Bulletins from the club.
IOL Problem Types Explained: Rosetta, Phonology, Morphology and More (2026)
A coach's tour of the main IOL problem types — Rosetta-style translation, phonology, morphology, number/writing systems and syntax — with cues to recognise each fast.
What Is the International Linguistics Olympiad (IOL)? A 2026 Complete Guide for Students
The International Linguistics Olympiad (IOL) is an annual contest for secondary-school students that asks you to crack the puzzle-logic of unfamiliar languages with no prior knowledge required. Founded in 2003, the 23rd IOL runs in Bucharest from 26 July to 2 August 2026. This independent guide explains the format, the five problem types, how national olympiads like NACLO and UKLO feed into it, who should enter, and how China-based students train through the IOL Club cohort.
IOL 2026 Bucharest Confirmed: 26 July – 2 August (23rd International Linguistics Olympiad)
The International Linguistics Olympiad 2026 will run 20-24 July 2026 in Bucharest, Romania. Team selection in most countries closes mid-April; check the Competition page for your country.
Weekly walkthroughs resume Tuesday 7pm Beijing time
After a two-week pause for the May holiday, the weekly small-group walkthroughs are back. Tuesday 7-8pm Beijing time on Tencent Meeting. WhatsApp the mentor to get the link.
iolc.org.cn Chinese archive · spring 2026 update
The Chinese-language sister archive at iolc.org.cn now hosts annotated walkthroughs for IOL 2003-2025, plus selected NACLO and UKLO past papers.
Spring alumni update · five paths from IOL training
Five short interviews with IOL Club alumni: two now in computational linguistics graduate programmes, one in cryptography, one in interpreting, one in classics.
Editorial standards update · how we vet posts
IOL Club is an independent guide, not the official IOL. This bulletin documents our editorial review process so readers can judge each post on its merits.
National olympiad calendars · NACLO, UKLO, OzCLO dates locked
Round 1 dates for the three largest English-language national olympiads (NACLO, UKLO, OzCLO) are now confirmed and posted to the Competition page calendar.