SA Artificial Intelligence Olympiad 2026
PLAY. LEARN. RISE.
Begin your AI journey here and experience the thrill of high school AI competitions.
AI is shaping the future—and you have the chance to be part of it.
Recognising that artificial intelligence isn’t a part of the South African high school curriculum, this programme offers learners a unique opportunity to gain foundational knowledge in AI. Not only does it provide learning pathways to build on that foundation, it also prepares learners to compete in international AI competitions, opening doors to exciting opportunities and showcasing their talent on a global stage.
This isn’t just another initiative; it’s a chance to acquire real-world AI training in one of the most thrilling and in-demand fields today. AI is transforming industries, careers, and the world—
why not start your journey here?
Interested in ParticIpating in 2026?
This competition is for everyone, even if you cannot code!
High school learners in South Africa, younger than 20 years old on 31 July, are eligible to participate in the olympiad under the Junior (grades 8-9) or Senior (grades 10-12) categories.
We encourage all learners to explore artificial intelligence and use the competition as a stepping stone to your AI learning journey. You will be answering application-based questions and solving logical, analytical and pattern recognition problems and only in the final round, will you be expected to code.
Visit our resources page to build your skills.
National OlymPIAD KEY DATES AND MILESTONES
Schools are invited to register their interest
Schools and organisations serving high school learners are invited to register their interest to participate. A promotional flyer is available in the section below for downloading, printing and sharing.
Send an email to info@saaio.org before 15 Dec 2025 if you have any queries or require support.
You may skip this step and proceed directly to registration step.
School registration & participant self-registration
The registration window is currently open. Schools may register several students using the bulk registration template available on the site (https://saaio.org)
The closing date for bulk school registrations will be the 17th January 2026.
Individual registrations by participants/parents/educators will be accepted on the Google form until 27th January 2026.
Rounds 1 & 2
Format: Multiple-choice questions (MCQ)
Assessment: Assess participants’ foundational understanding of artificial intelligence concepts, machine learning and problem solving. Theory-based, this round is designed to evaluate general knowledge and comprehension of key AI principles and and applications of AI and includes logic, sequencing and analytical problems — no coding required!
Participants scoring a minimum of 50% in round 1 will progress to round 2.
Round 1 will be open for participation from 1 December 2025 to 31 January 2026.
Round 2 will be open for participation from 6 to 14 February 2026.
Round 3
Format: MCQ and a Practical Submission
Assessment: Theory and practical submission, requires the ability to analyse data.
Round 3 takes place from 20 February to 2 March.
National Finals
Format: MCQ and Practical Submissions
Assessment: Theory and practical submissions and includes programming tasks.
The national finals date is TBC and will take place in the last week of March 2026.
Final Results
The results of the SAAIO national finals will be published in April 2026.
International Competitions
The shortlisted participants and training schedule for international competitions will be announced in April 2026.
Training typically takes place over a number of weekend online camps and at least 1 on-site training camps.
How to Participate
Educators and Facilitators
Educators and Facilitators
Educators and Facilitators
Promote participation in the SAAIO and support students in their journey with AI training. By providing access to school computers and allocating time for the online competition rounds, students can fully engage in this exciting AI competition, enhancing their skills in AI for schools. Let's help them take advantage of this opportunity, particularly in competitions for high schools. Subscribe to stay informed and let's put your school on the map in the realm of the SA Olympiad.
High School Learners
Educators and Facilitators
Educators and Facilitators
Whether you're completely new to AI or have some background in coding, engineering, or tech-related subjects, this AI training program meets you where you are. You’ll start by building a strong foundation in AI concepts and then progress to more advanced content and data analysis and applications, preparing you for various competitions for high schools, including the SA Olympiad. Register and complete the tasks in your own time. Rounds 1 and 2 will take about 1-2 hours to complete.
Enablers
Educators and Facilitators
Enablers
By becoming a regional or national partner, a volunteer or a sponsor, you can help unlock opportunities for talented learners to develop and showcase their problem solving skills on the global AI competition stage, ensuring they have the resources to excel in the field.
Your support provides more access and enhances learning and participation on the national and international level.
If this mission speaks to you, we'd love to hear from you!
Benefits of Participation
Feed your curiosity about artificial intelligence
Feed your curiosity about artificial intelligence
Feed your curiosity about artificial intelligence
AI is one of the most rapidly advancing fields in technology today. By participating in an AI competition, students can engage with the latest advancements in AI, making it an excellent opportunity for AI training. These experiences not only enhance learning through competitions for high schools but also help ignite a passion for technolo
AI is one of the most rapidly advancing fields in technology today. By participating in an AI competition, students can engage with the latest advancements in AI, making it an excellent opportunity for AI training. These experiences not only enhance learning through competitions for high schools but also help ignite a passion for technology and innovation, especially for those involved in the SA Olympiad.
Develop 4IR Skills
Feed your curiosity about artificial intelligence
Feed your curiosity about artificial intelligence
AI competitions, such as the SA Olympiad, play a crucial role in developing Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) skills by fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and technological literacy. These AI training events for schools encourage creativity and innovation while promoting collaboration and digital fluency, equipping students wi
AI competitions, such as the SA Olympiad, play a crucial role in developing Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) skills by fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and technological literacy. These AI training events for schools encourage creativity and innovation while promoting collaboration and digital fluency, equipping students with the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly automated and interconnected world, particularly through competitions for high schools.
Demonstrate growth
Feed your curiosity about artificial intelligence
Demonstrate growth
Participating and excelling in an AI competition, such as the SA Olympiad, can open doors to scholarships, internships, and other educational opportunities. Engaging in AI for schools programs can also enhance college applications and demonstrate a student's commitment to learning in challenging fields through AI training and various competitions for high schools.
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