International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) 2026 – Exam Date, Eligibility, Syllabus & Full Details

The International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) is among five global science olympiads. The main objective of the IOI is to encourage interest in informatics (computer science) and information technology. An additional significant aim is to unite exceptionally gifted students from different nations and to allow them to exchange scientific and cultural experiences.

The International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) is an esteemed Olympiad contest aimed at students from grades 6 to 12. This prestigious event unites the most talented young individuals from across the world to demonstrate their problem-solving abilities and computational thinking.

Taking part in the IOI provides students with a distinctive chance to improve their programming abilities, partake in amicable rivalry, and interact with similar-minded people globally.

What is IOI (International Olympiad in Informatics)?

The concept of starting international olympiads in informatics for students was suggested to the 24th General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris by the Bulgarian representative Professor Blagovest Sendov in October 1987.

 This proposal was incorporated into the Fifth Main Program of UNESCO for the biennium 1988-1989 (Section 05 215). In May 1989, UNESCO launched and funded the initial International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI). The inaugural IOI took place in Bulgaria in 1989.

The International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) is hosted by a different country each year. The 38th edition, IOI 2026, will be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from August 9 to 16, 2026. Participating in the IOI provides students with a global platform to enhance their programming skills, compete at an international level, and connect with talented peers from around the world.

Each participating country selects a team of up to four students, accompanied by a team leader and a deputy leader. The competition spans two days, where each contestant competes individually, solving three challenging algorithmic problems within a five-hour session each day to maximize their score.

International Olympiad in Informatics Exam Date 2026 

The following overview table provides a concise highlight of the International Olympiad in Informatics, as taken from the most recent IOI 2026 exam.

International Olympiad in Informatics Syllabus 2026

The International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) syllabus covers a wide range of computer science and programming topics. Here is an overview of the key areas included in the IOI syllabus

• Mathematics: Arithmetics and Geometry: Basic mathematical concepts.
• Discrete Structures (DS): Functions, relations, sets, basic logic, proof techniques, counting, graphs, trees, discrete probability.
• Computing Science:  Programming Fundamentals (PF): Abstract machines, algorithms, problem-solving, data structures, recursion, event-driven programming.
• Algorithms and Complexity (AL): Algorithmic analysis, strategies, data structures, distributed algorithms, computability, complexity classes (P, NP), automata, grammars, geometric algorithms, parallel algorithms.
• Software Engineering (SE): Software design, APIs, tools, processes, requirements, validation, evolution, project management, component-based computing, formal methods, reliability, specialized systems development.
• Other Areas in Computing Science : Not explicitly defined but may include emerging topics in computer science.

IOI Exam Pattern 2026

The IOI contest comprises multiple algorithmic problem-solving challenges that demand expertise in problem analysis, data structures, algorithm design, programming, and testing. The problems are assessed right after submission.

• Competition Days: The IOI consists of two competition days.

• Tasks per Day: Each day, contestants are given three tasks to complete.

• Time Limit: Contestants have five hours to complete the tasks on each day.

• Programming Language: Solutions are typically written in a specified programming language, such as C++.

• Task Format

• Algorithmic Nature: Tasks are algorithmic and require skills in problem analysis, data structures, algorithm design, programming, and testing.

• Subtasks: Each task is divided into subtasks, contributing to the total score.

• Time and Memory Limits: Generous time and memory limits are specified for each task
  

International Olympiad in Informatics Eligibility 

The International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) is a prestigious annual competition for secondary school students worldwide, focusing on programming and problem-solving skills. Here are the key eligibility criteria and details about the IOI:

• Age Limit: Students must not be older than 20 years on July 1st of the year they participate in the IOI. There is no lower age limit for participation.
• Enrollment: Participants must be enrolled in a school during the current academic year, regardless of the school board or location.
• Selection Process: Students typically participate in national or regional competitions to qualify for the IOI. For example, in India, students participate in the Indian Computing Olympiad (ICO) and the Indian National Olympiad in Informatics (INOI) to be selected for the IOI.

