Senegal gears up for historic Youth Olympic Games 2026

Senegal gears up for the historic Youth Olympic Games 2026, the first Olympic event in Africa.

Senegal is preparing to make history as the first African nation to host an Olympic event, with Dakar 2026 bringing together 2,700 young athletes from around the world. The Youth Olympic Games 2026 (YOG Dakar 2026) will be held from October 31 to November 13, showcasing top-tier competition, cultural exchange, and a transformative vision for sports in Africa.

With events taking place in Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly, the Games aim to inspire a new generation while positioning Senegal as a leader in global sports development. The motto, “Africa welcomes, Dakar celebrates,” captures the significance of the moment—this is not just Senegal’s event, but a celebration for the entire continent.

A Groundbreaking Sports Programme

Thirty-five International Federations (IFs) will oversee the competitions, with 25 sports featured in the official programme and 10 additional sports included in the engagement programme. Dakar 2026 will introduce one discipline from each of the 25 sports, including:

Athletics (track and field), swimming, archery, badminton, baseball (Baseball5), basketball (3×3), boxing, breaking, cycling (road), equestrian (jumping), fencing, football (futsal), gymnastics (artistic), handball (beach), judo, rowing (coastal), rugby (sevens), sailing, skateboarding (street), table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, beach volleyball, beach wrestling, and wushu.

Additionally, the engagement programme will highlight canoe-kayak, golf, hockey, karate, modern pentathlon, shooting, sport climbing, surfing, tennis, and weightlifting, providing interactive experiences both on-site and through digital platforms.

Senegal’s motto for the Games, "Africa welcomes, Dakar celebrates," highlights the continent’s role in this milestone event. — Senegal’s motto for the Games, “Africa welcomes, Dakar celebrates,” highlights the continent’s role in this milestone event.

Full Gender Equality and a Bright Future for African Sports

For the first time in Summer Youth Olympic Games history, full gender equality will be achieved—not just in total athlete participation, but across all sports, disciplines, and events. The competition will feature 151 events, evenly split between 72 men’s and 72 women’s events, with seven mixed-gender events.

With Senegal’s signature Teranga hospitality, Dakar 2026 is set to be a groundbreaking Olympic moment for Africa, creating a lasting legacy for sports development, youth empowerment, and international cooperation.