Updates Lichess Org: What's Happening in July 2026
Lichess has been active this July with tournament results, qualifier events, and a scheduled grand prix. IM Renato Alfredo Terry Luján won the Blitz Titled Arena July 2026, finishing ahead of GM Oleksandr Bortnyk, IM Yoseph Theolifus Taher, GM Shant Sargsyan, and GM Emin Ohanyan.2
The next ChessMood 20/20 Grand Prix Qualifier is scheduled for 2026-07-20 at 20:00 UTC.2 The event is open to all Lichess streamer teams.2
Women's Tour Qualifiers on Lichess
IM Mai Narva qualified for the WR Women's Chess Tour 2026 over-the-board event in Maputo, Mozambique, by winning the Africa Online Qualifier hosted on Lichess.2 She then won the Europe Online Qualifier as well, earning a second spot — this time at the event in Saint-Tropez, France.2
The finals of the WR Women's Chess Tour 2026 Africa Online Qualifier took place on Lichess.2 Live commentary for the Europe qualifier was provided by WFM Lile Koridze on YouTube.2
Warm-Up Arena Before Titled Play
Lichess ran a July 3+0 Warm-up Arena on 2026-07-11 starting at 18:00 UTC.2 It gave regular players a chance to face titled players before those same titled players entered the Blitz Titled Arena at 19:00 UTC.2
June 2026 Mobile App Updates
The June 2026 mobile changelog included several practical improvements. The app added a broadcast team screen and tournament descriptions, and improved PGN loading speeds.8
iOS users got a broadcasts widget.8 A quick rematch with friends feature also shipped in this update.8
Other June changes included an alphabetical sort toggle for the puzzle openings screen and numbers added to broadcast game filters.8 The analysis bottom tabs received a tab indicator to make them easier to find.8
May 2026 Mobile Improvements
The May 2026 mobile update added an iOS Daily Puzzle widget and search functionality for puzzle themes.11 Users also got a new option to open imported games directly inside the app.11
A new "invite a lichess user" button was added to the share challenge link dialog.11 A new account menu also arrived in that update.11
Game Analysis Changes
In July, Lichess expanded its game analysis functionality.7 Chess.com moved certain analysis features behind paid subscription tiers during the same period.7
Lichess, which is completely free and open-source, made the opposite move — broadening what players can access.67 The platform has long positioned itself around free access with no ads or registration required.4
Platform Background
Lichess is a free, open-source chess server that offers instant games, puzzles, and community features at no cost.6 It has grown significantly over the years, requiring major infrastructure upgrades to keep pace with demand.6
The platform hosts a range of competitive events, from titled player arenas to international qualifier rounds for women's tours.2 Its changelog is publicly available and updated regularly, reflecting contributions from open-source developers worldwide.8
What to Watch Next
The ChessMood 20/20 Grand Prix Qualifier on 2026-07-20 is the next major event on the calendar.2 Streamer teams interested in competing need to register in advance.2
Following the WR Women's Chess Tour online qualifiers, attention now shifts to the over-the-board events in Maputo and Saint-Tropez.2 IM Mai Narva heads into both as the online qualifier winner.2
If you want to keep your own chess skills sharp between big events, you can start a private game with a friend on Friend Chess and enjoy a quick match of your own.