The Games will bring together around 8,000 athletes, officials and support staff as Telangana becomes the second southern state in three years to host the national youth sporting event
Hyderabad: The 8th Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2026 will be hosted by Telangana, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya announced on Wednesday, saying the event will provide another platform for young athletes to showcase their talent.
Announcing the decision, Mandaviya said the Games reflect Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of nurturing grassroots sporting talent while ensuring major national sporting events are held across different regions of the country.
“In keeping with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to spread major national events in all regions of the country, it is appropriate that Telangana should get the opportunity to host the prestigious Khelo India Youth Games,” he said.
The minister said Telangana has the required infrastructure and enthusiasm to host the event, which is expected to bring together around 8,000 athletes, officials and support staff.
Mandaviya expressed confidence that the 2026 edition would witness high-quality performances, noting that it comes after the Asian Games in Japan, with athletes expected to be in peak competitive form.
Telangana will become the second southern state in three years to host the Games after Tamil Nadu organised the 2024 edition. The previous edition was held in Bihar in May 2025, where Maharashtra, Haryana and Rajasthan finished as the top three teams, while Telangana secured the 13th position in the medal tally.
The 2025 edition featured 28 sports, with medals awarded in 27 disciplines and e-sports introduced as a demonstration event.
