India and Qatar have officially declared their aspirations to host the 2036 Olympics, according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), as part of a field of seven contenders. These two nations have been considered strong candidates in the hosting race, which the IOC plans to finalize in 2029 through a vote involving over 100 members.
Alongside India and Qatar, South Africa, South Korea, Germany, Hungary, and Turkey are also engaging in discussions regarding potential hosting opportunities for the 2040 and possibly the 2044 editions. IOC President Kirsty Coventry emphasized the importance of keeping athletes as the focal point of all Olympic endeavors, regardless of the hosting location.
The IOC has set a deadline of October 31 for other national Olympic bodies to enter the bidding process for the 2036 Games. India’s bid revolves around Ahmedabad, the city slated to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and home to the world’s largest cricket stadium named after Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Qatar, known for hosting major sporting events like the 2022 FIFA World Cup, is contemplating expanding its bid from Doha to involve neighboring Gulf countries in hosting certain Olympic events. A Qatar-hosted Olympics would likely necessitate a shift from the traditional July-August timeframe for the Summer Games, which has been in place since the 2004 Athens Olympics.
The IOC’s executive board, led by Coventry, is expected to announce a shortlist of candidate cities in March to proceed with detailed project proposals. The target year for the final vote on the 2036 host city, 2029, signals a return to the standard process of selecting Summer Games hosts.
The decision to pause the accelerated bid selection process, which led to Brisbane being chosen as the 2032 host without competition, was one of Coventry’s early actions upon assuming office in June 2025. This move diverged from expectations set during the 2024 Paris Olympics, where India, Qatar, and other national Olympic officials initially aimed for a rapid decision on the 2036 host.