The events took place at the Parque Polideportivo Roca and Tecnópolis in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Each National Olympic Committee (NOC) can enter a maximum of 2 competitors, 1 per each gender.

As hosts, Argentina was given the maximum quota and a further 4, 2 in each gender was initially given to the Tripartite Commission.

The remaining 42 places shall be decided in three stages; firstly four continental qualification tournaments held in 2017, second the 2018 World Youth A Championships and finally the Olympic Youth Pentathlon World Rankings.

To be eligible to participate at the Youth Olympics athletes must have been born between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2003.