Pavel Durov Supports IOI 2026 in Tashkent: Telegram to Reward Winners With at Least $117,000
Technology
Telegram founder Pavel Durov announced the start of the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI 2026), which is being held in Tashkent for the first time this year.
In his Telegram channel, Durov described the IOI as the leading international programming competition for school students. He also noted that many members of the Telegram team had previously been medalists at the Olympiad themselves.
In support of young programmers, Telegram will reward 235 winners of IOI 2026 with exclusive digital collectibles called Algorithm Cups, with a total value of at least $117,000.
Durov also highlighted the significance of holding the Olympiad in Uzbekistan — the homeland of the great scholar Muhammad al-Khwarizmi, whose name is associated with the origin of the word “algorithm.”
IOI 2026 is taking place in Tashkent from August 9 to 16. The competition brings together 386 school students from 97 countries, including leading teams from the United States, China, Germany, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Japan and the United Kingdom.
Uzbekistan was awarded the right to host the IOI in 2023. In 2025, at the closing ceremony of the Olympiad in Bolivia, the IOI flag was handed over to the Uzbek delegation as a symbol of the next host city.
Hosting IOI 2026 in Tashkent marks a significant event for the development of international cooperation in education, programming and digital technologies.
In support of young programmers, Telegram will reward 235 winners of IOI 2026 with exclusive digital collectibles called Algorithm Cups, with a total value of at least $117,000.
Durov also highlighted the significance of holding the Olympiad in Uzbekistan — the homeland of the great scholar Muhammad al-Khwarizmi, whose name is associated with the origin of the word “algorithm.”
IOI 2026 is taking place in Tashkent from August 9 to 16. The competition brings together 386 school students from 97 countries, including leading teams from the United States, China, Germany, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Japan and the United Kingdom.
Uzbekistan was awarded the right to host the IOI in 2023. In 2025, at the closing ceremony of the Olympiad in Bolivia, the IOI flag was handed over to the Uzbek delegation as a symbol of the next host city.
Hosting IOI 2026 in Tashkent marks a significant event for the development of international cooperation in education, programming and digital technologies.
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