The 2026 Chess Olympiad, organized by the International Chess Federation or FIDE, takes place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from September 15 to 27.2 FIDE is the global governing body for chess. The event is officially the 46th Chess Olympiad and includes both open and women's sections.5
What the event covers
Nearly 200 nations and thousands of players are expected to take part.2 The tournament includes teams competing across 11 rounds.2
Uzbekistan was approved as host years in advance, and the country's team was actively winning gold at the 2022 Olympiad when the announcement came.
Why Samarkand was chosen
Uzbekistan's hosting bid drew comment for its timing, since the award came while the national team was winning gold at a prior Olympiad. The moment was described as unusual for that reason.
The country's hospitality was highlighted as a reason organizers expect a strong event.
Where this fits in the wider 2026 chess calendar
This Olympiad sits alongside other major events on the 2026 calendar, including the pilot edition of a new Total Chess World Championship Tour set to begin in November in Budapest, Hungary.5
The World Chess Championship 2026, not to be confused with the Total Chess World Championship 2026, is a different event from the Olympiad.4 It is scheduled for November 24 to December 12 in Geneva, Switzerland.4
That championship match will pit defending champion Gukesh Dommaraju against challenger Javokhir Sindarov, the winner of the 2026 Candidates Tournament.4 Gukesh won the title in 2024 after defeating Ding Liren.4
Gukesh has since been noted for weaker form in both classical and faster time controls, dropping out of the top 10 ranked players in October 2025 after losing 43 rating points.4
Other current chess news around the Olympiad
Alongside Olympiad preparations, the Global Chess League has been running its 2026 season, with teams including Kings, Pipers, Grandmasters, Gambits, and Mumba Masters competing in a multi-day format.
The International Chess Federation, or FIDE, has also filed for a dedicated ".chess" domain extension together with World Chess, describing it as giving chess its own home on the internet.
Separately, national federations from Ukraine, England, Norway, Estonia, and Germany filed an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in January, challenging FIDE resolutions.5
What to watch next
With the Olympiad running through September 27 in Samarkand, results from the open and women's sections will set the tone heading into the rest of the 2026 season.2,5
The Geneva world championship match in November and December will follow, featuring the winner of the Candidates Tournament against Gukesh.4
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