Uzbekistan Hosts International Olympiad in Informatics for First Time

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The opening ceremony of the 38th International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI 2026) was held in Tashkent on 10 August, marking the first time Uzbekistan has hosted the competition, the Ministry of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan said.

The ceremony was attended by Minister of Digital Technologies Sherzod Shermatov, Minister of Preschool and School Education E’zozkhon Karimova, President of the International Olympiad in Informatics Sung Tek Tan, representatives of international organizations and the IT sector, as well as coaches and contestants.

Delegations from participating countries were introduced to the audience during the ceremony. Participants were welcomed by representatives of Uzbekistan and the International Olympiad in Informatics leadership.

Sherzod Shermatov said hosting IOI in Uzbekistan was particularly significant amid the country’s efforts to develop the IT sector and artificial intelligence. He also highlighted the historical contribution of scholar Muhammad al-Khwarizmi to the development of mathematics and science, noting the connection between his legacy and modern informatics.

Sung Tek Tan said the competition aims to identify talented young people, motivate participants to develop their skills in informatics and provide an international platform for exchanging knowledge and experience.

The ceremony featured musical and stage performances combining elements of Uzbekistan’s national culture with modern technological solutions. A visual animation demonstrating the programming process was also presented.

IOI 2026 brings together young programmers from different countries to demonstrate their programming and algorithmic skills. The competition also provides a platform for international exchange and interaction among members of the global IT community.