The International Olympic Committee confirmed the news on Monday, which followed a meeting of the Tokyo 2020 organising committee.
On making the announcement, Tokyo organisers confirmed that the opening ceremony will take place on July 23 2021 - almost exactly one year after the games were due to start this year.
A decision to postpone the Olympic and Paralympic Games was taken last week by the IOC and the Japanese government because of the accelerating threat posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
(Image: Getty)A statement from the IOC also confirmed the new dates for the Paralympic Games, which will now take place from August 24 to September 5.
"I would also like to thank the IOC Athletes’ Commission, with whom we have been in constant contact.