More than 500 young artificial intelligence researchers from 106 countries gathered in Astana to participate in the 2026 IOAI International Olympiad.
The Olympiad is held under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and UNESCO. The competition is organized by the Kazakhstan Sports Programming Federation. The general partner of the Olympiad is the Kazakhstani technology company Kaspi.kz.
Opening the IOAI-2026, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted the special role of high-quality education and support for talented youth:
“We place special emphasis on high-quality education and comprehensive support for talented children.
Last year, at the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence held in Beijing, students from Kazakhstan won three gold, one silver, and three bronze medals. This is an achievement of which our country is rightfully proud. It once again demonstrates the enormous intellectual and creative potential of our young generation.
Your knowledge and ideas may one day form the basis for breakthrough solutions in medicine, education, environmental protection, and many other vital areas.
Perhaps it is here, at this Olympics, that new ideas and projects will begin to emerge, designed to change the world for the better. The true value of this Olympics lies not only in winning medals. Above all, it is the opportunity to learn from each other, exchange ideas, forge new friendships, and jointly seek answers to the challenges of the future."
For Kaspi.kz, supporting IOAI-2026 is an investment in the development of young talent and the technological future of Kazakhstan.
Kaspi.kz co-founder and CEO Mikhail Lomtadze thanked the President for his support of education, young talent, and the development of artificial intelligence in the country:
"First of all, I would like to thank President Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev for his support of education, talented youth, and the development of artificial intelligence in Kazakhstan.
Kaspi.kz is honored to be the general partner of IOAI-2026. Artificial intelligence is already capable of solving complex problems. But humans' greatest advantage lies in their values, their ability to choose truly important tasks, and their responsibility for what they create.
Kaspi.kz was created here in Kazakhstan by a team that believes that world-class technology can be created anywhere in the world. You don't have to be born in Silicon Valley to create a product that will be used by millions.
My advice to the Olympiad participants: remain curious and humble, never stop learning, and create technologies that make people's lives better. The world needs not only more powerful artificial intelligence but also responsible people who will use it for good."
Hosting IOAI 2026 in Astana confirms that Kazakhstan is becoming a prominent part of the global technology community and a place where strong engineers, researchers, and future creators of global technologies emerge.
The Kazakh team is among the strongest in the world. Last year, at the International Artificial Intelligence Olympiad in Beijing, the country's representatives won seven medals: three gold, one silver, and three bronze.
Over the course of the week, participants will enjoy not only competitions but also a rich program of exploring Kazakhstan. They will visit Astana's main attractions, learn about the country's culture and traditions, participate in sports tournaments, a Star Wars-themed show, and attend the ComicConAstana festival.
The awards ceremony and closing ceremony of the 2026 International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI) will be held in Astana on August 7.
By the Kazakhstanskaya Pravda
