IOC says seven countries, including India and Qatar, are interested in hosting 2036 Olympics

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on 6 October 2026 that seven countries are interested in hosting the 2036 Summer Olympics. Deutsche Welle (DW), BBC Sport and the Associated Press reported the announcement.

The countries are Germany, Hungary, India, Qatar, South Africa, South Korea and Turkey. According to the IOC, all seven are in the "continuous dialogue" stage of its host selection process.

Interested parties have until 31 October 2026 to submit a bid or statement of interest. They are due to give virtual presentations to the IOC's Future Host Commission in November 2026. An IOC assessment of the candidates is scheduled for March 2027. A "strategic dialogue" stage is to follow. According to DW, a "targeted dialogue" stage is planned for 2028, and the final decision is expected at the IOC Session in summer 2029.

The IOC also said that national Olympic committees are holding non-committal talks about hosting Games beyond 2036. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not identify those countries.

The bids

Munich, which hosted the 1972 Summer Olympics, is Germany's bidding city. According to DW, Munich won the national nomination in late September 2026 in a vote by delegates of the German Olympic Sports Confederation, ahead of the Cologne/Rhine-Ruhr region. Berlin withdrew its bid in the days before the vote, DW reported.

BBC Sport reports that the host cities are Ahmedabad for India, Doha for Qatar, Budapest for Hungary and Istanbul for Turkey. DW reports that the IOC did not disclose cities other than Munich and describes these four as possible hopefuls.

According to BBC Sport, South Africa's proposal would share hosting among Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg. It would be the first Summer Olympics in Africa. South Korea's bid involves Seoul, the 1988 host, together with North Jeolla province, BBC Sport reported.

What is disputed

The reports differ on what happens after March 2027. DW reports that the IOC will narrow the field to a selected group for strategic dialogue. BBC Sport reports that national Olympic committees will enter strategic dialogue after feasibility assessments, and does not mention a narrowing.

What each side says

DW quoted IOC President Kirsty Coventry as saying: "Wherever the Games take place, one thing must never change: athletes have to be at the heart of everything we do." She added that "delivering the best possible experience for the athletes must always be the starting point" for every future host, according to DW.

The German Olympic Sports Confederation says Munich is well-positioned on all of the IOC's evaluation criteria, according to DW.

The reports do not describe the budgets, financing plans or level of public support for any bid.

Analysis

The list shows a mix of past hosts and countries that have never staged the Summer Games. Five of the seven, according to BBC Sport, would be first-time hosts. The field could still change: the deadline is 31 October 2026, and more countries may or may not come forward. How the IOC handles the March 2027 assessment will matter. If it narrows the field, some bids may end early. If all advance, competition may last longer. Factors such as financing and public support, which the reports do not detail, are likely to shape outcomes.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.