Telangana to host Khelo India Youth Games 2026 from December 11
The 12-day sporting event will feature 27 competitive sports and one demonstration event across Hyderabad and five other cities.
Telangana will host the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2026 from December 11 to 22, according to Telangana Today. Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya announced the schedule on Monday.
The event is expected to involve nearly 6,000 athletes and 1,800 support staff. This marks the first time Telangana will host the KIYG.
Hyderabad will host 22 medal sports at venues such as the Gachibowli Sports Complex and the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium complex in Basheerbagh. Other competitions will be held in Khammam for archery, Hanumakonda for athletics, Karimnagar for judo, Nizamabad for table tennis, and Mahbubnagar for kabaddi.
Softball will debut as a competitive sport, while sailing will be included as a demonstration event for the first time. Mandaviya said the inclusion of sailing aligns with the objective to promote sports played using natural resources like seas and mountains.
The previous edition of the games was held in Bihar from May 3 to 15, 2025. Maharashtra defended its title in that edition with 58 gold, 47 silver, and 53 bronze medals, while Haryana finished second and Rajasthan secured third place.