IBO 2026

🌍 Hosting an event like IBO 2026 is about more than logistics and lab equipment – it's also about visibility. Nearly 700 participants: students, mentors, and volunteers from across the globe will arrive in Vilnius this July, and every one of them will leave with an impression of Lithuania.

📸 The IBO 2026 organising team is working to make sure the event is not only excellently run, but widely seen – putting Lithuania on the map as a modern country open to the world.

We're opening an additional recruitment round for Team Guides at the International Biology Olympiad (July 12-19, Vilnius)!

As a guide, you'll support an international student team throughout the event – from airport arrivals to award ceremonies.

✅ Accommodation & meals included
✅ Official participant package
✅ An unforgettable international experience

Requirements: Strong English, full availability July 9-19, and a commitment to your team.

More information: https://www.ibo2026.lt/lt/ibo2026-news/additional-volunteer-recruitment---ibo-2026-team-guides/30/
Registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1FqDu5SXYMSK7DPfKMz5bHaVx3zODMDwM9XnpMlO5Fw0/viewform?edit_requested=true

⏳ Spots are limited – apply now!

🌟 Faces behind IBO 2026 continue – Andrius Petrašiūnas, Assoc. Prof. at VU LSC (VU Gyvybės mokslų centras) Institute of Biosciences, gives us a glimpse into one of the most demanding parts of organising an Olympiad: preparing the tasks.

🧠 Behind every theory question and practical challenge that students will face in July, there is a team of scientists, educators, and international advisors working meticulously to get it right. The IBO 2026 Academic Team, rooted in the Vilnius University Life Sciences Center community, has spent months crafting tasks that are not only scientifically rigorous but genuinely engaging.

🌍 Faces behind IBO 2026 continue – Valdas Jankauskas, Director of Lietuvos neformaliojo švietimo agentūra - LINEŠA (Lithuanian Non-Formal Education Agency), reflects on what this event means for Lithuania’s place in the international scientific community.

🏅 For Lithuania, IBO 2026 is a chance to show the world not only that we can host a top-tier scientific event, but that we take science, education, and young talent seriously.

Stay tuned for more perspectives from the people making IBO 2026 happen!

🎓 IBO 2026 in Vilnius is brought to life by a group of partner organisations – and today we're shining the spotlight on Vilnius University and VU Gyvybės mokslų centras

📖 The university contributes its academic expertise directly to the development of the Olympiad exams, helping shape a challenging and meaningful experience for competitors.

🌟 Prof. Egle Lastauskiene, Director of VU Life Sciences Center Institute of Biosciences and Chairwoman of the Vilnius University Senate, sees IBO 2026 as a once-in-a-generation meeting point – where young biology enthusiasts from across the globe can forge friendships, exchange ideas, and plant seeds for future academic and professional collaboration.

Stay tuned – more voices from our partner organisers are coming!

One of the partner organisers bringing IBO 2026 to life is Lietuvos neformaliojo švietimo agentūra - LINEŠA – the Lithuanian Non-Formal Education Agency. Gediminas Beresnevičius, Head of the Competence Development Department at LINEŠA, shares what this event signifies:

💬 "Hosting an international event of this scale is not only a matter of prestige for our country, but also an opportunity for our academic community to build lasting ties with universities, researchers, and education leaders from around the world. [...] This one surpasses all previous events in both size and scope."

🌍 With 150+ volunteers, participants from dozens of countries, and years of Olympiad experience behind them – the team is ready to deliver something truly unforgettable.

You can still join as a volunteer for IBO 2026: https://forms.office.com/e/X9KJrQ8wNY

Stay tuned for more perspectives from the people making IBO 2026 happen!