Introduction
Preparing a student for a Quran competition is not simply about the memorisation being complete. Timing matters. Knowing that DIHQA opens registration months before Ramadan, that the King Abdulaziz competition requires national-level qualification, or that the Atlanta Quran Competition has a September registration window — this operational knowledge is as important as the Hifz itself.
This calendar brings together every major Quran competition in 2026 — from the world’s largest international events to the diaspora and community competitions that serve Muslim communities in the West.
How to Use This Calendar
Quran competitions fall into four categories:
International flagship events — held annually, require national qualification, enormous prize pools. Examples: DIHQA (Dubai), King Abdulaziz (Makkah), MTHQA (Malaysia), Katara (Qatar).
National competitions — qualifying pathway to international events; also important achievements in their own right.
Regional and diaspora competitions — serve Muslim communities in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia; accessible without national selection processes.
School and mosque competitions — entry-level events that build confidence and feed into higher levels.
Note: Islamic calendar events shift approximately 10–11 days earlier each year. Ramadan 2026 falls approximately 1–10 March 2026 in most countries. All dates should be confirmed with official competition authorities.
Q1 2026 — January to March (Ramadan Season)
Most international flagship events are held during Ramadan — the month of the Quran.
| Competition | Location | Period | Category | Registration |
| Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA) | Dubai, UAE | Ramadan (March 2026) | Hifz + Tajweed + Female category | iacad.gov.ae; opens 2–3 months before |
| Katara Prize for Quran Recitation | Doha, Qatar | Ramadan (March 2026) | Hifz + Tajweed | Through Qatar TV / Katara authority |
| Libya International Holy Quran Competition | Libya | Ramadan (March 2026) | Hifz | Through national authority |
| Gulf state national Ramadan competitions | Saudi, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman | Ramadan period | Multiple | National Islamic affairs authorities |
DIHQA registration note: Registration typically opens December 2025–January 2026 for the 2026 edition. For DIHQA 2027, monitor iacad.gov.ae from October 2026 onwards.
Q2 2026 — April to June
| Competition | Location | Approximate Month | Notes |
| Malaysia International Al-Quran Recital Assembly (MTHQA) | Kuala Lumpur | May–June | Registration through national Muslim authorities; JAKIM organiser |
| 18th Itqan National Quran Competition (Malaysia) | Malaysia | Mid-2026 | Multiple categories; check Itqan Malaysia |
| South Asia national competitions | India, Pakistan, Bangladesh | April–June | National Islamic authorities; feeds into international events |
| North American spring competitions | USA / Canada | Spring | Local Islamic schools and organisations |
MTHQA 2026 notes: The 66th annual MTHQA will draw competitors from approximately 50 countries. International participants must register through their national Ministry of Religious Affairs or Islamic Council.
Q3 2026 — July to September (Diaspora Season)
The most active season for Muslim diaspora communities in the West, timed to school summer holidays.
| Competition | Location | Dates | Category | Registration |
| Imam Al-Shatibi International Quran Competition | Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA | July 4–11, 2026 | Hifz levels + recitation | imamalshatibimn.org |
| Atlanta Quran Competition 2026 | Atlanta, Georgia, USA | September 2026 | Levels 1–7 (partial to full Hifz) | atlqc.org |
| UK summer competitions | Various cities | July–August 2026 | Multiple | Local mosque/school organisations |
| Canadian competitions (TIQC, MAC) | Toronto and other cities | Summer 2026 | Multiple | National Muslim organisations |
Imam Al-Shatibi notes: The 12th annual event runs July 4–11, 2026 in Minneapolis. Over 3,500 students have competed in its history. Male and female competitors; multiple memorisation levels. Registration typically opens March–April.
Atlanta Quran Competition notes: Levels 1–7; Levels 1–6 Georgia residents only; Level 7 (Full Quran) open nationally. Check atlqc.org for September 2026 exact dates and registration opening.
Q4 2026 — October to December
| Competition | Location | Approximate Month | Notes |
| King Abdulaziz International Quran Competition (45th or 46th) | Makkah, Saudi Arabia | October–November | National qualification required; 179 from 128 countries in 2025 |
| Iran International Quran Competition | Mashhad, Iran | Q4 | National pathway |
| Trinidad & Tobago Holy Qur’an Prize | Trinidad, West Indies | Q4 | Caribbean Muslim community |
| UK autumn competitions | Various | October–November | Post-summer schedule |
| South Asia national finals | India, Pakistan, Bangladesh | Q4 | Feeds into 2027 international calendar |
King Abdulaziz notes: Held annually in Makkah in the final months of the Hijri year. Top prize SAR 500,000 (~$133,000) from SAR 4M total pool. Requires national qualification through Islamic affairs authority.
Annual Registration Timeline: When to Start Preparing
| Event | Start preparation | National qualification | Registration |
| DIHQA (Ramadan) | 12+ months before | 6 months before | 2–3 months before Ramadan |
| King Abdulaziz (Q4) | 12+ months before | 9–12 months before | Through national authority Q2/Q3 |
| MTHQA Malaysia (Q2) | 12+ months before | 9 months before | Through national council |
| Imam Al-Shatibi (July) | 6–12 months before | N/A (direct) | March–April |
| Atlanta QC (September) | 6 months before | N/A (direct) | June–July |
| Local mosque competition | 3–6 months before | N/A | 1–2 months before |
The single most important rule: registration closes before most teachers think to check. Set calendar reminders 6 months, 3 months, and 1 month before each event.
Competition Level Finder: Which Event Fits Your Student?
| Student Profile | Recommended Events | Not Yet Ready For |
| Ages 8–12; memorising Juz Amma to 5 Juz | Local mosque; school competitions | International events |
| Ages 12–16; 10–20 Juz memorised | Regional/diaspora events (Imam Shatibi, Atlanta); national | DIHQA, King Abdulaziz |
| Ages 14+; Full Hifz; strong Tajweed | National; Atlanta Level 7; Imam Shatibi | King Abdulaziz, DIHQA (building toward these) |
| Ages 16+; Full Hifz; national competition winner | DIHQA, King Abdulaziz, MTHQA, Katara | — |
| Adults; Tilawah/Maqamat specialist | DIHQA Tilawah branch; regional Tilawah events | — |
Conclusion
The 2026 Quran competition calendar spans from Makkah to Minneapolis, from Dubai during Ramadan to Atlanta in September. Competition itself is not the point — but it is one of the most powerful tools for motivating Hifz students, establishing external benchmarks, and creating visible goals that sustain focus across years of daily memorisation.
Tracking every student’s readiness — memorisation progress, Tajweed development, revision completeness — is what turns competition aspiration into competition preparation.
👉 See how Ilmify tracks students’ Hifz progress toward competition readiness →
Related Articles
- 🏆 International Quran Competitions: The Complete Guide
- 🏆 Dubai International Holy Quran Award (DIHQA)
- 🏆 King Abdulaziz International Quran Competition
- 🏆 Imam Al-Shatibi International Quran Competition Minneapolis
- 🏆 Atlanta Quran Competition 2026
- 📚 Hifz Competition Categories Explained
- ⚙️ How Islamic Schools Prepare Students for Quran Competitions
- ⚙️ Tracking Hifz Progress for Competition Readiness
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