The closing ceremony for the 18th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) 2025 took place on August 21, 2025, at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India. It began with a video that captured all the wonderful moments of IOAA 2025. Following this, a piano instrumental was performed by Ayaan Deshpande, a celebrated young pianist and composer with international accolades and collaborations with musical legends. Next, Dr. Anwesh Mazumdar, Chair of the Academic Committee, delivered his address. Dr. Mazumdar’s address was followed by that of Dr. Natasa Dragovic, General Secretary of IOAA. This was followed by a dynamic performance by the Sankhya Dance Company, a Mumbai-based ensemble known for blending classical dance with contemporary themes. Following the performance, Dr. Mohanty, Secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy, addressed the gathering. Dr. Mohanty’s remarks were followed by Dr. Dipankar Banerjee, Vice-Chancellor of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology and a distinguished solar physicist. The final speaker was Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Chancellor of the Homi Bhabha National Institute.
The ceremony then moved into the much-awaited medal distribution. Awards for Honourable Mentions, Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals were announced, followed by special recognitions for the best overall performance, top scores in theory and observational components, and best overall performance by a girl participant. Additional awards were also presented for the best posters and achievements in the group competition.
The event concluded with the ceremonial passing of the IOAA flag to the next host nation, Vietnam, marking the official handover for IOAA 2026.