Seven nations launch bids for 2036 Olympics as IOC sets 2029 decision date

Seven nations enter the bidding race

The International Olympic Committee announced on Tuesday that seven countries have registered formal interest in hosting the 2036 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. The candidate pool consists of India, Qatar, Germany, Hungary, South Africa, South Korea, and Turkey. Additional interested nations have until 31 October 2026 to submit preliminary paperwork before the candidate list closes permanently. The IOC confirmed that the winning host will be selected through a vote among its roughly 100 members in mid-2029.

Contenders from Asia and the Gulf

India has put forward Ahmedabad, a city of 5.6 million people in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat. Ahmedabad has already secured hosting rights for the 2030 Commonwealth Games and contains the world's largest cricket venue, a 132,000-seat stadium. Evaluators will examine whether financing and construction timelines can be guaranteed before 2036. Qatar intends to utilize stadiums and transport networks built for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, following unsuccessful applications for the 2016 and 2020 editions. A Gulf event would require rescheduling competition dates away from the traditional July and August window due to summer temperatures, while the ongoing Iran war presents regional security concerns.

European and African candidacies

Munich represents Germany after winning a domestic selection vote conducted by the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) late last month, prevailing over a competing plan from the Cologne-Rhine-Ruhr region. Berlin withdrew its interest following local parliamentary elections, and Hamburg voters had previously rejected a bid in a referendum. South Korea, which staged the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul, is the only other candidate country with previous hosting experience. South Africa previously staged the 1995 Rugby World Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup, though no African nation has ever hosted the Olympic Games. Turkey is bidding via Istanbul, which finished second behind Tokyo for the 2020 Games, while Hungary's capital Budapest has renewed its candidacy. An earlier bid by Indonesia for its planned capital Nusantara was rejected after the country barred Israeli athletes from the 2025 World Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta.

Selection schedule and athlete priorities

IOC President Kirsty Coventry stated that athlete welfare will remain the primary criterion across all stages of technical reviews.

Wherever the Games take place, one thing must never change: athletes have to be at the heart of everything we do.

That is why, for every future host, delivering the best possible experience for the athletes must always be the starting point.

In November 2026, the seven bidding delegations will deliver virtual presentations to the IOC selection commission. The IOC Executive Board will evaluate feasibility studies in March 2027 to establish a strategic dialogue shortlist. A group of preferred hosts will enter targeted dialogue in December 2028 before the general assembly vote in mid-2029. Los Angeles will host the 2028 Summer Games, followed by Brisbane in 2032.