Egypt hosts the tournament for the first time... and Cairo brings together young people from African universities.
81 universities from 17 African countries are being hosted by Egypt.
Around 2000 athletes and administrators will participate in the "Cairo 2026" competitions.
18 major sports, 3 recreational games, and 4 Paralympic sports
Universities and sports facilities in Greater Cairo will host the tournament's competitions.
"Toots Hop"... a mascot inspired by ancient Egyptian civilization
The countdown has begun for the launch of the 12th African University Games “Cairo 2026”, which will be hosted by Egypt from September 8 to 16, 2026. It is organized by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the African University Sports Federation, and the Egyptian University Sports Federation. This is the first time in the history of organizing the tournament in Egypt, with the participation of delegations from 17 African countries, and about 2,000 athletes and administrators representing 81 universities, in an African university sports event that brings together the youth of the continent on Egyptian soil.
In this context, Dr. Abdel Aziz Qansouh, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Acting Minister of Culture, stressed the importance of Egypt hosting this session, as it is an opportunity to enhance the role of Egyptian universities in supporting university sports, strengthen communication and cooperation among African university youth, and highlight Egypt’s ability to host and organize major university and sports events at the continental level.
The tournament will see the participation of 81 universities from 17 African countries, and about 2,000 athletes and administrators, reflecting the scale of participation in this event and confirming the importance of the tournament in promoting communication, sports competition and the exchange of experiences among university youth from different countries of the continent.
Egyptian universities will host the participating delegations, providing an opportunity for direct interaction between Egyptian students and their counterparts from various African countries, and enhancing the role of universities as centers for cultural and civilizational communication, in addition to their academic and sporting role.
The “Cairo 2026” program includes competitions in 18 major sports, in addition to 3 recreational games and 4 Paralympic games, providing a diverse program that combines sports competitions and recreational activities, and supports the values of participation, competition and exchange of experiences.
The inclusion of the Paralympic Games in the Games also reflects the interest in supporting the participation of students with disabilities, and in consolidating the values of inclusion and equal opportunities in university sports.
The tournament competitions will be held in a number of universities and sports facilities in Greater Cairo, including Ain Shams University, the Capital University, the American University in Cairo, the Olympic Center in Maadi, and the stadiums of Al-Nadi Club in the New Administrative Capital.
The stadiums of Al-Nadi Club in the new capital, which belong to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, are one of the sports facilities that host the tournament's competitions, and it is a facility independent of the capital's university.
The session will feature a number of accompanying events and activities aimed at promoting cultural communication among African university youth and highlighting the common values among the peoples of the continent, thus enhancing the cultural and developmental dimension of the event alongside the sports competitions.
The tournament also represents a platform for getting to know each other and exchanging experiences among young people from African universities, and strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between them through sports, which contributes to building new bridges of communication between the youth of the continent.
The tournament features a unified visual identity that reflects the spirit of youth and African identity, along with the official mascot "Toots Hope," inspired by ancient Egyptian civilization, which symbolizes the strength of youth and their aspirations for the future.
Media preparations for the launch of “Cairo 2026” are continuing through a plan to introduce the event and its activities, including promoting the event’s logo and mascot, implementing a daily countdown to the start of the competitions, in addition to publishing news, photos and informational materials about the event across various media and digital platforms, which contributes to introducing the event and reaching the largest possible segment of university students within Egypt and the African continent.
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the African University Sports Federation, and the Egyptian University Sports Federation, in coordination with universities and relevant authorities, are continuing to finalize organizational, logistical, and media arrangements to receive delegations and participants, ensuring that the 12th African University Games “Cairo 2026” will be a fitting event for Egypt and its role in supporting university sports and promoting cooperation and communication among the youth of the African continent.