Which Countries Are in the Race for the 2036 Summer Olympics?

India is one of the seven nations that want to host the Summer Olympic Games in the year 2036, based on the declaration issued by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Other nations include Germany, Qatar, Hungary, Turkey, South Africa, and South Korea. These nations are currently in talks with the International Olympic Committee, which plans to release a shortlist in the March 2027. Along with this preferred nations will be declared in 2028, with the final decision being made in mid-2029. This move by India comes in light of the country’s aspirations in the world of sports.

Seven Countries Seeking to Host the 2036 Olympics

Below are the seven countries identified by the IOC as potential interested parties during the current continuous dialogue phase.

Country	Summary Details
India	Aspiring to host the Olympic Games for the very first time, and its bid will revolve around the city of Ahmedabad.
Germany	The city of Munich, which hosted the 1972 Summer Olympics, will represent Germany in case of an Olympic bid in 2036, 2040, or 2044.
Qatar	Aspires to host the Summer Olympics Games, with Doha having hosted the 2006 Asian Games and the Qatar World Cup in 2022.
Hungary	The bid for the Olympic Games is associated with the city of Budapest, as Hungary has never hosted the Olympic Games before.
Türkiye	The city of Istanbul has previously sought the Olympic hosting opportunity.
South Africa	Potential to be the first African nation to host the modern Summer Olympic Games.
Republic of Korea	Seoul hosted the 1988 Summer Olympic Games, whereas PyeongChang hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics Games.

Selecting the 2036 Olympic Host – IOC Timeline

IOC has prepared a multistage approach in selecting a host of 2036 Olympics which takes into consideration more dialogue, feasibility study and project assessments of prospective Olympic projects.

Timeline	Stage
October 31, 2026	Deadline for submission of additional interested parties
November 2026	Presentation of projects by interested countries to the Future Host Commission of the IOC
March 2027	Shortlisting of the parties for participation in the strategic dialogue stage by the IOC Executive Board
2027-2028	Evaluation of the projects with the aim of further feasibility and Games Delivery Plan study
December 2028	Selection of the preferred hosts to enter targeted dialogue
Mid-2029	Election of the host of the 2036 Olympics by IOC members

The selection process would consider such factors as venue master plan, athletes’ experience, funding, political and public support, capacity of the host country to conduct the Games and benefits of the event for the host communities.

India’s Pursuit of Hosting the 2036 Olympics

India has been chasing the dream of hosting the Olympics for the first time in history. The Indian Olympic Association has submitted an intent letter to the IOC in October 2024, and India is in the continuous dialogue stage of the host selection process.

Ahmedabad is at the heart of India’s bid proposal for the upcoming Games. The city is also preparing to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games.

Hosting the Olympics requires many considerations apart from building stadiums. These include considerations for transport links, accommodations, athlete services, finance, environment, event management, and use of sports facilities.
It is not a certainty that India will be selected even if the country remains part of the process. The host country will be elected via IOC procedures.

2028 & 2032 Summer Olympics: Upcoming Hosting Location

2028 Summer Olympics – Los Angeles, USA

Los Angeles is set to host the Summer Olympic Games in 2028, extending its legacy of being an Olympic host from previous games held in 1932 and 1984.

2032 Summer Olympics – Brisbane, Australia

Brisbane is set to host the Summer Games in 2032, four years ahead of the games that India, along with six other countries, have shown interest in hosting.

2036 Summer Olympics – Undecided

No decision about the host city for the 2036 Summer Games has yet been taken.