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.
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.
| 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.
The IYMC is open to current high school and university students from countries around the world.
The official IYMC information states that:
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.
The 2026 competition has three main rounds.
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:
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.
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.
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.
The 2026 flyer lists:
The competition also includes:
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.
Apart from the cash prizes, participants can gain several benefits from taking part in the IYMC.
Students participate alongside young mathematicians from different countries, providing an opportunity to demonstrate their problem-solving abilities internationally.
IYMC provides participation certificates to students who take part in the competition.
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.
Successful participation can give students access to the IYMC network and opportunities to connect with other students interested in mathematics around the world.
The IYMC also provides national award certificates recognising strong participants from individual countries.
The Qualification Round can involve different areas of mathematics.
Previous IYMC information describes problems ranging from areas such as:
The challenge is intended to test students’ ability to approach unfamiliar problems creatively rather than simply reproduce classroom procedures.
For the Qualification Round, participants must submit their solutions to the competition problems through the official online submission form.
The submission guidelines state that:
Students who submit digitally typed solutions using professional programmes such as TeX may receive a special honorary note on their certificates.
Before submitting, prepare the following:
If your solutions consist of several photographs, combine them into one file before uploading.
The IYMC does not use a traditional scholarship application process. Students register and submit their Qualification Round solutions through the online submission form.
Go to the official IYMC submission page.
Solve the Qualification Round problems and clearly indicate your final solutions.
You may write your solutions by hand or type them digitally.
If you have multiple photographs of handwritten solutions, combine them into one PDF or other accepted file format.
Upload the single file through the official submission form.
Make sure your name and date of birth are correct before submitting.
These details are important because they will be used for your certificates.
Submit your Qualification Round solution before:
September 27, 2026, 23:59 UTC+0.
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.
Students should pay attention to the competition rules.
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.
Solutions cannot be submitted by email. Participants must use the official online submission form.
The mathematical problems generally rely on calculations and mathematical expressions. Where written sentences are required, the IYMC states that participants should use English.
Participants are expected to show their approach and steps, rather than simply providing final answers.
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.
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:
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.
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:
Ambassador responsibilities can include:
Active ambassadors can receive an official certificate, an IYMC email address and access to a personal ambassador page.
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.
For submission-related questions, IYMC lists:
Email: submission@iymc.info
Phone: +49-177-6762399 (Germany)
Website: iymc.info
Official Submission Page:
Official Website:
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.
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