Uzbekistan will host the International Olympiad in Informatics for the first time.

Uzbekistan is preparing to host the 38th International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI 2026), which will be held in Tashkent from August 9 to 16. This event will be historic for the country, as it will be the first time Uzbekistan will host one of the world's most prestigious competitive programming competitions for school students.

386 school students from more than 97 countries are expected to participate in the Olympiad. The total number of participants, including delegations, international committee members, guests, and observers, will exceed 900, setting a new record in the history of the IOI.

Uzbekistan won the right to host the Olympiad in 2023. Hosting the competition in the birthplace of the eminent scientist Muhammad al-Khwarizmi, whose name gave rise to the term "algorithm," underscores the profound historical and symbolic significance of this event.

In recent years, Uzbekistan's IT ecosystem has demonstrated significant growth. Currently, over 3,700 resident companies are registered at IT Park, over a thousand of which were founded with foreign capital. The number of employees at resident companies increased from 26,200 in 2023 to 56,000 in 2026, while the number of self-employed ICT specialists grew from 53,300 to 181,000.

Uzbekistan has also strengthened its position on the international stage. According to Dealroom.co, the country ranked first globally in terms of annual growth in venture capital investment in 2026. StartupBlink recognized Uzbekistan as one of the fastest-growing startup ecosystems in the world, awarding it the status of "Country of the Year 2026."

Preparation for the national team for IOI 2026 began in November 2025. Participants attended approximately ten training camps, including international experts from Kazakhstan, Poland, and Romania. From the 100 schoolchildren who passed the regional selection, two national teams of four were formed, totaling eight participants.

Uzbekistan first participated in the International Olympiad in Informatics in 2015. By 2025, the national team had won one silver and four bronze medals. At IOI 2025, Uzbek schoolchildren achieved the best result in the country's history, winning a silver and bronze medal.

Organizers are focusing on security, transportation, accommodation, food, technical infrastructure, and a cultural program. For eight days, Tashkent will become a hub for young programmers, mentors, and international experts.

The IOI 2026 aims to showcase Uzbekistan's educational and technological potential, support talented youth, increase student interest in programming, mathematics, and STEM subjects, and strengthen international cooperation in digital technology.