2026 International Mathematical Olympiad Results Announced

China topped the medal table at the 67^th International Mathematical Olympiad, the premier annual world maths championship for high school students, which this year was held in Shanghai. Seven students achieved a perfect score a 42 – and for the first time, an AI model was judged to have taken a clean sweep as well.

The competition, which featured 666 contestants from 117 different countries and territories, was hosted at the impressive Shanghai High School and co-organised by the Chinese Mathematical Society and Shanghai Municipal Education Commission. The Olympiad’s goal is to celebrate the brightest and most talented high school maths students, aiming to inspire and challenge them, help young mathematicians connect, and encourage the sharing of ideas about how maths is taught in schools. Above all, the competition aims to build a wider appreciation of mathematics across the globe.

At each Olympiad, countries bring a team of up to six pre-university students to solve 6 tricky problems from secondary school mathematics, requiring expert insight and creativity, over nine hours split between two consecutive days. Each problem is worth 7 points, with a maximum total of 42 points available. Calculators are not permitted and the responses must include complete proofs and justifications. Problems are chosen by an IMO Jury formed from the competing teams, and come from various areas of high school maths, including algebra, combinatorics, geometry, and number theory. You can even attempt the questions from the 2026 edition yourself here!

Alongside the competitive aspect, students have had the opportunity to attend lectures from eminent mathematicians, workshops on Chinese culture, and recreational activities such as gaming, swimming, and watching the World Cup Final. Tours of Shanghai also gave contestants experiences bridging culture, nature and technology, including visits to Shanghai Disneyland, Shanghai Greenhouse Garden, and the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum. Above all, they also got the chance to get to know each other and make friends with maths enthusiasts from across the world.

The competition’s participation has grown massively from the seven Eastern European nations that took part at the first Olympiad in Romania in 1959, with over a hundred countries and territories from across the world competing this year.

Around half of participants receive medals, with Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals being awarded in a roughly 3:2:1 ratio. Honourable mentions are given to students who obtain a full solution on at least one problem without being awarded a medal. Every year The Mirzakhani Prize is given to the highest-scoring female contestant from five regions.

In Shanghai this year, seven students achieved perfect scores, 55 students won Gold, 105 won Silver, 189 won Bronze, and a further 141 were awarded Honourable Mentions. They received their awards on stage at the Closing Ceremony, held at the Auditorium of Shanghai High School.

The results

Top countries

Top individuals

Recipients of The Mirzakhani Award

AI at the Olympiad

RedNote’s AI model became the first to achieve a perfect score at the Olympiad.

The International Mathematical Olympiad has once again demonstrated that mathematics is a genuinely international language and brought together hundreds of the world’s brightest young mathematicians. Congratulations to all of the contestants for their remarkable achievements, particularly to the medal and prize recipients, as well as to all of the organisers, volunteers, team leaders and co-ordinators who made the event possible.

The Olympiad will return next year for its 68^th running in the beautiful and historic city of Budapest, Hungary.