8th Khelo India Youth Games 2026: Full Schedule, Host, Sports List, and Venue Details

The 8th Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2026 will be held from 11 to 22 December 2026, with Telangana hosting for the first time. Around 6,000 athletes from all 36 states and UTs will compete in 27 medal sports over 12 days, with softball making its debut and sailing added as a demonstration sport. Most events will be held in Hyderabad, and five other Telangana cities will host archery, athletics, judo, table tennis, and kabaddi. Maharashtra is the defending champion.

Khelo India Youth Games 2026 full schedule from December 11 to 22

The multi-sport event runs for 12 days, from 11 December to 22 December 2026. It is the eighth edition of the flagship event under the Government of India’s Khelo India initiative, which promotes sports at the grassroots level. The schedule has not been announced yet.

Who will take part in the Khelo India Youth Games 2026?

About 6,000 athletes and 1,800 support staff are expected. All 36 States and Union Territories, along with institutional teams, compete. The team with the most gold medals at the end is declared champion. 

Khelo India Youth Games 2026 to be held in Telangana

Telangana is hosting KIYG for the first time. The previous edition was held in Bihar in May last year, so this is the first time the state is hosting the games. 

Khelo India Youth Games 2026 full sports list

A total of 27 competitive sports will be contested:

1. Archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, cycling, fencing, football
2. Gatka, gymnastics, hockey, judo, kabaddi, kalarippayattu, kho kho, mallakhamb
3. Rowing, shooting, swimming, softball, table tennis, tennis, thang ta
4. Volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, yogasana.

Softball debuts as a medal sport at KIYG. Sailing is added for the first time, but only as a demonstration sport, so no medals will be counted for it.

Maharashtra wins the last Khelo India Youth Games

Maharashtra defended its title with 58 gold, 47 silver, and 53 bronze medals. This was its fifth KIYG title and third in a row. Haryana, a two-time champion, came second with 39 gold medals, and Rajasthan was third with 24 gold medals. Maharashtra and Haryana are the only two teams to have won the title since the games began in 2018.

Khelo India Youth Games 2026 venue details 

Hyderabad will host 22 of the medal sports at venues such as the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium complex in Basheerbagh and the Gachibowli sports complex. The remaining sports are spread across other Telangana cities.

Important points of Khelo India Youth Games 2026

1. Dates: 11 to 22 December 2026 (12 days)
2. Host: Telangana (first time)
3. Edition: 8th KIYG
4. Participants: About 6,000 athletes and 1,800 support staff
5. Medal sports: 27, with Softball debuting
6. Demonstration sport: Sailing
7. Defending champion: Maharashtra