Kangaroo maths challenge reaches millions, with new age groups in view
Original report:
The international multiple-choice maths challenge drew more than seven million children across around 120 countries, according to the Guardian’s November 2026 report. Organisers had also introduced an adult competition and planned a version for children under six.
More than seven million children in around 120 countries took part in the Kangaroo maths challenge, the Guardian reported on 9 November 2026. Brazil led participation with 1.8 million pupils, followed by Germany with 900,000. Established in France in 1991 and inspired by an Australian competition, the challenge aims to make mathematics enjoyable through questions testing reasoning and problem-solving.
The competition covered six age levels, with national associations choosing paper lengths and time limits. Its international organiser, the Association Kangourou Sans Frontières, launched an adult Kangaroo Open in 2026 and planned an under-six version for 2027. UK participation stood at about 21,000 that year, substantially below the largest participating countries.
The UK figures sit alongside an established domestic competition system run by the UK Mathematics Trust, which had incorporated three Kangaroo levels. The Guardian also reported that a UK charity, the Kangaroo Maths Trust, was established in 2026 with XTX Markets’ financial backing. These developments describe support for the challenge, not evidence of future participation growth.
Source
the Guardian — 9 November 2026
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