International Youth Math Challenge 2026: Win $1,400 in Cash Prizes
The International Youth Math Challenge (IYMC) 2026 is an international mathematics competition that gives students an opportunity to test their mathematical problem-solving abilities, tackle challenging problems and compete with students from around the world.
The competition is open internationally, and the 2026 edition will be conducted through multiple rounds, beginning with the Qualification Round in September, followed by the Pre-Final Round in November and the Final Round in December.
According to the 2026 competition flyer, the total cash prize is US$1,400, alongside international and special awards. The Qualification Round submission deadline is September 27, 2026, at 23:59 UTC+0.
International Youth Math Challenge 2026
The International Youth Math Challenge is an educational mathematics competition established to enable students from different countries to test their mathematical skills and expand their knowledge through diverse mathematical problems.
The competition is designed around problem-solving rather than simply testing students on what they have memorised. Its problems can cover different mathematical areas and may require participants to think creatively and apply their knowledge in unfamiliar situations.
IYMC also provides an international network where participating students can connect with other young people interested in mathematics. The organisers state that thousands of students from around the world have participated since the competition began in 2018.
Competition Overview
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Competition | International Youth Math Challenge (IYMC) |
| Edition | 2026 |
| Type | International Mathematics Competition |
| Eligible participants | High school and university students |
| Location | Worldwide |
| Format | Primarily online |
| Qualification deadline | September 27, 2026 |
| Deadline time | 23:59 UTC+0 |
| Qualification Round | September 2026 |
| Pre-Final Round | November 2026 |
| Final Round | December 2026 |
| Cash prize | US$1,400 |
| Awards | International and special awards |
| Application/submission | Online |
| Website | iymc.info |
The dates and prize amount above are taken from the 2026 flyer provided with this opportunity. The IYMC website’s indexed pages currently contain information from earlier editions, so applicants should rely on the current 2026 submission page and competition materials for the active round.
Who Can Participate?
The IYMC is open to current high school and university students from countries around the world.
The official IYMC information states that:
- High school students can participate.
- University students can participate.
- Students from all countries are eligible.
- Students must generally be 26 years old or younger.
- There are different age groups within the competition.
- Students are assigned to an age group based on their age/grade at the relevant Qualification Round deadline.
Students who are between high school and university, such as those taking a gap year and planning to begin university soon, may also be eligible under the IYMC’s published eligibility guidance.
Competition Rounds
The 2026 competition has three main rounds.
1. Qualification Round — September
The first stage is the Qualification Round.
Students solve mathematics problems and submit their solutions online.
The Qualification Round is designed to test mathematical knowledge, creativity and problem-solving ability.
The 2026 flyer lists the Qualification Round as taking place in September 2026, with the submission deadline:
September 27, 2026
Students do not necessarily need to solve every problem to qualify. Under IYMC’s published competition structure, qualification requirements can vary according to the participant’s age group.
2. Pre-Final Round — November
Students who successfully qualify can proceed to the Pre-Final Round.
The Pre-Final Round involves more advanced mathematical problem-solving. IYMC has also used real-world research material as part of this stage, requiring students to engage with material beyond the standard school curriculum.
The 2026 flyer lists the Pre-Final Round for November 2026.
3. Final Round — December
The final stage is the Final Round, scheduled for December 2026 according to the 2026 competition flyer.
Finalists compete in the final examination to determine the top performers and prize recipients.
In previous IYMC editions, the final round has been conducted online under supervision or through an approved self-recording procedure.
Awards and Prizes
The 2026 flyer lists:
US$1,400 Cash Prize
The competition also includes:
- 1st–3rd International Awards
- Special Awards
The exact distribution of the US$1,400 prize pool should be checked against the current 2026 awards information released by IYMC.
The competition also provides certificates and recognition to participants. The IYMC states that all participants receive participation certificates, while top performers can receive additional awards and honours.
Other Benefits of Participating
Apart from the cash prizes, participants can gain several benefits from taking part in the IYMC.
International Recognition
Students participate alongside young mathematicians from different countries, providing an opportunity to demonstrate their problem-solving abilities internationally.
Certificates
IYMC provides participation certificates to students who take part in the competition.
Mathematical Problem-Solving
The competition exposes students to mathematical problems covering different topics and levels of difficulty.
The organisers describe the challenge as an opportunity to expand students’ knowledge beyond the regular school curriculum.
International Student Network
Successful participation can give students access to the IYMC network and opportunities to connect with other students interested in mathematics around the world.
National Awards
The IYMC also provides national award certificates recognising strong participants from individual countries.
Mathematics and Problem Areas
The Qualification Round can involve different areas of mathematics.
Previous IYMC information describes problems ranging from areas such as:
- Geometry
- Number theory
- Mathematical calculations
- Logical/problem-solving tasks
- Other mathematical disciplines
The challenge is intended to test students’ ability to approach unfamiliar problems creatively rather than simply reproduce classroom procedures.
What You Need to Submit
For the Qualification Round, participants must submit their solutions to the competition problems through the official online submission form.
The submission guidelines state that:
- Final solutions should be clearly marked, for example by underlining them.
- Solutions may be typed digitally, including using professional mathematical typesetting software such as TeX.
