Vietnam hosts 19th International Astronomy Olympiad

Hanoi, Vietnam, hosted the 19th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) in 2026 at Phenikaa University. This edition marked the first time Vietnam has hosted the event and was noted as the largest in the competition’s history, featuring 67 teams and approximately 320 contestants representing 66 countries and territories.

During the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Lê Tiến Châu emphasized that science, technology, and innovation are top national priorities for Vietnam. He stated that hosting the IOAA is a step toward nurturing young talent and connecting Vietnamese youth with the international scientific community, noting that the event demonstrates the “growing trust of the international scientific community in Vietnam.”

In addition to the competition, which included theoretical exams, data analysis, and telescope observations, the event highlighted Vietnam’s broader investments in space science, such as Earth-observation satellites and observatories in Hoa Lac and Khanh Hoa. Professor Aniket Sule, Chair of the IOAA Committee, also attended the ceremony, which served as a forum for young scientists to foster cross-cultural connections through science.