THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIAD IN INFORMATICS HAS OFFICIALLY KICKED OFF IN UZBEKISTAN

Running from August 9 to 16, 2026, Tashkent is proudly hosting the 38th edition of the IOI—the world’s oldest and most prestigious competitive programming event for young talents, held annually since 1989. Sponsored by UZINFOCOM, this year’s landmark event has brought together 386 brilliant young programmers from over 97 nations.

As the premier global programming competition for high school students, the IOI annually unites the brightest minds from across the globe.

Uzbekistan originally won the bid to host the event following a decision by the IOI General Assembly in 2023. Two years later, at the closing ceremony of the 2025 Olympiad in Bolivia, the IOI flag was ceremoniously passed to Uzbekistan, officially cementing Tashkent as the next host city. Symbolically, this milestone occurred just after the Uzbekistan national team achieved its best historical performance, securing both silver and bronze medals.

A total of 386 students from more than 97 countries—including the United States, China, Germany, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, and the United Kingdom—have registered and are currently competing in IOI 2026. Factoring in accompanying delegations, distinguished guests, and international committee members, total attendance exceeds 900 people. The rigorous eight-day program features five-hour competitive algorithmic problem-solving sessions, complemented by seminars, workshops, and guided tours showcasing the cultural heritage of Tashkent.

The IOI Committee’s decision to select Tashkent followed a thorough review of Uzbekistan’s official bid, which highlighted strong state support for the IT sector, modernized infrastructure, and comprehensive frameworks for cultivating young tech specialists. Choosing Uzbekistan as the host is a resounding endorsement of the country’s rapid expansion in both its IT ecosystem and digital education sector.

In preparation for this massive undertaking, organizers closely studied previous Olympiads in Bolivia, Hungary, and Egypt, tailoring the best global practices to perfectly suit the local landscape. Following Uzbekistan, Germany will host the 39th IOI in 2027.

“Earning the right to host the International Olympiad in Informatics in Tashkent is the culmination of years of dedicated work toward advancing IT education, empowering talented youth, and building a modern digital ecosystem. Hosting IOI 2026 is an international validation of these efforts,” stated Sherzod Shermatov, Minister of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

“The success of our national team—bringing home the country’s first-ever silver and bronze medals from Bolivia—was a natural outcome of our consistent state policies focusing on human capital and tech education. We view IOI 2026 not merely as a high-profile reputational event, but as a core component of our ‘Digital Uzbekistan — 2030’ strategy. The earlier young talents are exposed to world-class standards, the faster we will raise a new generation of professionals capable of competing on the global stage. This August, Tashkent has become a hub where 386 of the planet’s sharpest young minds are discovering Uzbekistan just as we envision it: an open, ambitious, and rapidly rising technological hub.”

As the host nation, Uzbekistan is fielding two teams comprising eight elite participants who emerged victorious from intense national qualifiers.

Team One consists of Jahongirshoh Avazkhonov, Timur Kadirbergenov, Jahonali Haydaraliyev, and Ulugbek Rahmatullayev.

Team Two is represented by Sardor Salimov, Humoyun Abduraupov, Ulugbek Kamalov, and Ravshan Rahmiddinov.

The students hail from across the country, including the Namangan and Navoi regions, the Republic of Karakalpakstan, and Tashkent, representing top educational institutions such as the Presidential Schools, the Muhammad al-Khwarizmi IT School, the Westminster Academic Lyceum, and the TUIT Academic Lyceum.

Intensive training for the national squad began in November 2025, encompassing nine rigorous training camps—including international boot camps in Romania and Kazakhstan—mentored by expert coaches from Romania, Poland, and Kazakhstan. Recognizing the high-pressure environment, the preparation program also provided specialized psychological support led by an expert with 18 years of experience.

Hosting IOI 2026 aligns seamlessly with the “Digital Uzbekistan — 2030” strategy. The nation is aggressively scaling its IT infrastructure, implementing highly favorable tax regimes for the tech sector via IT Park Uzbekistan, and deeply investing in its youth, given that over 60% of the population is under the age of 30.

Organizers anticipate the Olympiad’s positive impact will resonate far beyond the tournament itself. Hosting the IOI elevates Uzbekistan’s international standing as a state committed to digital innovation and serves as a powerful catalyst to inspire thousands of local schoolchildren to pursue programming, mathematics, and broader STEM fields.

Furthermore, welcoming participants and delegates from over 90 countries significantly boosts Uzbekistan’s tourism profile. For many attendees, this marks their very first journey to Central Asia.

“It is an immense honor to represent Uzbekistan at the International Olympiad in Informatics. We have trained relentlessly for this moment and are giving it our absolute best to win. It is deeply rewarding to know that participants from across the globe are experiencing our country, while we have the chance to compete against the very best students in the world,” shared Ulugbek Rahmatullayev, an IOI 2025 bronze medalist and current participant on the Uzbekistan national team.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The International Olympiad in Informatics is the oldest and most esteemed global competitive programming contest for high school students, held annually since 1989.

IOI 2026 in Tashkent marks the 38th edition of the competition and the first to be hosted by Uzbekistan. The event is officially organized by the Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan, with UZINFOCOM serving as a sponsor.