Back to Programs
International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics

International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics

International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA)

ClosedScienceSTEMOlympiad

About the Program

The International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) is an annual astronomy and astrophysics competition for high school students. Its main goal is to promote interest in Astronomy and related STEM subjects, especially through the general education of young people, and to enhance international contacts among different countries in promoting Astronomy and Astrophysics in schools. It aims to encourage bright high-school students to study astronomy at the university level.

Checked November 3, 2026: the official future-events page retains September 25–October 5, 2026 in Vietnam. The team-leader page confirms the June 26 main-registration deadline and 2026 team fees and waivers; its future-event section remains unannounced. The 2026 cohort is retained as history while the next cycle awaits an official schedule.

Eligibility boundary remains unresolved: the 2026 participant page permits birth on or after July 1, 2006 and requires no high-school completion before January 1, 2026. Statute 4 instead says contestants must be younger than 20 on July 1 and may finish high school during the competition year. The sources disagree for a contestant turning 20 on July 1, 2026. The cycle-specific wording is retained above without resolving that boundary; affected applicants should confirm with their national committee and the organizer.

Eligibility

For 2026, the participant page requires birth on or after July 1, 2006 and no completion of high school before January 1, 2026. Students are selected through their national team process. The participant page and general statute disagree on the July 1 age boundary; see the source note below. For 2026, the participant page says born on or after July 1, 2006. Statute 4 instead requires age below 20 on July 1; the boundary remains unresolved. For 2026, must not have completed high school (Grade 12 or equivalent) before January 1, 2026, according to the participant page.

Eligible Countries

citizenship, residency permanent: All countries It is possible for teams to include participants of other nationalities if they have been residing in the country for a reasonable duration before selection, or citizens residing in another country. Students are discouraged from participating in selection processes of two countries in the same year.

How to Apply

Students participate through their national Olympiad committee and its selection process, rather than applying directly as individuals. The historical 2026 national-team pre-registration window was March 12–April 12; main registration was May 6–June 26. Future-cycle registration dates have not been published on the official future-events or team-leader pages.