The International Geography Championships is a competition organized by International Academic Competitions which is designed to bring the top geography students from around the world together for an unforgettable week of various geography-themed competitions, sightseeing opportunities, and a chance to meet other students who love studying geography from around the world. IGC is held every two years in even-numbered years; it alternates with its sister competition, the International History Olympiad which is held in odd-numbered years. The next IGC will take place in July 2026. The venue and dates will be announced at some point in 2025 on this website; registration will open once we have posted the schedule of events, which we expect will take place by the end of September 2025.

The 2024 International Geography Championships was held from July 13-20, 2023 in Vienna, Austria. Most competitions, as well as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, took place at our host school, GRG 23 – Alterlaa, an Austrian public high school in the 23rd District of Vienna (location here). An optional day trip to Budapest for competing students and their families took place on July 13. A week-long extension tour for students and families (which is open to families who are not participating in the 2024 IGC) ran from July 21-27 and visited Prague, Dresden, and Berlin among other locations in Central Europe.

Please note the following basic information about IGC:

1. Participants are divided into High School, Middle School, Intermediate, and Elementary School Divisions depending on their birthdate and/or grade in school.
2. Numerous events are held, but only one gold, one silver, and one bronze medal will be distributed per event, per age division.
3. Citizens and residents of the USA represent their state, not their country unless they hold foreign citizenship or were born overseas and choose to represent the country of their birth.
4. There is no limit to the number of students per country or state who can qualify or attend.

For much more information, please explore our website, or please contact us at igc@iacompetitions.com with any questions you may have. Thanks for your interest in the International Geography Championships!