The International Linguistics Olympiad is a yearly contest in which secondary-school students solve self-contained problems on real, often little-known languages. No prior linguistics or language knowledge is needed.
Each country sends one or two teams of four, chosen through its accredited national olympiad. Contestants sit a six-hour individual round and a team round. The 24th IOL takes place in Bangkok, Thailand, from 21 to 28 July 2027.
Benefits & funding
- No prize money or travel funding is published; medals and results are posted on the IOL site.
- Each delegation pays its own travel, visas, insurance and a registration fee that covers board and lodging during the contest.
- Guest teams from non-accredited countries pay full costs.
Eligibility
- Under 20 on the IOL’s opening day.
- Attending, or just finished, secondary school or lower grades; current university students are ineligible.
- Must qualify through an accredited national contest (or a serious effort to start one); individuals cannot enter on their own.
- National contests are normally open to anyone at school in that country, whatever their nationality; each contest sets its own rules for non-residents.
Application process
- 1Find your country’s national olympiad on the IOL countries page and enter its rounds.
- 2Win selection to the national team; the national organisers register the delegation with the host.
- 3No national contest? Ask a teacher or parent to contact the IOL about starting one.
Program timeline
Deadline for a delegation to request a new working language
Before 31 January 2027
24th IOL in Bangkok
21–28 July 2027