- Alternatively, students can submit a clear photograph of handwritten solutions.
- Only one file should be uploaded.
- If you have multiple images, they should be combined into one file.
- Accepted file types include PDF, JPG, JPEG and PNG.
- ZIP and Word files are not accepted.
- The file must be less than 10 MB.
- Students must enter their name and date of birth correctly, because these details are used on certificates.
Students who submit digitally typed solutions using professional programmes such as TeX may receive a special honorary note on their certificates.
Document and Submission Checklist
Before submitting, prepare the following:
- ☐ Your completed Qualification Round solutions
- ☐ One single submission file
- ☐ PDF, JPG, JPEG or PNG format
- ☐ File size below 10 MB
- ☐ Clearly marked final answers
- ☐ Your correct full name
- ☐ Your correct date of birth
- ☐ Reliable internet connection
- ☐ Access to the official online submission form
If your solutions consist of several photographs, combine them into one file before uploading.
How to Apply
The IYMC does not use a traditional scholarship application process. Students register and submit their Qualification Round solutions through the online submission form.
Step 1: Visit the Official Submission Page
Go to the official IYMC submission page.
Step 2: Prepare Your Solutions
Solve the Qualification Round problems and clearly indicate your final solutions.
You may write your solutions by hand or type them digitally.
Step 3: Prepare One File
If you have multiple photographs of handwritten solutions, combine them into one PDF or other accepted file format.
Step 4: Upload Your File
Upload the single file through the official submission form.
Step 5: Check Your Information
Make sure your name and date of birth are correct before submitting.
These details are important because they will be used for your certificates.
Step 6: Submit Before the Deadline
Submit your Qualification Round solution before:
September 27, 2026, 23:59 UTC+0.
Is There an Application Fee?
The Qualification Round is free to enter according to IYMC’s published information.
However, students who qualify for the next stage and choose to participate in the Pre-Final Round may be required to pay a registration cost. In previous IYMC editions, this was €11. The organisers explain that these costs help cover the resources required to operate and evaluate the international competition.
Students who cannot afford the Pre-Final registration cost can contact IYMC because the organisation states that fee waivers and regional sponsorships may be available in some years.
Importantly, students who qualify in the Qualification Round can choose not to continue to the Pre-Final Round and will still receive their Qualification Round certificate.
Important Submission Rules
Students should pay attention to the competition rules.
Individual Submissions
Students must submit their own solution papers in the competition rounds.
The IYMC states that participants may work with friends and classmates during the Qualification Round, but collaboration or assistance from other people is not permitted in the Pre-Final and Final Rounds.
Email Submissions Are Not Accepted
Solutions cannot be submitted by email. Participants must use the official online submission form.
English
The mathematical problems generally rely on calculations and mathematical expressions. Where written sentences are required, the IYMC states that participants should use English.
Show Your Working
Participants are expected to show their approach and steps, rather than simply providing final answers.
Final Round Supervision
Students who reach the Final Round will need to follow the final examination requirements provided by IYMC.
In the published Final Round procedure, finalists take an online examination under the supervision of an eligible teacher, although an approved self-recording option has also been available.
Where teacher supervision is used, the teacher must be an active teacher or professor at an officially recognised school or university, must not be retired and must not be a family member of the participant.
For Teachers and Schools
Teachers, schools and parents are also encouraged to introduce students to the International Youth Math Challenge.
IYMC provides materials that teachers can use to encourage students to participate, including:
- Information flyers
- Posters
- Training materials
- Teacher resources
- Mathematical problems
Schools and teachers can also receive special recognition through IYMC’s school awards. These awards recognise the efforts of teachers and schools and are not connected to cash prizes.
IYMC Ambassador Opportunity
The IYMC also has an ambassador programme for motivated young people who want to promote mathematics in their schools and communities.
Published requirements state that ambassadors should:
- Be at least 14 years old
- Be interested in mathematics
- Be willing to encourage other students to participate
Ambassador responsibilities can include:
- Encouraging students to become interested in mathematics
- Building local mathematics communities
- Organising meetups and events
- Helping students participate in IYMC
- Reaching out to schools, teachers and institutions
Active ambassadors can receive an official certificate, an IYMC email address and access to a personal ambassador page.
Deadline
September 27, 2026
Time: 23:59 UTC+0
This is the deadline shown on the 2026 International Youth Math Challenge flyer supplied for this opportunity.
Because the IYMC website currently contains some information from previous editions, applicants should confirm the current 2026 timetable on the official website before submitting.
Contact Information
For submission-related questions, IYMC lists:
Email: submission@iymc.info
Phone: +49-177-6762399 (Germany)
Website: iymc.info
How to Participate
Official Submission Page:
Official Website:
Conclusion
The International Youth Math Challenge 2026 is an international mathematics competition for eligible high school and university students who want to test their problem-solving skills against challenging mathematical problems.
The 2026 flyer lists a US$1,400 cash prize, 1st–3rd International Awards and Special Awards, with the competition progressing through Qualification, Pre-Final and Final Rounds.
The Qualification Round deadline is September 27, 2026 at 23:59 UTC+0. Students should prepare their solutions, upload them as one accepted file and submit through the official IYMC online submission page.
