcement provides something they have repeatedly lost over the past two years: a definite competition window.

But after several postponements, the bigger test is no longer simply announcing another date. It is whether infrastructure, funding, logistics and coordination can finally come together so that Karnali hosts the 10th National Games from December 2 to 15 without another delay.