Registration

Registration for IOAI 2026 is open!

Registration steps:

  1. Complete the registration form.

  2. You will receive the payment details (and a pro forma invoice, if requested in the form).

  3. Please submit your payment within the registration period and no later than 14 days after receiving the pro forma invoice.

  4. Your registration will be confirmed once your payment has been received.

Early Bird Registration

1 December 2025 – 31 January 2026
First team – 1550 EUR
Second team – 3000 EUR
Observer ** – 1600 EUR

Standard Registration

1 February 2026 – 30 April 2026
First team – 2100 EUR
Second team – 3500 EUR *
Observer ** – 1700 EUR

Late Registration

1 May 2026 –  1 June 2026
First team – 2600 EUR
Second team – 3700 EUR *
Observer ** – 1800 EUR

Payment must be submitted with the registration application to confirm a team’s registration. Proforma Invoices to be provided within 14 days to hold registration.

* During the Standard and Late Registration Countries may register a second team upon availability, on a first come, first served basis.

** Observer Rate includes 7 nights double sharing accommodation on MBZUAI Campus, all meals, local transport, and an all-access pass during the Olympiad.

The fees include the following for a team of five persons (4 contestants and a team leader):

  • Transfers for arrival (2 August) and departure (8 August) from/to Zayed International Airport
  • 7 nights of double-occupancy accommodation on the MBZUAI campus
  • Full board from dinner on 2 August till breakfast on 8 August
  • Participation in the contests during the IOAI
  • Access to the online course in June 2026
  • Participation in all IOAI social and cultural events

The fees do not include:

  • Travel expenses from/to the contestants’ home country to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
  • Additional days and meals outside the IOAI schedule
  • Visa application charges
  • Travel or health insurance
  • Supplement for different than the standard accommodation

Team selection

Contestants must be 20 years old or younger on 1 July of the year of the IOAI edition in which they are participating. Contestants must have been normally enrolled in full-time primary or secondary education on or after 1 December in the year prior to the IOAI, or, in the case of home-schooled students, must not have received a high-school diploma (or equivalent), and must be working toward such a credential on 1 December of the year prior to IOAI. Contestants should be selected based on their performance in country-wide competitions in artificial intelligence, informatics, mathematics, linguistics, or a related field. These competitions must be organized by the recognized national body (the accredited organization) and open to all residents of the country who are receiving their education there. 

Additional teams

Country coordinators can decide to participate with up to one additional team  (2 teams in total) in order to give their country a stronger representation. However, the fees for the second team will be higher and the contestants have to be selected in a similar manner like the first team.

Team leaders

Each team must be accompanied by a team leader who is not a contestant. The team leader must be a legal adult (in both the team’s country and the host country) on the first day of the start of the IOAI. The team leader ensures the well-being and proper conduct of their students throughout the entire duration of the event, and serves as intermediaries between their team, the organisers, and other participating teams. Typically and unless otherwise communicated in advance, the team leader of the first team represents the country at the General Assembly.