The 37th International Biology Olympiad (IBO 2026) officially came to a close with the Closing Ceremony held in Vilnius on 18 July. Hosted in Lithuania for the first time in the country's history, the Olympiad brought together more than 300 of the world's most talented high school students from 78 countries. Around 250 volunteers from 20 countries contributed to the successful delivery of the event.
Following intensive theoretical and practical examinations, a total of 185 medals were awarded: 33 gold, 60 silver, and 92 bronze. An additional 30 students received Honourable Mentions.
The highest overall score was achieved by Ziheng Wang of China, who became the absolute winner of the 37th International Biology Olympiad. In the team rankings, China, Chinese Taipei, the United States, and South Korea delivered outstanding performances, with all four members of each team winning gold medals. Iran and Singapore also achieved remarkable results, with each team earning three gold medals and one silver medal.
The host nation, Lithuania, also performed exceptionally well, with all four members of the national team winning medals. Mykolas Sasnauskas and Kotryna Mieldažytė were awarded silver medals, while Rugilė Burinskaitė and Saulė Vaidelytė received bronze medals.
The Lithuanian team was led by researchers from the Life Sciences Center of Vilnius University: Assoc. Prof. Indrė Lapeikaitė, Assist. Prof. Ina Gorban, and Assoc. Prof. Rasa Sabaliauskaitė.
The Olympiad consisted of both theoretical and practical examinations. The practical examination covered four areas: molecular biology and biochemistry, animal physiology, plant computational biology, and animal anatomy and systematics. The tasks were developed and their scientific quality ensured by a team of experts from Vilnius University.
In addition to the competition, participants enjoyed an extensive educational and cultural programme. They visited Vilnius Old Town, Trakai, the Life Sciences Center of Vilnius University, the Kairėnai Botanical Garden, and learned about Lithuania's life sciences and biotechnology ecosystem.
The 37th International Biology Olympiad became the largest international science event of its kind ever held in Lithuania. Beyond bringing together the world's most talented young biologists, it also provided an opportunity to showcase Lithuania's scientific excellence and innovation to the international community.
The 38th International Biology Olympiad will take place in Poland in 2027.