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The International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) is an annual chemistry competition for high school students from around the world. Founded in 1968, the first edition was held in Prague, Czechoslovakia. The event is organized by a host country with guidance from an international scientific committee and a panel of examiners drawn from universities and industry. Over time the number of participating countries has grown to dozens, and the host country rotates each year.

Each national team typically consists of four students and one or two accompanying teachers. The competition spans two days and combines theoretical and practical components. The theoretical examination presents challenging problems in inorganic, organic, physical, or analytical chemistry, while the practical examination requires a set of laboratory experiments, data analysis, and reporting. International juries score the work, and medals—gold, silver, and bronze—are awarded based on overall performance, with honorable mentions possible for high scorers.

Preparation for the IChO is aligned with advanced high school or early university-level chemistry and often involves national training camps and problem-solving sessions. Participation is widely seen as a gateway to higher study and research opportunities, and the IChO fosters international scientific exchange and collaboration among young chemists. The event is organized with rules governing eligibility, safety, and scoring, and the host city and country rotate annually.