All-Russian Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence 2026
International track for school students (equivalent of grades 8–11) · Registration closed 6 October · In-person final in Moscow
Registration on the All Cups platform ran from 10 September to 6 October 2026 and closed together with the qualifying stage. Qualifying results and the main-stage list are published on 12 October, and the main stage for qualifiers runs 14–18 October.
These opportunities usually open each season — but next season's date isn't officially confirmed yet. As soon as it's confirmed by the official source we'll update this page and send you an alert.
Sign up to get the alertRussia's national AI olympiad — open to international students
Всероссийская олимпиада по искусственному интеллекту — the All-Russian Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence — is a competition run by the Russian Ministry of Education since 2021, and the 2026 season's theme is «Space». Its official name includes «с возможностью участия иностранных обучающихся», meaning it is open to international students, who have their own international track with a dedicated regulation.
The tasks are programming problems: you write code that solves problems in mathematics, algorithms, data analysis and machine learning, upload it to the platform, and it is graded automatically. The first two stages are online on All Cups (VK's competition platform), and the final is held in person in Moscow.
It is run by the State University of Education (Государственный университет просвещения), and the tasks are prepared by Central University (Центральный университет) experts together with universities such as HSE, MIPT and RUDN. According to the Ministry, more than 50,000 students take part every year.
What you gain
Each university sets its admission benefits in its annual admission rules, and international students should check how they apply at the university they are applying to.
🗓️Timeline
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Training (practice — not ranked) | 1 July – 20 September 2026 |
| Olympiad registration | 10 September – 6 October 2026 · 23:59 Moscow time |
| Qualifying-stage prep webinar | 19 September 2026 |
| Qualifying stage (online) | 21 September 10:00 – 6 October 23:59 Moscow time |
| Qualifying results and pass mark | By 12 October 2026 |
| Main stage (online) | 14–18 October 2026: part 1 on 14–16 October, part 2 on 18 October 10:00–12:00 Moscow time |
| List of finalists | By 23 October 2026 |
| Final prep webinar | 7 November 2026 |
| Final (in person — Moscow) | 16–20 November 2026 |
| Final results | 20 November 2026 |
| Awards ceremony | 21 November 2026 |
🧩Stage format
🌍International track vs Russian track
| Aspect | International track | Russian track |
|---|---|---|
| Who takes part | Students at general-education schools outside Russia at a stage equivalent to grades 8–11, admitted by the Organizing Committee | Students at Russian schools in grades 8–11 and in self- or family education — and the Ministry announces college students this season |
| Places in the final | Up to 10 participants | Up to 50 participants |
| During the final | Transport support (транспортное сопровождение), accommodation and meals on prior request · visa arranged by the sending side | Accommodation and meals on prior request |
| Stages and dates | Same dates in both regulations | Same dates in both regulations |
| Last year's winners | The international-track regulation mentions no exemption | Go straight to the final, registering as usual |
🧠Tasks and skills
📚Preparation
📋Documents and consents
✈️Costs and the Moscow final
🎓Central University and admission benefits
🏅Awards and certificates
🔗Official sources
How to register
On cups.online (there is an English version), click «Take part» — «Принять участие».
If you already have an All Cups account, log in; if not, create a new one.
The instructions page ties this step to a Сферум account (Russia's school platform); if you study outside Russia and hit this step, contact support at [email protected].
Grade, school and region, and consent to data processing — and if you are under 14, a parent submits a written consent.
Solve training problems and get used to uploading solutions and automatic grading.
Online, any time within the window — registration closed on 6 October 2026, 23:59 Moscow time.
Who can take part?
Students at general-education schools outside Russia at a stage equivalent to Russian grades 8–9 and 10–11 are an eligible international category under the regulation, subject to admission by the Organizing Committee and the international-track conditions. We found no nationality restriction in the 2026 rules that excludes Egypt or Arab countries.
Grades 8–11, along with those following the same curriculum through self- or family education.
