India and Qatar have officially declared their ambitions to host the 2036 Olympics, joining five other contenders in the competition recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The decision on the host city is expected to be made in 2029 through a vote by over 100 IOC members.

Aside from India and Qatar, South Africa, South Korea, Germany, Hungary, and Turkey are also exploring potential hosting opportunities for the 2040 and possibly even the 2044 editions. According to IOC President Kirsty Coventry, regardless of the location, the focus should always remain on putting athletes at the forefront of the Games.

The IOC has set a deadline of October 31 for additional national Olympic committees to enter the 2036 bidding process. India’s proposal revolves around Ahmedabad, a city slated to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and home to the world’s largest cricket stadium, named after Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Qatar, known for hosting various world championships, including the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup, is considering expanding its bid from Doha to include neighboring Gulf countries in hosting certain events. If Qatar wins the bid, it might necessitate a shift in the traditional July-August timeframe for the Summer Games.

The IOC’s executive board, led by Coventry, is set to finalize a shortlist of potential host cities in March, paving the way for detailed project developments. The target date for the final vote in 2029 marks a return to the conventional process of selecting Summer Games hosts after a brief deviation with the selection of Brisbane as the 2032 host without a competitive vote.

The decision to pause the expedited selection process, which led to Brisbane’s early designation as host, was among Coventry’s initial actions upon assuming office in June 2025. This move came after discussions in Paris during the 2024 Olympics, where various national Olympic committees, including India and Qatar, showcased their bid plans.