2026 FIDE Chess in Education Summit to be held in Samarkand
FIDE Summit 2026 in Samarkand: The Future of Chess in Education
Chess is increasingly seen not only as a sport or an intellectual competition, but also as a powerful educational tool. The ability to analyse a position, plan several moves ahead, make decisions and maintain concentration can be valuable far beyond the chessboard.
This will be the central theme of the FIDE Summit on Chess in Education, which will take place on September 24, 2026, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, as part of the events surrounding the FIDE Congress and the 46th Chess Olympiad.
2026: The Year of Chess in Education
The timing of the summit is no coincidence. 2026 has been declared the Year of Chess in Education, with one of FIDE's main objectives being to expand the use of chess in educational systems around the world.
FIDE aims to establish chess as a tool for developing academic, social and life skills. The organization has also set an ambitious goal of increasing the number of children involved in educational chess programmes compared with the 2021 level.
However, the initiative is about much more than simply teaching a student how to play a game of chess. The Chess in Education concept involves using chess exercises, puzzles and game-based situations directly within the learning process.
That is why the summit's motto, "Every Lesson Counts," reflects a much broader idea: every chess game and every learning experience can contribute to a child's development.
What Will Be Discussed in Samarkand?
The summit will bring together representatives from different fields, including policymakers and education specialists, teachers, researchers and developers of new educational approaches.
The main goal of the meeting is to discuss how chess can be used more effectively in modern schools and other educational institutions. The key areas include:
* best international practices for integrating chess into school systems;
* research findings on the cognitive and social benefits of chess;
* the impact of school chess programmes on children and teachers;
* the development of concentration, critical thinking and creativity;
* new models for educational chess programmes;
* cooperation between schools, universities, federations and government institutions.
As a result, the FIDE Summit will serve not only as a platform for presenting projects that have already been implemented, but also as a place to discuss what the future of chess education should look like.
From the First School Programmes to a Global System
Over recent years, FIDE has significantly expanded its educational activities. The FIDE Commission for Chess in Education now runs specialised training programmes for teachers and educators.
For example, the Preparation of Teachers (PoT) course is designed for teachers and introduces them to educational methods, digital tools and practical ways of using chess as a learning instrument. After completing the training, participants may qualify for the title of FIDE School Instructor (SI).
FIDE is also developing training for specialists who will, in turn, teach other educators. For this purpose, the Preparation of Lecturers (PoL) programme is available and is linked to the Lead School Instructor and Senior Lead Instructor qualifications.
This system shows that FIDE views education through chess as a long-term area of development requiring not only engaging lessons, but also properly trained professionals.
Why Chess Is Relevant to Modern Schools
One of chess's greatest strengths is its ability to combine learning with play.
A child is constantly faced with situations in which they must evaluate different options, predict the consequences of a decision and take responsibility for the choices they make. At the same time, the results of those decisions often become clear almost immediately.
The chessboard becomes a kind of laboratory for developing thinking skills.
Concentration is needed to avoid missing an opponent's threat.
Planning helps build a sequence of actions.
Critical thinking encourages players to test their own ideas.
Patience is essential when searching for the best solution.
Creativity appears in the search for unusual combinations and unexpected ideas.
This is why FIDE presents chess as a tool capable of supporting the development of skills that are increasingly important in the 21st century.
Universities Are Also Becoming Part of the Movement
Another important trend is the expansion of educational chess beyond schools.
FIDE highlights the role of universities as centres of research and educational innovation. The organization is developing a network of partner universities and plans to create common guidelines for university chess programmes.
This could become the next stage in the development of the movement. Chess is no longer viewed solely as an extracurricular school activity and is gradually becoming a subject for broader research in pedagogy, cognitive science and education.
The Summit Programme: From the Past to the Future
The programme in Samarkand has been designed to explore the development of chess education from several different perspectives.
The morning session will open with a special programme dedicated to the Year of Chess in Education 2026. It will include welcome speeches from high-level guests, video messages, a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony and an awards presentation. One of the announced keynote speakers is Dr Achyuta Samanta, the founder of KIIT and KISS.
After the break, participants will take part in panel discussions titled "Past, Present and Future of Chess in Education." Speakers will discuss existing programmes, the challenges facing new pilot projects and the prospects for greater university involvement in the educational chess movement.
A separate section will focus on innovative lectures. The announced topics include using chess to support refugees and people affected by conflict, improving access to chess for children, the role of the 64 squares in building communities, and the results of a global study on chess in education.
The Summit Will Be Part of a Major Chess Event
In September 2026, Samarkand will become one of the main centres of the global chess calendar.
The city will host the 46th Chess Olympiad, the FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities and the FIDE Congress. The Congress itself will take place from September 20 to 27, while the educational summit is scheduled for September 24.
This gives the conference particular significance. During one week, chess players, federations, organizers, education professionals and representatives of international organizations will gather in the same place.
In effect, chess education will take centre stage during one of the biggest events of the year for the global chess community.
School Awards and Practical Results
Another important FIDE EDU initiative is the FIDE School Award programme. It recognizes schools that demonstrate a high level of development in educational chess and strong engagement with their local communities.
According to FIDE EDU, by the beginning of 2026, 87 schools around the world had received these awards. FIDE plans to continue accepting applications and to involve national federations more actively in the development of the programme.
This means that the Samarkand summit will not be merely a platform for discussion. It will also provide an opportunity to showcase the practical results of existing initiatives and explore how successful models can be made accessible to more countries.
What Could Change After the Summit?
The most important question is not how successfully the event itself will take place on September 24. What matters far more is which decisions and ideas will continue to have an impact after the summit has ended.
If the discussions lead to new partnerships between chess federations and ministries of education, the launch of new school programmes, the training of more teachers and additional research, the summit's influence could extend far beyond a single day on the calendar.
This is where the true meaning of "Every Lesson Counts" becomes clear.
Every lesson can become a first step towards more attentive and structured thinking. Every chess puzzle can serve as practice in decision-making. And every school programme can become part of a larger international system connecting sport, education and children's development.
Samarkand as a Starting Point
On September 24, 2026, Samarkand will bring together people who see chess not only as a competition for victory, but also as a tool for learning.
FIDE is working to give chess a more prominent place in modern educational systems. If this strategy is successfully implemented, its effects could reach far beyond chess classrooms.
Because the value of a chess lesson is not measured only by how many games a student wins.
Sometimes, what matters far more is how a student learns to think, analyse, make mistakes, search for a new solution and make the next move.
That is why, in Samarkand this September, one simple but ambitious principle will take centre stage:
Every Lesson Counts.