Hyderabad to Host Khelo India Youth Games 2026: Full Schedule Out
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announces Telangana will host the Khelo India Youth Games 2026 from December 11-22. Get the full sports list and venues.
The Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, has officially unveiled the schedule for the Khelo India Youth Games 2026. In a historic first, the state of Telangana will play host to this flagship sporting event, which is set to take place from December 11 to December 22.
A Massive Sporting Carnival in Telangana
The 12-day extravaganza is expected to be a gathering of immense talent, with nearly 6,000 athletes and 1,800 support staff descending upon the state. Minister Mandaviya expressed his excitement, noting that the games serve as a vital platform for young athletes to showcase their skills and move toward excellence through government schemes.
The Minister also highlighted that since the event follows the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, the country can anticipate high-quality performances from the participants.
Venues and Distribution of Sports
While the heart of the action will be in Hyderabad, the games will be spread across several cities to ensure wider engagement. Hyderabad will host 22 medal sports, utilizing premier facilities such as the modern Gachibowli sports complex and the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium complex in Basheerbagh.
Other cities in Telangana will also host specific disciplines:
- Khammam: Archery
- Hanumankonda: Athletics
- Karimnagar: Judo
- Nizamabad: Table Tennis
- Mahbubnagar: Kabaddi
New Additions and Strategic Goals
The 2026 edition will feature 27 competitive sports and one demonstration sport. In a significant update to the program, softball will make its debut as a competitive sport.
Additionally, sailing has been introduced as a demonstration event. Minister Mandaviya linked this move to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of expanding the sporting ecosystem to include activities that utilize India's natural resources, such as the seas and mountains, to improve Olympic participation.
The Competitive Lineup
The 27 sports competing for medals in the Telangana Games 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.
Looking Back: The Bihar Edition
The previous edition of the Khelo India Youth Games was held in Bihar from May 3 to 15, 2025. That event saw Maharashtra continue its dominance, securing their fifth overall and third consecutive title by topping the medal tally with 58 gold, 47 silver, and 53 bronze medals.
Haryana followed in second place with 39 gold, 27 silver, and 51 bronze, while Rajasthan claimed the third spot with 24 gold, 12 silver, and 24 bronze medals. The Bihar games were also marked by a surge in records, with 26 new benchmarks set, including eight by female athletes—five of which were national youth records in weightlifting.