The 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games (hereinafter referred to as "Dakar 2026 YOG") will be held from October 31 to November 13 in three competition zones across Senegal: Dakar, Saly, and Diamniadio. This marks the first time an Olympic series event is held on the African continent, a milestone of great significance. The Games will feature 25 official sports and 10 participation sports, with young athletes from around the world competing fiercely over 14 days. Great emphasis is placed on gender equality, with a total of 153 medal events, including 73 men's events, 73 women's events, and 7 mixed events.
Wushu's Youth Olympic Debut: Competition Dates and Venue
Wushu is one of the official sports at the 2026 Dakar Youth Olympic Games, marking the first time wushu has been included as an official medal sport in an Olympic series event. The wushu competition will be held from November 1-3, 2026, at the Dakar Expo Center (DEX). A total of 48 athletes from around the world will compete in four events: men's changquan all-round (changquan and gunshu), women's changquan all-round (changquan and gunshu), men's taijiquan all-round (taijiquan and taijishan), and women's taijiquan all-round (taijiquan and taijishan), showcasing the skills and spirit of young wushu athletes.**
The Dakar Expo Center is a modern, multi-purpose venue equipped with versatile halls. In addition to wushu, the venue will also host fencing, table tennis, taekwondo, judo, and gymnastics, offering spectators a diverse and exciting range of events.
Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games Competition Schedule
This edition of the Youth Olympic Games features a total of 25 official sports, including: athletics, swimming, archery, badminton, baseball and softball (Baseball5), ( basketball)basketball 3x3 , boxing, breaking, cycling (road cycling), equestrian sports, fencing, football (futsal), gymnastics (artistic gymnastics), skateboarding (beach skateboarding), judo, rowing (coastal rowing), rugby (rugby sevens), sailing, skateboarding (street skateboarding), table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, wrestling (beach wrestling), and wushu.
Additionally, there are 10 participation sports: canoeing, golf, hockey, karate, modern pentathlon, shooting, sport climbing, surfing, tennis, and weightlifting.
Event Slogan: "Africa welcomes, Dakar celebrates"
The official slogan of this edition of the Youth Olympic Games is: "Africa welcomes, Dakar celebrates." This slogan highlights the symbolic significance of Senegal as the first African country to host an Olympic event, showcasing the warmth and hospitality of the African continent and the festive spirit of the city of Dakar. The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee emphasizes that this is not only Senegal's event but also a celebration for the entire African continent. This edition of the Youth Olympic Games will be a youthful celebration blending culture, sports, inclusion, and unity.
Event Mascot
The mascot, "Ayo," is depicted as a little lion wearing a hat, symbolizing youth, vitality, and the African spirit. Its attire is inspired by traditional African clothing, featuring a traditional Senegalese Tinga hat, garments in African colors, and shoe designs that reflect local craftsmanship. "Ayo" means "joy" in the Yoruba language, reflecting Africa's multiculturalism and echoing the event slogan "Africa welcomes, Dakar celebrates."
