Italian Ministry of Education issues Nuovi Giochi guidelines

The Italian Ministry of Education and Merit has issued official guidelines for the organization of the Nuovi Giochi della gioventù for the 2026/2027 academic year, establishing structured athletic participation paths across primary and secondary schools nationwide. Published via official ministerial notice n. 4611 on October 8, 2026, the framework engages state and parity schools across the first and second cycles of education, focusing on sport as an educational, social, and inclusive tool.

Implementation Timeline and Online Registration Portal

Registration for interested educational institutions opened on October 9, 2026, through a dedicated online portal established for the initiative. Schools must navigate the platform alongside the technical project guidelines issued by the Ministry. Established under law n. 41 of March 25, 2025, the program structures activities according to students’ ages and individual capabilities, ensuring participation respects institutional autonomy while adhering to broad national standards.

Primary School Pathways and Multidisciplinary Activities

For primary school students, the initiative introduces the «Giovani in gioco» section, divided into two distinct age-based pathways. Pupils in the first, second, and third years participate in school-level phases through playful motor activities organized independently by each institution.

For fourth and fifth-year primary students, the program expands to include provincial phases. Children in these older primary grades can explore six specific sports disciplines: track and field (atletica leggera), basketball (pallacanestro), volleyball (pallavolo), gymnastics (ginnastica), baskin, and sitting volley. Participation relies on whole-class involvement, guided strictly by principles of voluntary entry, inclusivity, and maximum student engagement.

Lower Secondary School Four-Phase Competition Structure

Students in lower secondary schools face a four-tiered competitive structure split into two distinct categories. The first category comprises first-year students, while the second category covers second and third-year students. Both groups compete across school, provincial, and regional phases.

Only second-category students who secure victories at the regional level advance to the national phase. Individual sports permit single-student entry, whereas team disciplines require the collective participation of the classroom.

Upper Secondary School Three-Category Tournament Format

High school participation divides students into three clear groupings: first-year classes, combined second and third-year classes, and combined fourth and fifth-year classes. All three tiers are eligible to compete in institutional, provincial, and regional rounds.

Regional champions from the high school brackets qualify directly for the national phase. Technical modalities and discipline-specific regulations for upper secondary students remain available on the dedicated ministerial web portal.

Technical Documentation and Subsequent Ministerial Updates

The updated ministerial notice directs institutions to the portal’s «Documentazione» section to access procedural guides and technical rulebooks for each sport. While the current framework outlines local, provincial, and regional schedules, the Ministry confirmed that specific parameters for the national phase—including definitive event dates and advanced technical requirements—will arrive via a subsequent official communication.