dexinwin NAGOYA, Japan, Sept. 19, 2026— The warm-up program for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games opening ceremony sparked a wave of criticism online on Saturday, with some viewers joking that they had already seen enough to “want a refund” before the main ceremony even began.
The 20th Asian Games officially opened in Nagoya on Saturday evening, but spectators had already entered the stadium hours earlier for a special warm-up program scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
According to the official visitor information, gates opened at 1:30 p.m., the warm-up stage began at 4 p.m., and the official opening ceremony was scheduled for 6 p.m.
“I Want to Refund My Ticket”
As clips and photos from the warm-up program spread across social media, some viewers expressed disappointment with the performances and visual presentation.
Comments including “I want my ticket money back” and similar jokes became a popular way for some online users to describe their reaction to the pre-ceremony entertainment.
The criticism appeared to focus primarily on the style and atmosphere of the warm-up performances. Some viewers felt that the production did not match their expectations for a major international sporting event.
However, the online reaction should not be interpreted as evidence that spectators broadly demanded refunds or left the stadium in large numbers. The “refund” comments were largely expressions of dissatisfaction or humor on social media.
Warm-Up Was Separate From the Main Ceremony
The warm-up program was not the official opening ceremony itself.
AINAGOC scheduled the warm-up stage from 4 p.m. to 5:20 p.m., followed by the formal opening ceremony at 6 p.m. The main ceremony was expected to last approximately two hours.
The organizers had also warned spectators that entry restrictions would begin once the warm-up stage started. Visitors were encouraged to arrive between 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., while people leaving the stadium would not be permitted to re-enter.
That arrangement meant many ticket holders were already seated and watching the entertainment well before the official ceremony began.
A More Experimental Visual Style
The Aichi-Nagoya Games have adopted a contemporary approach to their opening production, combining Japanese cultural elements, stage performances and modern visual effects.
The official concept of the ceremony centers on the idea of a shared heartbeat connecting people and athletes across Asia. The event was directed by Japanese filmmaker Yukihiko Tsutsumi.
The difference between the organizers' artistic concept and individual viewers' expectations helped fuel the debate online.
Some spectators described the production as unusual and experimental, while others criticized what they saw as a lack of atmosphere or entertainment value.
Ticket Sales Were Still Strong Before the Games
The online complaints also came against the backdrop of relatively strong demand for some Asian Games events.
According to the official ticketing update published on September 8, around 40% of the opening and closing ceremonies and sports sessions had sales rates above 80%, while around 70% had sales rates above 60%. The organizers also released additional opening-ceremony tickets after finalizing the production plan.
That means the online “refund” comments should be viewed as part of the immediate social-media reaction rather than evidence of a broader ticketing crisis.
Attention Turns to the Main Show
Despite the controversy surrounding the warm-up performances, the focus ultimately shifted to the official opening ceremony at 6 p.m.
More than 11,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions are taking part in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, competing across 43 sports.
For the organizers, the opening ceremony represents an important opportunity to set the tone for the Games. For spectators, meanwhile, the warm-up program has already become one of the first talking points of the event — with some viewers finding it memorable for very different reasons than the organizers may have intended.
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