Seven countries have entered preliminary discussions with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over their interest in hosting the 2036 Summer Olympic Games, setting up an international contest that will continue for several years before a host is selected.
The IOC confirmed on Tuesday that India, Germany, Qatar, Hungary, Turkey, South Africa and South Korea are currently involved in discussions concerning the 2036 Games. The countries have been invited to present their proposed projects to the IOC’s Future Host Commission in November.
The list represents a mixture of countries with previous Olympic experience and nations seeking to host the world’s biggest multi-sport event for the first time.
India is pursuing its first opportunity to host the Olympics, with its proposal centred on Ahmedabad. Qatar is also seeking to become the first Muslim-majority country to stage the Summer Olympics after hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
South Africa’s interest is particularly significant for the African continent. The country hopes to become the first African nation to host the Olympic Games, having previously demonstrated its ability to stage major international sporting events, including the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Germany’s proposal is centred on Munich, which previously hosted the 1972 Summer Olympics. South Korea has also hosted both Summer and Winter Olympic Games, with Seoul staging the 1988 Summer Olympics and PyeongChang hosting the 2018 Winter Games.
Turkey is making another attempt through Istanbul, a city that has previously failed in five Olympic bids. Hungary, meanwhile, has also pursued Olympic hosting in the past, most recently in connection with the 2024 Games.
The IOC has introduced changes to the host-selection process under President Kirsty Coventry, including a strategic dialogue stage intended to assess the projects more closely before the process reaches its final stages.
The interested countries will first present their projects in November. The IOC plans to carry out feasibility assessments before opening the strategic dialogue phase in March 2027. A shortlist is expected during that period.
Countries that want to join the race still have until 31 October 2026 to express their interest. After that deadline, the IOC will not consider additional interested parties for the 2036 Games.
The IOC is expected to identify preferred hosts after the strategic dialogue process in 2028, with the final decision on the host of the 2036 Olympics expected in mid-2029.
Coventry has stressed that athletes should remain central to the process regardless of which country eventually receives the hosting rights. The IOC says potential projects will be examined on issues including venue plans, athlete experience, financing, public and political support, Games-delivery capacity and the long-term legacy for host communities.
The 2036 Games will follow the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, both of which already have confirmed hosts. The 2036 host will therefore become the next major Olympic host to be determined by the IOC.
With South Africa seeking to bring the Olympics to Africa for the first time and India and Qatar pursuing historic firsts, the developing 2036 contest is set to attract considerable attention before the IOC makes its final decision in 2029.