How to Register for IOI 2026?

The IOI 2026 Host Organising Committee is pleased to invite all those who are qualified to the International Olympiad in Informatics 2026.

 If you do not have the password for the registration, you should contact your national representative using the contact information at https://ioi2026.uz/

Invitation letters for your visa application will processed automatically after the registration.

IOI 2026 Contest Requirements

Hardware

Dell OptiPlex 7090 is assigned to each contestant with the following components:

• CPU: Intel Core i7-10700 (2.90GHz) 8 Cores
• RAM: 16 GB DDR4 SDRAM
• Storage: 512 GB SSD
• Screen: Dell 24 inch (1920×1080 resolution)
• Mouse: USB Wired Mouse

Keyboard: USB QWERTY English/Arabic Keyboard (UK Layout)

​​Note: Contestants are encouraged to bring their own keyboard and mouse. However, please note that according to the Contest Rules, it must not have wireless communication capability and must not have any programmable functions whose configuration is retained when unplugged.

​Software

• Contestants can expect the following software, with the minimum versions stated below. A virtual machine is available at the bottom of this page to allow practicing with the software environment of the contest.
• Please note that Code: Blocks WILL NOT be available because of stability issues.
• ​​Operating System: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (with the ubuntu-desktop-minimal package set)
• ​Compiler: GCC 11.4.0

​Text Editors and IDEs

• Atom 1.60.0

• CLion 2024.1.4

• Eclipse 2024-06 R

• Geany 1.38

• GNU Emacs 27.1

• Joe 4.6

• Kate 21.12.3

• KDevelop 5.7.211203

• Nano 6.2

• Neovim v0.10.0

• PyCharm 2024.1.4

• Sublime Text 4169

• Vim 8.2.4919

• Visual Studio Code 1.91.1 (with C/C++ extension v1.20.5)

​Debuggers

• DDD 3.3.12

• GDB 12.1

• Valgrind 3.18.1

​Interpreters

• Python 3.10.12

• Ruby 3.0

​Documentations

• C/C++ reference

• Python 3

​Other Applications

• Byobu 5.133

• Firefox 128

• Gnome Terminal 3.44.0

• Konsole 21.12.3

International Olympiad in Informatics Awards and Recognition

The International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) awards medals based on the relative total score of participants, with the top 50% receiving medals. 

The distribution is typically around 1/12 gold, 1/6 silver, and 1/4 bronze, with the remaining participants not receiving medals.Here are some notable winners and achievements

Recent Notable Winners

India's Recent Achievement: In 2023, India won a gold medal after a nine-year gap. Kshitij Sodani secured the gold, while Paras Kasmalkar and Shreyan Ray earned silver medals, and Sushil Raaja U received a bronze medal.

Kshitij Sodani's Achievements: Kshitij Sodani is notable for being the youngest Indian to win a medal at IOI (in 2020 at age 14) and the youngest-ever gold medalist at IOI (in 2023 at age 17).

International Olympiad in Informatics Benefits

The International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) offer numerous benefits to participants. Here are some of the key advantages:

1. Skill Development:

• Enhances algorithmic problem-solving skills and proficiency in programming languages like C++.

2. Global Recognition:

• IOI: Provides international recognition for exceptional talent in informatics, fostering global relationships among computer scientists.

3. Career Preparation:

• Prepares students for careers in IT, programming, and data science by laying a strong foundation in computer science and informatics.

4. Scholarship Opportunities: While not explicitly mentioned, participation can lead to recognition that may aid in securing scholarships or academic opportunities.

5. Confidence Building: Competing at national and international levels helps build self-assurance and confidence in problem-solving abilities.

6. Networking Opportunities: Fosters friendly international relationships among computer scientists and informatics educators, providing a platform for networking.

7. Comprehensive Development: Participating in Olympiads encourages a resilient and proactive mindset, teaching students the importance of precision and time management

International Olympiad in Informatics Year Wise Winner List

Here is the year-wise winner list for the International Olympiad in Informatics in tabular form: