14th International Meeting of Young Beekeepers (IMYB)
Northern Ireland 2026
The 14th International Meeting of Young Beekeepers (IMYB) was hosted in Northern Ireland for the first time in July 2026, bringing together young beekeepers from around the world for five memorable days of learning, competition, friendship and cultural exchange.
This year’s event welcomed 79 young beekeepers aged 12–18, supported by 14 young facilitators aged 18–25, together with 55 accompanying adults (“mentors”) and 4 judges from across Europe and beyond.
Countries: Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Czech Republic, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Lithuania, Malta, Northern Ireland (2 teams), Poland, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Scotland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine and United Arab Emirates, making IMYB 2026 a truly international celebration of youth beekeeping.
Based at the beautiful surroundings of Queen’s University Belfast’s Riddel Hall and the University’s modern Elms Village accommodation, the event benefited from outstanding facilities throughout the week. The professionalism, friendliness and “can-do” approach of the Queen’s University staff contributed significantly to the success of the event, with every request met with enthusiasm and efficiency.
The memorable Opening Ceremony set the tone for an exciting programme that combined practical beekeeping, scientific knowledge, teamwork and cultural exchange. Throughout the week, participants demonstrated their beekeeping knowledge and practical skills while developing friendships that will last a lifetime.
As is traditional at IMYB, young beekeepers competed both individually and in mixed international teams. Evening cultural presentations showcased each country’s traditions, heritage and beekeeping practices, encouraging collaboration, mutual understanding and international friendship.
The competition
The core element of each IMYB is the competition.
Written papers
Two multiple-choice papers, each with 50 questions:
- Bee biology and behaviour
- Hive management, equipment, diseases and pests
Practical tests
- Hive management at Minnowburn apiary
- Microscopy – identification of bee anatomy
- Equipment identification
- Frame building
- Hive building
- Honey testing
- Honey labelling design
- Candle rolling
Awards given to: individual participants, top country, mixed teams.
Awards for cultural presentations were made on the basis of the young people’s participation, a bee element to the presentation, country traditions and involvement of the audience.
Judges included Enid Brown (Scotland), Michael Gleeson (Ireland), Ruth Homer (England) and Joyce Nisbet (Scotland).
The practical beekeeping competition was held at the Belfast Beekeepers’ Association apiary at the National Trust’s Minnowburn site in South Belfast. Competitors worked with colonies of Apis mellifera mellifera under the assessment of four experienced international judges from Scotland, England and Ireland. The standard of practical skills and enthusiasm displayed by the young competitors reflected the bright future of beekeeping across the world.
One of the highlights of the week was the Fun Day, generously hosted by the Northern Ireland Assembly at the historic Stormont Estate, the seat of government in Northern Ireland. Alongside recreational activities, participants planted a legacy wildflower meadow adjacent to the Native Irish Honey Bee conservation apiary, creating a lasting environmental contribution to the estate. The day concluded with a barbecue, providing participants, volunteers and organisers with the opportunity to relax and enjoy one another’s company outside the competition environment.
The event concluded with a prestigious Closing Ceremony and Awards Presentation, generously hosted by Belfast City Council in the magnificent surroundings of Belfast City Hall. The venue was beautifully decorated with the flags of all participating nations and enhanced by stunning floral displays provided by Belfast Botanic Gardens.
Guests were welcomed by the stirring sound of a lone piper before enjoying traditional Irish dancing performed by a talented group of young dancers. Following refreshments, the ceremony celebrated the achievements of the competitors and recognised the outstanding performances demonstrated throughout the week.
Mentors’ (adults’) programme
Running alongside the youth competition was a comprehensive programme for mentors and accompanying adults, designed to encourage international cooperation, knowledge exchange and the development of youth beekeeping programmes.
Day one
The programme started with an open-top bus tour of Belfast, providing visitors with an introduction to the city’s rich history, culture and diverse communities. This was followed by a guided visit to the Ulster Museum, where participants explored exhibits covering natural history, biodiversity and insect life.
Day two
Mentors enjoyed a guided tour of Belfast Botanic Gardens, one of the city’s most treasured Victorian attractions. The visit included exclusive access to areas not normally open to the public, including the famous Palm House and the beautifully restored Tropical Ravine, home to rare tropical plants more than a century old. Participants also explored the extensive gardens, rose collections and mature parkland.
The afternoon continued with a walking tour of the historic Queen’s University Belfast campus, recognised in 2026 as one of the UK’s highest-rated universities for student satisfaction. The day concluded with a visit to a traditional Belfast public house, allowing delegates to experience Northern Ireland’s renowned hospitality and continue informal discussions.
Day three
Following a walk along the historic Prince of Wales Avenue through the Stormont Estate, mentors received a personalised tour of Parliament Buildings, home of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Delegates were welcomed by the Deputy Speaker and gained valuable insight into the operation of devolved government in Northern Ireland.
