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2028 International Geography Championships

Stockholm, Sweden
July 8-15, 2028
Ages 7-18

Starting in 2028, the International Geography Championships (IGC) will be held in conjunction with the Model UN World Championships for those interested in attending both! IGC is a biennial competition bringing the top geography students from around the world together for an unforgettable week of geography-themed competitions and sightseeing opportunities.

Info & Qualification

Model UN World Championships in Stockholm, Sweden

IAC & IGC:

Event History

Since 2012, IAC has organized geography quiz competitions around the world. These are run primarily under the headings of the National Geography Bee for high school and middle and elementary school students in the USA, and the International Geography Bee for students in Asia, Australia & Oceania; in Canada; and in Europe.

2026 International Geography Championships in Thailand

Biennially, in July of even-numbered years, IAC also organizes the International Geography Championships (IGC) as a multi-faceted world championship-level competition for the top geography students ages 7-18 around the world. IGC was most recently held in Khao Lak, Thailand in July 2026 with 251 Competing Students, and will next be held from July 8-15, 2028 in Stockholm, Sweden.

The 2028 IGC will be held the same week, location, and pair of host hotels that will host the inaugural Model United Nations World Championships for students ages 9-14. Students attending the Model UN World Championships who have qualified for the International Geography Championships will be able to take part in both competitions if they choose. No mandatory events for either competition will run at the same time.

Host hotels for both the International Geography Championships and the inaugural Model UN World Championships are the Hotel Clarion Stockholm and Quality Hotel Globe Stockholm.

Overview

About the International Geography Championships

The International Geography Championships consists of over 40 competitions, each of which is considered its own medal event. IGC competitions consist of buzzer-based quiz tournaments, multiple choice and written exams, fieldwork, geography-themed games, and much more. In 2026, there was a significant slate of simulation competitions, including Model UN committees. In 2028, the Model UN committees will be detached from IGC and will be exclusively a part of the IGC World Championships. Certain other geographic-themed simulations will be open to both students at the Model UN World Championships and IGC.

Competition

Students compete for their country or territory; students from the USA compete for their state. A medals table is kept (see the 2026 example), just like in the Olympics. Different medals are awarded for each event for each of the four age divisions. There is also an overall IGC championship title that is awarded on the basis of top performance in the most prestigious events, including the International Geography Bee World Championships, the Battery Exam, the Written Exam, and the Theoretical and Applied Geography Exam.

Field Trips

In addition to the competitions, there are numerous field trip opportunities to explore Stockholm that will be open to both students competing in IGC 2028 and the 2028 Model UN World Championships. There are also opening, closing, and daily medals ceremonies at IGC.

Qualification

Students can qualify for IGC through the ways listed here. The single quickest way to qualify for IGC is through the 2028 International Geography Championships Qualifying Exam.

Registration, Costs, and Financial Aid

Registration for IGC 2028 will open on this page in September or October 2027 and run through early June 2028. The costs and financial aid options will be posted here by early 2027.

Family and Friends Program

Parents, siblings, other family members, teachers, and coaches are welcome to attend IGC 2028! Through participating in the Family and Friends Program, they can both take part in select competitions and various Field Trip Opportunities.

Pre and Post Tours

In addition to the field trips in and around Stockholm, students taking part in IGC 2028 will have the opportunity to participate in the same optional Pre and Post Tours that IAC will be organizing for students and their families. These include the following:

Full Pre-Tour: Norway & Denmark (July 8-14)
Shorter Pre-Tour: Copenhagen (July 12-14)
Full Post-Tour: Finland and the Baltic Countries (July 16-18)
Shorter Post-Tour: Across the Baltic to Helsinki (July 16-22)

More Information

Explore the International History Olympiad

For further information on IGC, please visit the website, and in particular the FAQ page. Note that the IGC website is in the process of being updated for IGC 2028. Additional information will be posted to the website on a continual basis as it becomes available.

Visit the IGC Website