IOAA 2026 is being hosted by the Hanoi People’s Committee, in coordination with the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the International IOAA Council, and other relevant agencies.
The Hanoi Department of Education and Training is the lead agency, and Phenikaa University is the main venue for academic activities and the administrator of the competition.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Hien, Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training and Standing Deputy Head of the IOAA 2026 Organizing Committee, said: “IOAA 2026 brings together 66 countries and territories, with 65 international teams and 2 Vietnamese teams. A total of 320 contestants are taking part, 100 more than last year."
"Compared with previous editions, IOAA 2026 stands out for its scale and the use of specialized equipment and infrastructure, including Sky-Watcher telescopes, a planetarium with a 16-meter-diameter dome, Sony GTZ380 projection systems, SkyExplorer software, and the Olympify competition management and marking system. These are among the modern technologies being deployed for the first time at an IOAA,” said Mr. Hien.
Contestants are competing in 4 categories: theoretical astronomy, data analysis, observational astronomy, and team competition.
Professor Dr. Pham Thanh Huy, Deputy Director General of Phenikaa University in Hanoi, said: “This is an Olympiad unprecedented in Vietnam. The competition lasts 10 days, whereas most other Olympiads typically last about five days. The event encourages students and young researchers to pursue astronomy, astrophysics, space science, and space exploration.”
Participants will take part in cultural exchanges and visit several of Hanoi’s heritage sites and attractions, including the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, the Temple of Literature, and Bat Trang ceramic village, to learn about Hanoi’s history, culture, and way of life. The IOAA was first held in Thailand in 2007. Vietnam made its debut at the competition in India in 2016 and has since achieved strong results.
