From February 23-27, 2026, IRCAI is bringing 102 talented high school students and their teams from 26 countries to Ljubljana, Slovenia to compete in AI challenges. The International Winter Artificial Intelligence Olympiad (IAIO 2026) is more than a competition, it is a global platform for educating, developing, and supporting the next generation of responsible AI creators.
The event brings together winners of national AI competitions and their teams from 26 countries. IAIO 2026 is dedicated to developing a new generation of AI professionals who, in addition to advanced technical expertise, embrace an ethical, human-centered, and socially responsible approach to artificial intelligence.
This second edition of the IAIO comes to Ljubljana following a successful inaugural Olympiad held in autumn 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where Slovenian student Brest Lenarčič won first prize.
Organized by IRCAI in collaboration with ACM Slovenia, IAIO 2026 challenges participants in both theoretical and practical AI knowledge while developing solutions for environmental and social challenges. With access to the Zindi platform, which connects over 90,000 data and AI professionals in Africa and the Global South, competitors will create AI solutions for sustainable development.
“IAIO represents a unique opportunity for young people not only to test their technical skills, but also their understanding of the ethical dimensions of artificial intelligence,” explains Prof. John Shawe-Taylor, IAIO President and IRCAI’s Director. “We need a new generation of professionals who develop socially and environmentally responsible technologies. Slovenia and Ljubljana, with their strong tradition in education, research, and innovation in technology, are ideal hosts for this exceptional international event.”
The Olympiad is supported by leading AI experts including Prof. Stuart Russell (UC Berkeley), Prof. Serge Belongie (University of Copenhagen), Prof. Benjamin Rosman (University of the Witwatersrand), and Prof. Virginia Dignum (Umeå University), along with 15 UNESCO Chairs, and main sponsor Amazon Web Services (AWS).
“By organizing IAIO 2026, IRCAI strengthens its mission as a key global actor in connecting knowledge, education, and collaboration in responsible artificial intelligence,” say Monika Kropej and Davor Orlić, Competition Directors. “The second Olympiad confirms that we need events where high school students solve challenges and reflect on the ethical use of AI. They will be the ones who will significantly contribute to shaping responsible AI use in the future.”
Learn more at www.iaio-official.org