The Ministry and the website announce that college students (СПО) can take part for the first time this season. The international-track regulation is written for school students, so if you study at a college outside Russia, ask the organizers at [email protected] before registering.
An interest in informatics and mathematics, and basic programming skills in a common language.
The regulation sets no age limit, but consents differ: from 14 you consent electronically yourself, and under 14 a parent consents.
Tap any question to open the answer ▾
💬Can Egyptian and Arab students take part?
If you study at a general-education school at a stage equivalent to Russian grades 8–11, you fall within the international track category under the regulation — participation is subject to admission by the Organizing Committee and the track's conditions. We found no nationality restriction in the 2026 rules that excludes Egypt or Arab countries.
💬How many international-track students qualify for the final?
Up to 10 participants — the 2026 international-track regulation sets the number of final-stage participants from schools outside Russia at «не более 10» (at most 10), and the general olympiad regulation sets up to 50 from Russian schools. The Ministry's announcement mentions 50 Russian and 10 international finalists.
💬When was the registration deadline?
6 October 2026, 23:59 Moscow time, and registration is now closed. It opened on 10 September 2026, and the qualifying stage started on 21 September and closed on the same day as registration.
💬The website says «Training and registration: 1 July – 20 September» — does registration close on 20 September?
No, that date is for the training stage. Registration for the olympiad itself runs, per the regulation, from 10 September to 6 October 2026, which matches the Ministry's announcement and the All Cups countdown.
💬Are there any fees?
No. Participation is free at every stage, and so is preparation.
💬Do I have to travel to Russia?
Not at first. The qualifying and main stages are online from your country, and travel is only for the final if you qualify — 16–20 November 2026 in Moscow.
💬Who pays for the final?
For finalists travelling from outside Russia, the organizers cover travel, accommodation and meals, and airline tickets are arranged for the participant and one accompanying person. Booking and departure details are coordinated with the organizers after qualification, and the request for transport support, accommodation and meals during the final goes to [email protected] before the date given in the invitation. The accompanying person pays for their own meals during the final. The visa is arranged by the sending side.
💬What language is the competition in?
Russian is the working language of the Olympiad and English is an additional language. For international participants, the website, regulations, stage instructions and tasks are available in English, so knowledge of Russian is not required to participate in the international track. The solutions themselves are code in a programming language you choose from those available for each task.
💬What are the topics?
Mathematics, algorithms, data analysis and machine learning, with solutions graded automatically as programs. The 2026 season's theme is «Space».
💬When is the main stage?
The main stage is online from 14 October 10:00 to 18 October 12:00 Moscow time: part 1 on 14–16 October at any time within the window, and part 2 on 18 October from 10:00 to 12:00 for those who passed the part-1 pass mark. The list of finalists is published by 23 October, and the qualifying results by 12 October.
💬Is the Central University Grant automatic?
It is not established that it is automatic. The official olympiad website lists a 100% Grant at Central University among the competition's benefits. The detailed mechanism published by the university — a fast-track interview for final-stage winners and prize-winners — covers results up to 2025/26, and it is not yet confirmed that the same mechanism applies to 2026 season results; check with the university before relying on it.
💬Does this olympiad lead to the Russian Government quota?
No. It is not on the quota olympiad lists for 2026/27, and its regulations do not link it to the quota — the quota has its own route.
💬I study at a college outside Russia — can I take part?
The Ministry announces college students can take part for the first time this season, but the international-track regulation is written for school students. Write to the organizers at [email protected] before you register.
Information from the 2026 international-track regulation, the olympiad regulation and statute (updated versions of 16 September 2026), the Russian Ministry of Education's announcement, the official website and its final-stage page, the All Cups platform and the organizers — last verified: 16 September 2026. The final reference for any detail is the official website ai.edu.gov.ru and the olympiad's regulations.
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Follow the All-Russian AI Olympiad
Registration for the 2026 season closed on 6 October 2026. Qualifying results and the main-stage list are published on 12 October on the official website, and the main stage for qualifiers runs 14–18 October.