Asthma is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases worldwide, affecting approximately 10% of adults and an even greater proportion of children. Type-2 innate lymphoid cell (ILC2)- and type 2 helper T cell (T_H2)-driven type 2 inflammation is a critical contributor to the pathogenesis of this disease. Various triggers, such as protease allergens, helminth parasites, fungi and influenza virus, can stimulate epithelial cells to release alarmins such as IL-33, IL-25 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) to drive ILC2s and T_H2 activation. In this review, we provide some latest advances in our understanding of the role of ILC2s and T_H2 in asthma. With regard to T_H2, we focus on transcriptional factors, ubiquitination, Notch signaling pathway and clinical research. In the case of ILC2s, we concentrate on transcriptional factors, co-stimulatory molecules, epigenetic and metabolic pathways in a cell-intrinsic way and on cell-cell interaction in a cell-extrinsic way. The questions in this field are also addressed.