FIDE Sets Up 46th Chess Olympiad In Samarkand For September
Tue, 10 Mar 2026
The 46th Chess Olympiad will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from September 15-27, with roughly 200 teams expected across the Open and Women's sections.
FIDE has confirmed logistics for the 46th Chess Olympiad, to be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from September 15 to 27. Around 200 national teams are expected across the Open and Women's sections, each played over eleven rounds under the Swiss system with squads of four players plus one reserve.The Olympiad will run alongside the FIDE Congress and the third FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities, and will double as the venue for this year's FIDE presidential election, adding institutional stakes to what is normally a purely competitive event.Organizers have framed Samarkand's selection as part of a broader push to bring major FIDE events to Central Asia, following the region's growing profile in elite chess in recent years — reinforced by the rise of Uzbek players such as Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sindarov to the top of the world rankings.The choice of venue has not been without friction: preparations for the Samarkand Congress have unfolded against a backdrop of unresolved disputes within FIDE's membership over the participation status of Russian and Belarusian players and officials, a fight that predates the Olympiad announcement and shows no sign of resolving before teams arrive in September.FIDE has not yet detailed the full competition schedule or broadcast plans for the Olympiad, though the federation has said further logistical announcements will follow in the coming months.