Registration for the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI) 2026 has officially closed, with 103 countries and territories registered to participate in the third edition of the Olympiad.
The event will take place in Astana, Kazakhstan, from 2–8 August 2026, bringing together some of the world’s most talented high school students in artificial intelligence.
Since its launch in 2024, IOAI has experienced rapid international growth. Today, the Olympiad has accredited more than 130 countries and territories, representing a substantial share of the global AI education community. With 103 countries and territories and more than 120 teams registered for IOAI 2026, the Olympiad continues to expand its global reach and strengthen international participation.
IOAI provides a platform for students to compete, exchange ideas, and engage with advanced topics in artificial intelligence. Participants qualify through national selection processes and represent their countries and territories as official national teams.
Accessibility remains a key priority. In 2026, 40 countries and territories will receive financial assistance to support their participation, more than doubling the number of supported delegations compared to the previous edition. This enables broader global representation and helps ensure that talented students can participate regardless of economic circumstances.
The Olympiad continues to develop through the Global AI Talent Empowerment (GAITE) initiative, which supports countries and territories that are building their AI Olympiad ecosystems. The program provides educational resources, adapted competition formats, and guidance for establishing national selection systems.
Alongside the global Olympiad, the IOAI ecosystem now includes a growing network of regional and subregional competitions, including the African Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (AOAI), Asia Pacific Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (APOAI), the upcoming European Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (EOAI), and future initiatives across the Americas. These events help expand access to AI education and international competition opportunities worldwide.
“IOAI started in Bulgaria in 2024, grew in China in 2025, and will bring together the national teams of 100+ countries and territories in Kazakhstan in August 2026. The IOAI community is formed by 130+ accredited countries and territories that represent almost 70% of UN member states and 90% of the global population. I can confidently say: AI now has its global Olympic stage.”
— Elena Marinova, Chair of the IOAI International Board
IOAI 2026 will be held under the patronage of UNESCO and will continue its mission of promoting excellence, collaboration, and responsible innovation in artificial intelligence education.
