Telangana To Host Khelo India Youth Games 2026, Announces Mansukh Mandaviya
Telangana to host Khelo India Youth Games 2026.
The Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, on Wednesday announced that Telangana will host the Khelo India Youth Games 2026, marking the eighth edition of the country's premier multi-sport event for young athletes. Scheduled to be held in November 2026, the Games are expected to bring together thousands of emerging sportspersons from across India, providing them with a platform to showcase their talent while strengthening the country's grassroots sports ecosystem.
With this announcement, Telangana becomes the second southern state in three years to host the Khelo India Youth Games. Tamil Nadu organised the 2024 edition, while Bihar hosted the most recent edition in May 2025. The decision reflects the Centre's continued efforts to rotate hosting responsibilities among states, encouraging the development of sports infrastructure and expanding competitive opportunities for young athletes across different regions of the country.
The Khelo India Youth Games have become one of the flagship initiatives of the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports since their launch in 2018. The event serves as a key platform for identifying and nurturing young sporting talent, with athletes competing across multiple disciplines under the age-group categories. Performances at the Games often help athletes secure scholarships, advanced coaching opportunities and entry into national training programmes under the Khelo India scheme.
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Hosting the Games is also expected to provide Telangana with an opportunity to further strengthen its sporting infrastructure and organisational capabilities. Preparations are likely to involve upgrading competition venues, training facilities, accommodation, transport networks and other supporting infrastructure to ensure the successful conduct of the event. The Games are also expected to generate economic activity through tourism, hospitality and local business participation while inspiring greater youth participation in sports across the state.
Telangana has steadily emerged as an important sporting destination in recent years, producing athletes who have excelled at the national and international levels across disciplines such as badminton, shooting, athletics and boxing. Hyderabad, in particular, has developed world-class training facilities and regularly hosts national and international sporting events. The state's experience in organising major competitions is expected to support the smooth execution of the Khelo India Youth Games.
The announcement underscores the government's continued emphasis on building a strong sporting culture through grassroots development and regular competitive exposure for young athletes. As preparations begin for the November 2026 event, Telangana will work closely with the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, national sports federations and other stakeholders to ensure the Games are conducted successfully. The Khelo India Youth Games remain a cornerstone of India's long-term strategy to identify future champions and strengthen the country's sporting ecosystem ahead of major international competitions.
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