While the young participants were creating the IMYB legacy wildflower meadow, the adult delegates attended presentations and discussions focused on youth development in beekeeping.
Hosted in the Long Gallery within Parliament Buildings, representatives from each participating country outlined their national youth programmes, with their achievements, challenges, barriers to participation and future ambitions.
These presentations generated valuable discussion, enabling delegates to exchange ideas, share successful initiatives and establish new international partnerships. Many considered this collaborative forum to be one of the most valuable aspects of IMYB 2026, with the International Centre for Young Beekeepers committing to continued cooperation and the sharing of best practice long after the event.
The day concluded with award-winning, locally produced Glastry Farm ice cream, enjoyed by participants and delegates in the beautiful surroundings of the Stormont Estate during the exceptionally warm summer weather.
Competition results
Individual competition – top ten
- Fabio Rieder (Austria)
- Joshiah Dick (Australia)
- Maria McLoone (Northern Ireland)
- Charles Schulz (Canada)
- Adam Simonik (Czech Republic)
- Esme Huey (Northern Ireland)
- Bridget Matthews (Canada)
- Oskar Dahms (Germany)
- Gabriel Borz (Romania)
- Leah Buchanan (Scotland)
Country rankings – top ten
- Austria
- Canada
- Czech Republic
- England
- Northern Ireland 2
- Germany
- Australia
- Northern Ireland 1
- Netherlands
- Estonia
Mixed international teams
Teams are named after county names in Northern Ireland.
1st place – Ballymena – facilitator Jan Krchňáček (Czech Republic)
- Elija Raab (Austria)
- Giedre Armoskaite (Lithuania)
- Elean Meyer (Australia)
- Richard Bazso (Slovakia)
- Rashed Almazrouel (United Arab Emirates)
- Lameece Ewas (Scotland)
2nd place – Carrickfergus – facilitator Lorenz Paul Hinterplattner (Austria)
- Jan Kopacek (Czech Republic)
- Lucy Hawthorne (Northern Ireland)
- Xinyue Zhang (China)
- Yaniek Van Es (Netherlands)
- Denislav Monevm (Bulgaria)
- Joel Terheide (Germany)
3rd place – Armagh – facilitator Larissa Kreuzhuber (Germany)
- Sofia Berger (Israel)
- Emilia Huey (Northern Ireland)
- Kristjan Meserko (Slovenia)
- Ivanna Sokolave (Ukraine)
- Tobia Oriescik (Slovakia)
Cultural presentation awards
1st place – Northern Ireland 1
- Esme Huey
- Emilia Huey
- Isabelle Vangrove
2nd place – Slovenia
- Lukas Klabjan
- Leon Taj Lustek
- Kristjan Meserko
3rd place – Republic of Ireland
- Patrick Bourke
- Alex O’Sullivan
- Stan O’Sullivan
A lasting legacy
The success of IMYB 2026 was the result of an extraordinary team effort. The organising committee worked tirelessly over several years to secure funding, coordinate with the International Centre for Young Beekeepers and collaborate with participating national committees to transform the vision of hosting IMYB in Northern Ireland into reality.
We are deeply grateful to our local, national and international supporters whose encouragement, generosity and commitment enabled the successful delivery of this prestigious event. Our sincere thanks also go to the many volunteers who gave so generously of their time and expertise throughout the week, and to our sponsors whose support allowed us to provide a truly world-class experience promoting education, international friendship and the future of beekeeping.
IMYB 2026 concluded with the Closing Ceremony at the beautiful Belfast City Hall.
Hosting this remarkable event has created a lasting legacy for beekeeping in Northern Ireland. It has strengthened our beekeeping community, inspired a new generation of young beekeepers and demonstrated what can be achieved when volunteers, organisations, sponsors and communities work together towards a shared vision.
The event celebrated excellence in beekeeping while creating lifelong friendships, strengthening international relationships and inspiring young people to become ambassadors for bees, biodiversity and environmental stewardship.
Building upon this success, the Ulster Beekeepers’ Association is delighted to announce the establishment of a dedicated Young Beekeepers Section. This initiative will provide young people aged 12–18 with year-round opportunities for education, practical training and participation.
The Association has committed to:
- Establishing a dedicated Young Beekeepers Committee within the UBKA.
- Organising regular training events led by young people for young people.
- Creating dedicated youth sessions within the annual UBKA Conference.
- Introducing a dedicated Young Beekeepers section within the annual UBKA Honey Show.
- Continuing to encourage, support and develop the next generation of beekeepers throughout Northern Ireland.
The true success of IMYB 2026 will ultimately be measured not simply by competition results, but by the knowledge shared, the friendships formed and the enduring legacy that will continue to inspire young beekeepers for many years to come.
Valentine and Chris Hodges, Brian Grzymek
Official IMYB 2026 website – https://imyb-ni26.com/,
Video
Photo gallery
The full set of IMYB 2026 photographs is available on Flickr.
