In March 2017, the Olympic Council of Asia initially announced that the Games would feature 484 events in 42 sports, including the 28 permanent Olympic sports contested at the 2016 Summer Olympics, the five additional sports that will be contested at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, as well as events in other non-Olympic sports.
Pada Maret 2017, Dewan Olimpiade Asia awalnya mengumumkan bahwa Asian Games 2018 akan menampilkan 484 nomor pertandingan dalam 42 cabang olahraga, termasuk 28 cabang olahraga Olimpiade permanen yang diperebutkan Olimpiade Musim Panas 2016, lima cabang olahraga tambahan yang akan diperebutkan di Olimpiade Musim Panas 2020 di Tokyo, serta pertandingan di cabang olahraga non-Olimpiade lainnya.