All-Russian Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence 2026
International track for school students (equivalent of grades 8–11) · Register by 6 October · In-person final in Moscow
Registration is open on the All Cups platform from 10 September 2026, and the qualifying stage runs online from 21 September to 6 October — you can start it any time within that window.
23 days left until it closes6 October 2026Russia'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) | 15–21 October 2026 per the 2026 regulations (two online rounds) — the website and the Ministry's announcement show 14–18 October, so follow the round times on All Cups |
| List of finalists | By 26 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 — and the registration deadline is 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 is the registration deadline?
6 October 2026, 23:59 Moscow time. Registration opened on 10 September 2026, and the qualifying stage starts on 21 September and closes 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?
According to the Ministry's announcement, the organizers cover travel («проезд») and accommodation for international participants during the final stage, under the announced conditions. The international-track regulation provides transport support, accommodation and meals during the final stage on a request sent to [email protected] before the date given in the invitation. International flight tickets are not named in any official clause, so confirm them with the organizers. The visa is arranged by the sending side.
💬What language is the competition in?
Russian is the working language, and English is an additional language per the regulation — the website and the All Cups platform both have English versions. 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».
💬The website says the main stage is 14–18 October and the regulation says 15–21 — which do I follow?
The 2026 international-track regulation sets the main stage online from 15 to 21 October in two rounds, and that is what this page follows. The website calendar and the Ministry's announcement show 14–18 October, and the website marks the second round «очно» (in person) — wording that is not in the international-track regulation. Follow the round times on All Cups when the qualifying results are announced on 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, the Russian Ministry of Education's announcement, the official website and the All Cups platform — last verified: 10 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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Register for the All-Russian AI Olympiad
Create your All Cups account, practise on past years' problems, and start the qualifying stage from 21 September — registration is free and closes on 6 October 2026.