The 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) will be held in Dakar, Senegal, from October 31 to November 13, 2026. This will be the first time the event will be hosted in Africa, after previous editions in Singapore, Nanjing, and Buenos Aires. The games will feature 2,700 athletes from 206 national Olympic committees, competing in 25 sports and 153 events. The event is expected to promote unity and celebrate African culture.
The YOG were created by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2007 to provide a platform for young athletes aged under 17 to compete and learn. The games will include 10 sports for engagement, allowing local youth to participate and learn new skills. The event will also feature an Olympic refugee team, comprising athletes from Africa. The slogan for the 2026 edition is "Africa welcomes, Dakar celebrates".
The games will be held across three sites: Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly. The organization is utilizing existing infrastructure and public transportation, including the Train express régional (TER) and Bus rapid transit (BRT). The opening ceremony will take place at the Abdoulaye Wade stadium in Diamniadio, featuring a parade of delegations, lighting of the flame, and artistic performances showcasing Senegalese culture.
Three new sports will be introduced at the 2026 YOG: baseball5, skateboard, and Wushu. Baseball5 is a variation of baseball played with a rubber ball, while skateboard will feature 24 athletes competing in street events. Wushu will include four events, with 48 athletes competing in changquan and taijiquan. Beach sports, including handball, volleyball, and wrestling, will be held in Saly.
The 2026 YOG will feature a historic milestone - equal numbers of events for men and women. There will be 73 events for women, 73 for men, and 7 mixed events, out of a total of 153 events. A team of young refugee athletes, based in Africa, will also participate. The mascot for the games, Ayo, was unveiled on October 31, 2025, and is a young lion representing African culture.
Ayo, the mascot, was designed by 16-year-old Ndeye Mariama Diop, who won a national competition launched by the Senegalese Ministry of Education. The official song, "Téranga", was released on July 23, 2026, and is performed by Senegalese singer Mamy Mbaye. The song's title reflects Wolof values of hospitality and openness.
Mali will be represented at the 2026 YOG by a delegation of five athletes competing in five disciplines: athletics, judo, taekwondo, fencing, and swimming. The event is expected to promote unity, friendship, and African culture, and will be an opportunity for young athletes to showcase their talents.
Key points
- The 2026 Youth Olympic Games will be the first to be held in Africa.
- The games will feature equal numbers of events for men and women.
- The event will promote African culture and provide opportunities for young athletes to compete and learn.
