Egypt Hosts the Tournament for the First Time… and Cairo Brings Together African University Students.

Egypt hosted 81 universities from 17 African countries.

Approximately 2,000 athletes and officials are participating in the “Cairo 2026” competitions.

18 main sports, 3 recreational sports, and 4 Paralympic sports.

Universities and sports facilities in Greater Cairo will host the tournament’s competitions.

“Tots Hop” is a mascot inspired by ancient Egyptian civilization.

The countdown has begun for the start of the 12th African University Games “Cairo 2026,” which Egypt will host from September 8 to 16, 2026. The event is organized by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the African University Sports Federation, and the Egyptian University Sports Federation. This marks the first time in the tournament’s history that it will be held in Egypt, with delegations from 17 African countries and approximately 2,000 athletes and officials representing 81 universities participating in an African university sports event that brings together the continent’s youth in Egypt.

In this context, Dr. Abdelaziz Qanswa, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Acting Minister of Culture, emphasized the importance of Egypt hosting this event, as it represents an opportunity to strengthen the role of Egyptian universities in supporting intercollegiate athletics and to foster closer ties and cooperation among youth at African universities, and to highlight Egypt’s capacity to host and organize major university and sporting events at the continental level.

The tournament features the participation of 81 universities from 17 African countries and approximately 2,000 athletes and administrators, reflecting the scale of participation in this event and underscoring the tournament’s importance in fostering communication, athletic competition, and the exchange of experiences among university students from various countries across the continent.

Egyptian universities are hosting 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 for cultural and civilizational exchange, in addition to their academic and athletic roles.

The “Cairo 2026” program includes competitions in 18 major sports, along with 3 recreational sports and 4 Paralympic sports, offering a diverse program that combines athletic competitions with recreational activities and promotes the values of participation, competition, and the exchange of experiences.

The inclusion of the Paralympic Games as part of the event also reflects a commitment to supporting the participation of disabled students and to fostering the values of inclusion and equal opportunity in collegiate sports.

The tournament’s matches will be held at several universities and sports facilities in Greater Cairo, including Ain Shams University, Capital University, the American University in Cairo, the Olympic Center in Maadi, and the Al-Nadi Club fields in the New Capital.

The Al-Nadi Club sports fields in the New Capital, which are affiliated with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, are one of the sports facilities hosting the tournament’s competitions; this facility is independent of the Capital University.

The tournament features several accompanying events and activities aimed at fostering cultural exchange among African university students and highlighting the shared values of the continent’s peoples, thereby reinforcing the cultural and developmental dimensions of the event alongside the athletic competitions.

The tournament also serves as a platform for African university students to get to know one another and exchange experiences, and to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation among them through sports, thereby helping to build new bridges of communication among the continent’s youth.

The Games feature a unified visual identity that reflects the spirit of youth and African identity, along with the official mascot, “Tots Hop,” 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 raise awareness of the Games and their events, including promoting the Games’ slogan and mascot, and conducting a daily countdown to the start of the competitions, as well as publishing news, photos, and promotional materials about the Games across various media and digital platforms, thereby helping to raise awareness of the event and reach the widest possible audience of university students 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 University Sports Federation, in coordination with universities and relevant authorities, finalizing the organizational, logistical, and media arrangements to welcome delegations and participants, ensuring that the 12th African University Games “Cairo 2026” is held in a manner befitting Egypt’s standing and its role in supporting university sports and strengthening cooperation and communication among the youth of the African continent.