Yerevan to host international chess festival in 2026

PanARMENIAN.Net - An international chess festival will take place in Yerevan in October 2026, under the patronage of renowned chess grandmaster Levon Aronian. This will be the first event of its kind in Armenia, Factor.am reported.

Among the high-profile international guests expected are five-time World Champion Viswanathan Anand and the strongest female chess player in history, Judit Polgar.

“Chess has never been just a game for Armenians. It’s a way we think, create, and unite. This festival will embody that spirit, inviting everyone to experience the joy of play and the power of imagination,” said Aronian, former captain of Armenia’s national team and now representing the United States.

The festival is being organized by Mediacrat Studio in collaboration with Matena Business School and with support from Yerevan Municipality.

Public spaces and parks across the city will be transformed into cultural hubs, featuring simultaneous exhibition matches, concerts, theater performances, and interactive art installations.