The 2026 Asian Men's Handball Championship will be the 22nd edition of the Asian Men's Handball Championship, the biennial international men's handball championship of Asia and Oceania organized by AHF. The tournament is scheduled to be held from 15 to 29 January 2026 in Sabah Al-Salem, Kuwait.[1]
It will be the fourth time in history that the championship will be organised by the Kuwait Handball Association.
It also acts as a qualification tournament for the 2027 World Men's Handball Championship in Germany, with top four teams from the championship directly qualifying for the event. If Australia finishes inside the top five, they are qualified as well as the representative of Oceania.
Qatar are the six time defending champions, recently beating Japan 30–24 in the 2024 final in Isa Town.
Host selection
Kuwait was given the hosting rights on 24 February 2025.[2] It will be the fourth time in history that the championship will be organised by the Kuwait Handball Association after 1977, 1995, and 2020.
The draw was held at 17:30 AST on 15 October 2025 at the Conference Room of the Safir Fintas Kuwait Hotel, Fintās, Kuwait.[3][4] The draw started with, in order, pots 4, 3, 2 and 1 being drawn, with each team selected then allocated into the first available group alphabetically.
Seeding
The seeding was based off the results of the previous edition.
In the group stage, teams are ranked according to points (2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). After completion of the group stage, if two or more teams have the same number of points, the ranking will be determined as follows:
Highest number of points in matches between the teams directly involved;
Superior goal difference in matches between the teams directly involved;
Highest number of goals scored in matches between the teams directly involved;
Superior goal difference in all matches of the group;
Highest number of plus goals in all matches of the group;
If the ranking of one of these teams is determined, the above criteria are consecutively followed until the ranking of all teams is determined. If no ranking can be determined, a decision shall be obtained by AHF through drawing of lots.
First match(es) will be played: 16 January 2026. Source: AHF Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.
First match(es) will be played: 16 January 2026. Source: AHF Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.
First match(es) will be played: 15 January 2026. Source: AHF Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference. (H) Hosts
First match(es) will be played: 15 January 2026. Source: AHF Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.
First match(es) will be played: 22 January 2026. Source: AHF Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.
First match(es) will be played: 22 January 2026. Source: AHF Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.
First match(es) will be played: 22 January 2026. Source: AHF Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.
22 January 2026 12:00
A1
v
D2
Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah Covered Halls Complex, Sabah Al-Salem
First match(es) will be played: 22 January 2026. Source: AHF Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head number of goals scored; 5) goal difference.
22 January 2026 14:00
C2
v
B1
Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah Covered Halls Complex, Sabah Al-Salem
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Kuwait 
