Uzbekistan Successfully Hosts the 38th International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI 2026)

For the first time in its history, Uzbekistan hosted the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI), bringing together the world's brightest young programming talents in Tashkent from August 10 to 17, 2026.

The 38th International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI 2026) marked a historic milestone for Uzbekistan and its growing role in the global digital technology community. Held in Tashkent, the prestigious international competition brought together 386 contestants from more than 97 countries, with total attendance exceeding 900 participants, including team leaders, mentors, organizers, and international guests.

A Historic Opening in the Homeland of Algorithms

The Olympiad officially opened on August 10 with a grand opening ceremony attended by representatives of the international informatics community and distinguished guests. Among the speakers were IOI President Sun Teck Tan and Gennady Korotkevich, the most successful contestant in the history of the Olympiad.

Hosting IOI 2026 held particular symbolic significance for Uzbekistan, the homeland of Muhammad al-Khwarizmi, whose contributions to mathematics laid the foundations for algebra and the concept of algorithms. The event also reflected the country's ongoing efforts to advance digital transformation, strengthen IT education, and create new opportunities for talented young people.

As part of the international event, Telegram established a dedicated prize fund for the tournament's winners, highlighting the support of the global technology community for the next generation of programmers.

Historic Achievement for Uzbekistan's National Team

One of the most remarkable outcomes of IOI 2026 was the unprecedented performance of Uzbekistan's national team. For the first time in the country's history of participation in the Olympiad, all four contestants earned medals, securing a total of one silver and three bronze medals.

The medalists were:

• Jahonali Xaydaraliyev — Muhammad al-Khwarizmi Specialized School, Grade 9 (Silver Medal).
• Timur Kadirbergenov — Nukus Presidential School, Grade 11 (Bronze Medal).
• Ulug‘bek Rakhmatullaev — Namangan Presidential School, Grade 11 (Bronze Medal).
• Jahongirshoh Avazxonov — Namangan Presidential School, Grade 10 (Bronze Medal).

In addition, Sardorbek Salimov, a student of the Presidential School in Navoi, received an Honourable Mention.

This outstanding result reflects the students' dedication and years of preparation, the commitment of their teachers, and the growing impact of Uzbekistan's initiatives to support talented young people and develop digital education.

Celebrating Excellence and Passing the Torch

The competition concluded with the announcement of the absolute winner of IOI 2026. China's representative Qiwen Xu secured the Grand Prize with an impressive score of 498.3 points. The award was presented by Rustam Karimjonov, Deputy Minister of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Another significant moment of the closing ceremony was the official handover of the IOI flag to the German delegation. Azamat Eshankulov, Director of the Center for Digital Education Development under the Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan, presented the flag to the representatives of Germany, which will host the 39th International Olympiad in Informatics in 2027.

Beyond Competition: Building Global Connections

IOI 2026 was more than an international programming competition. It became a platform for cultural exchange, international cooperation, and meaningful connections among talented young people from around the world.

The event showcased Uzbekistan's growing capacity to organize major international technology events, strengthened the country's visibility on the global IT map, and created new opportunities to promote its educational potential and international tourism.

The successful conclusion of IOI 2026 was made possible through the collective efforts of the organizers, international partners, team leaders, mentors, volunteers, and everyone involved in delivering this major event.

By hosting the 38th International Olympiad in Informatics, Uzbekistan not only made history as the first host country in Central Asia but also demonstrated its commitment to empowering the next generation of innovators, programmers, and technology leaders.