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The countdown has begun to the launch of the 12th African Universities Games “Cairo 2026,” hosted by Egypt from September 8 to 16, 2026, and 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 Universities Sports Federation. This marks the first time in the history of the Games that Egypt has hosted the event. The Games will bring together delegations from 17 African countries, with approximately 2,000 athletes and administrators representing 81 universities, in a major African university sports event that brings the continent’s youth together on Egyptian soil.

In this context, Dr. Abdel Aziz Konsowa, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Acting Minister of Culture, emphasized the importance of Egypt hosting this edition, noting that it represents an opportunity to strengthen the role of Egyptian universities in supporting university sports, foster communication and cooperation among African university students, and highlight Egypt’s ability to host and organize major university and sporting events at the continental level.

The Games will feature 81 universities from 17 African countries, with approximately 2,000 athletes and administrators participating. This reflects the scale of the event and underscores its importance in promoting communication, sporting competition, and the exchange of expertise among university students from across the continent.

Egyptian universities will welcome the participating delegations, providing an opportunity for direct interaction between Egyptian students and their counterparts from various African countries and reinforcing the role of universities as centers of cultural and civilizational exchange, alongside their academic and sporting roles.

The “Cairo 2026” program will feature competitions in 18 main sports, in addition to three recreational sports and four Paralympic sports, providing a diverse program that combines sporting competitions with recreational activities and promotes the values of participation, competition, and knowledge exchange.

The inclusion of Paralympic sports in the Games also reflects the commitment to supporting the participation of students with disabilities and promoting the values of inclusion and equal opportunities in university sports.

The Games will be held at several universities and sports facilities across Greater Cairo, including Ain Shams University, Capital University, The American University in Cairo, the Maadi Olympic Center, and Al-Nady Club’s sports facilities in the New Administrative Capital.

Al-Nady Club’s sports facilities in the New Administrative Capital, affiliated with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, are among the sports venues hosting competitions during the Games. The facility is independent of Capital University.

The Games will also feature a number of accompanying events and activities aimed at strengthening cultural interaction among African university students and highlighting the shared values of the continent’s peoples, thereby enhancing the cultural and developmental dimension of the event alongside the sporting competitions.

The Games will also serve as a platform for African university students to meet and exchange experiences and strengthen bonds of friendship and cooperation through sports, contributing to building new bridges of communication among the continent’s youth.

The Games feature a unified visual identity reflecting the spirit of youth and African belonging, along with the official mascot, “Tuts Hope,” inspired by ancient Egyptian civilization and symbolizing the strength of young people and their aspirations for the future.

Media preparations for the launch of “Cairo 2026” are also underway through a comprehensive plan to introduce the Games and their activities. The plan includes promoting the Games’ logo and mascot, conducting a daily countdown to the start of the competitions, and publishing news, visual materials, and informational content about the Games across various media and digital platforms. These efforts aim to raise awareness of the event and reach the largest possible segment of university students and young people in Egypt and across 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 Universities Sports Federation, in coordination with universities and relevant authorities, are continuing to finalize the organizational, logistical, and media arrangements for receiving delegations and participants. These efforts aim to ensure that the 12th African Universities Games “Cairo 2026” are held in a manner befitting Egypt’s status and its role in supporting university sports and strengthening cooperation and communication among the youth of the African continent.