Khelo India Youth Games 2026 Schedule Unveiled for Telangana

The Khelo India Youth Games 2026 is set to take place in Telangana from December 11 to 22, featuring 27 competitive sports and one demonstration event. Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced the schedule, highlighting the participation of around 6,000 athletes. This edition marks the debut of softball as a competitive sport and sailing as a demonstration event. With various venues across Hyderabad and surrounding areas, the event promises to showcase exceptional talent and promote sports in India. Read on to learn more about the exciting details and the sports included in this year's games.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 9, 2026, 23:48 IST

Khelo India Youth Games 2026 Announced

On November 9, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, revealed the complete schedule for the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2026. This prestigious event will take place in Telangana from December 11 to 22, showcasing 27 competitive sports along with one demonstration sport.

The games will be held across various venues in Hyderabad, including the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium complex in Basheerbagh and the state-of-the-art Gachibowli sports complex, which will host 22 of the medal events. Other locations include Khammam for archery, Hanumankonda for athletics, Karimnagar for judo, Nizamabad for table tennis, and Mahbubnagar for kabaddi.

Mandaviya expressed his enthusiasm about the upcoming games, stating, “I am thrilled to announce the schedule for Khelo India Youth Games 2026. This event will initiate a series of Khelo India activities that have historically provided a platform for emerging athletes to demonstrate their skills and pursue excellence through our initiatives. Following the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, we anticipate exceptional performances.”

Approximately 6,000 athletes and 1,800 support staff are expected to participate in this 12-day sports festival, marking the first time Telangana will host the Khelo India events. Notably, softball will debut as a competitive sport, while sailing will be featured as a demonstration event.

Mandaviya highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for expanding the sporting ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of participating in a wider array of sports at the Olympics. He noted, “PM Modi has encouraged us to promote sports that utilize our natural resources, such as seas and mountains. Sailing is one such sport, and we are delighted that our sailors will be part of the Games to help promote their discipline.”

The last Khelo India Youth Games took place in Bihar from May 3 to 15, 2025, where Maharashtra successfully defended their title, leading the medal tally with 58 golds, 47 silvers, and 53 bronzes. This marked their fifth KIYG title and third consecutive win. Haryana secured second place with 39 golds, 27 silvers, and 51 bronzes, while Rajasthan finished third with 24 golds, 12 silvers, and 24 bronzes. The Bihar edition saw the establishment of 26 new records, including eight by female athletes, five of which were national youth records in weightlifting.

The competitive sports featured in the Telangana Games will include: 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.