About the Canadian Physics Olympiad
The Canadian Physics Olympiad organization aims to identify pre-university students who have a talent for physics, and then to prepare the best of them for participation in an International Physics Olympiad:
Top-ranking students are selected from the Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) High School Prize Exam. The CAP exam runs in March/April of each year. The 2026 CAP Exam date is scheduled for April 8th, 2026. For information about the 2027 CAP Exam March 4, 2013, please visit the CAP website. Selected students will be invited to the 2027 Canadian Physics Olympiad’s National Training Camp, held on UBC-V campus in May, 2027 [dates TBD].
The top five students formed Team Canada and competed in the 56th International Physics Olympiad, hosted in Bucaramanga, Colombia from July 4th – 12th, 2026.
The 57th International Physics Olympiad will be hosted by Saudi Arabia in 2027.
The Canadian Olympiad depends upon the cooperation of teachers in the high schools and CÉGEPs across the country. It is the teachers who are best placed to identify and encourage promising students, and to put them in touch with regional organizers who, in turn, can provide further information and preparation materials. High-school students of any age may become involved. However, students who wish to participate in the International Physics Olympiad must satisfy some eligibility rules. Also, senior students will generally be more successful, but junior students are encouraged to become involved and gain valuable experience
Previous Olympiads
The 56th International Physics Olympiad was held in Bucaramanga, Colombia in July 2026. See the Canadian results here.
The 55th International Physics Olympiad was held in Paris, France in July, 2025. See the Canadian results here.
The European Olympiad was selected for the 2024 competition, which was held in Kutaisi, Georgia. See how the Canadian Team did here.
The 53rd International Physics Olympiad took place in Tokyo, Japan in 2023. See how the Canadian Team did here.