National Olympiad in
Artificial Intelligence
Portugal on the way to the International Olympiad in AI
About the Competition
What is ONIA?
ONIA is a national competition that discovers young Portuguese talents in Artificial Intelligence and selects the team that will represent Portugal at the International Olympiad in AI (IOAI).
Who can participate?
Students in grades 7–12 enrolled in schools in Portugal can participate.
When?
The first three phases are online between February and April. The national final takes place on May 22, 2026.
Where does it take place?
The national final takes place at the Alameda campus of Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon. The international final will be in Abu Dhabi, August 2–8, 2026.
ONIA Phases
National Challenge
45-minute online test taken at school under teacher supervision.
- Levels: I (7th–8th), II (9th–10th), III (11th–12th)
- No prior programming experience required
AI Academy
Interactive online course in Python and Data Science.
- Registration required to advance
- Completion recommended, but not mandatory
Selection
Individual online Data Science challenge.
- 50 to 100 students advance to the Final
- Technical evaluation in AI
National Final
On-site written and practical exams at IST – Lisbon.
- Computers provided by the organization
- Top 10 invited to the Elite Bootcamp (June 2026)
Organizing Committee
Organization
Main Partner
Organizers
