The 2026 British Economics Olympiad

Look back at the British Economics Olympiad for 2026

The competition was spread over a few days, with the UK Grand Final having taken place on Thursday 26th March 2026. The final day largely involved celebrating our young talented individuals on their success and commitment to all things Economics, Business and Finance. The days involved lots of hard work, but was most importantly friendly and encouraging for all the bright students who attended.

How were groups assessed?

On the final day, groups of 5 students were given a case study as a team, and put together a presentation for the afternoon. Judges considered each presentation and assessed groups based on the following criteria:

• Analytical thinking
• Conceptual thinking
• Quantitative thinking
• Communication skills

Who took part in the 2026 BEO?

• Over 1500 students took part in 2025, competing for 25 places in the final
• Over 80 schools and colleges from all the nations of the UK
• 47 teams from 47 countries - from Greece to Mexico and Ghana to Canada

2026 BEO Finalists

The UK finals day was on the 26th March, and the following individuals made up the winning team. Freddie from @cgsbucks, Thomas from @cranbrookschoolkent, Oscar from @eastnorfolk, Yash from @rgshighwycombe and Maya from @tiffinschool. The team will be travelling to Shenzhen in July for the world finals, and will be accompanied by RIC’s David Hodges and Vici Hodges. They will also be joined by the top performing @rochesterindcollege student in the event- Kiril- who won a place in the final 25 of 1700+ entrants. 

The finalists were among the top 25 Economists from over 1700 competitors in 2026.

How the 2026 BEO was structured: 

• 08.45 - 09.00  —  Meeting and Registration
• 09.00 - 09.10  —  Welcome by RIC Alumni Angelina Samsonova and current RIC
  student Zak Gandhi
• 09.10 - 09.15  —  Introduction to the judges by David Hodges
• 09.15 - 09.45  —  Mitchell Palmer, Adam Smith Institute - From Smith to Sargent:
  250 years of Modern Economics
• 09.45 - 10.15  —  Robert Calvert Jump, Associate Professor Greenwich University -
  Is economic policy an experimental science?
• 10.15 - 10.30  —  Refreshments
• 10:30 - 11.00  —  Create groups and introduction to the project
• 11.00 - 11.45  —  Dr Susan Walsh - Educator, Innovator, Speaker - Workshop
• 11.45 - 13.00  —  Group project preparation
• 13.00 - 13.30  —  Lunch
• 13.30 - 14.00  —  Joe Mayes, author and Bloomberg reporter - Can YOU run the
  economy?
• 14.00 - 15.30  —  Group project preparation
• 15.30 - 16.30  —  Presentations
• 16.30 - 16.45  —  Judges’ deliberations
• 16.45 - 17.30  —  Judges’ feedback, final awards and photography

Are you interested in applying to the 2027 British Olympiad, register your interest today. If you have any queries before applying or after, send an email to ieo@rochester-college.org.uk.

Highlights from the 2025 world finals in Baku