Hyderabad to host Khelo India Youth Games 2026 from December 11

Telangana will host Khelo India Youth Games 2026, with Hyderabad staging 22 medal sports. Softball will make its debut as a competitive sport, while sailing will feature as a demonstration event. Nearly 6,000 athletes and 1,800 support staff are expected

New Delhi: Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday announced the full schedule of the Khelo India Youth Games 2026. To be hosted by Telangana from December 11 to 22, the KIYG, a flagship event of the Sports Ministry, will feature 27 competitive sports and one demonstration sport.

Nearly 6,000 athletes and 1,800 support staff are expected to participate in the 12-day sporting carnival, which Telangana will host for the first time in the history of the Khelo India events.

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Various venues in Hyderabad, including the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium complex in Basheerbagh and the modern Gachibowli Sports Complex, will host 22 medal sports, while the remaining events will be held in Khammam (archery), Hanumakonda (athletics), Karimnagar (judo), Nizamabad (table tennis) and Mahbubnagar (kabaddi).

“I am very excited to announce the schedule of Khelo India Youth Games 2026. This will kick off a series of Khelo India events that have, over the years, provided a platform for talented athletes to showcase their prowess and then traverse the pathway to excellence through our schemes. Since KIYG is coming in the wake of the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, we can expect to see some quality performances,” said Mandaviya.

Softball will make its debut as a competitive sport, while sailing has been included in the KIYG programme for the first time as a demonstration event.

“Our PM Narendra Modi has said that the sporting ecosystem must expand in such a way that we participate in a greater number of sports at the Olympics. PM Modi also said that we must promote sports played using our natural resources like seas and mountains. Sailing is one such sport, and we are extremely happy that our sailors will be part of the Games and help promote their sport,” said Mandaviya.

The previous edition of the Khelo India Youth Games was held in Bihar from May 3 to 15, 2025. Maharashtra defended its Khelo India Youth Games title after topping the medals tally with 58 gold, 47 silver and 53 bronze medals. It was the state’s fifth KIYG title and third consecutive win.

Haryana, which has won two KIYG titles, finished second with 39 gold, 27 silver and 51 bronze medals, while Rajasthan secured third place with 24 gold, 12 silver and 24 bronze medals. As many as 26 records were set during the Bihar edition. Eight were set by girls, of which five were national youth records in weightlifting.

The following 27 sports will feature in the competitive category at the Telangana Games: archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, cycling, fencing, football, gatka, gymnastics, hockey, judo, kabaddi, kalarippayattu, kho-kho, mallakhamb, rowing, shooting, swimming, softball, table tennis, tennis, thang-ta, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling and yogasana.