This year's NEC Global Finals will be held across three locations: the USA, Asia (co-hosted with the World Youth Forum - Future Economics Leadership Summit, WYF), and the UK (also co-hosted with the WYF). All honors from these three global finals are officially certified by the Council for Economic Education (CEE) and carry equal international recognition and value.
2026 NEC Economics Competition
Global Finals (USA) Details
Date: May 27–31, 2026
Location: Atlanta, USA
Global Finals (Asia) Details
Date: Early August 2026
Location: Hong Kong, China
Global Finals (UK) Details
Date: Mid-July 2026
Location: Oxford, UK
Award Categories
All teams participating in the Global Finals will receive an International Certificate of Honor jointly certified by the Council for Economic Education (CEE).
- Global Finals (USA): Awards cover the Economics Assessment, Case Study Analysis, and Econ Super Bowl.
- Global Finals (Asia): Awards cover the Economics Assessment, Case Study Analysis, and U20 Young Economists Voice.
- Global Finals (UK): Awards cover the Economics Assessment, Case Study Analysis, and Policy Proposal.
2026 IEO Economics Competition
The International Economics Olympiad (IEO) was founded in 2017 by Nobel Laureate in Economics and Harvard University professor Eric Maskin, who serves as the Chairman of the Board. The competition is jointly organized by a committee of multiple universities.
IEO Competition Timeline
- Registration Deadline: Early December 2026
- Qualifying Round: Online participation, December 21, 2026
- China National Round: Offline participation, Early March 2027
- International Finals: Held across three regions, Spring to August 2027
IEO Basic Requirements
Eligible Grades: Grades 6–12. Participants must be under 20 years old.
Special Cases:
- Overseas Schools: Students of Chinese nationality attending overseas schools are eligible.
- Foreign Nationals: Foreign students attending schools in mainland China are eligible.
Divisions: Junior Standard Level (Junior-SL), Junior High Level (Junior-HL), and Senior Level (Senior).
Participation Format & Competition Language:
- Junior Standard Level (Junior-SL): Individual or team (3–5 members). Bilingual (Chinese & English).
- Junior High Level (Junior-HL): Team of 3–5 members. Bilingual (Chinese & English).
- Senior Level (Senior): Team of 3–5 members. English only.
Language Requirements: Participants must be able to comprehend economic terminology and case materials, and clearly articulate their viewpoints in English.
Advancement Path: Qualifying Round → China National Round → International Finals (comprising the Hong Kong Round, Singapore Round, AAEO, and the Global Grand Finals).
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