Yerevan, Armenia — The Armenian capital will host the inaugural Chess Fest Armenia this October, a two-day, open-air celebration of the game Armenia has woven into its national identity. Held under the patronage of Armenian-born grandmaster Levon Aronian, the festival will bring some of the biggest names in chess history to Yerevan's parks and public squares.
A Festival for a Chess-Mad Nation
According to the organizers, Chess Fest Armenia will transform the city's public spaces into open-air venues filled with simultaneous exhibition games, concerts, storytelling sessions and interactive art installations. A dedicated “Chess for Kids” zone will welcome the next generation to the board, with the celebrations culminating in an award ceremony. The event is produced by MEDIACRAT Studio together with MATENA Business School and the support of the Municipality of Yerevan.
It could hardly have a more fitting home. Armenia is the only country in the world where chess is a compulsory school subject, and a nation of under three million people has produced a world champion in Tigran Petrosian and a long line of Olympiad medals.
Star Power: Anand and Polgar in Yerevan
The guest list reads like a hall of fame. Five-time World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand and Judit Polgar — widely regarded as the strongest female player in history — are among the confirmed international guests joining patron Levon Aronian. For Armenian fans, the chance to see figures of this stature up close in Yerevan is a rare treat, and a signal of how seriously the country takes its favorite game.
In Armenia, chess isn't a pastime you schedule — it's a language everyone already speaks.
Part of a Banner Year for Chess
The festival caps a lively 2026 for the game. In January, Manuel Petrosyan and Anahit Mkrtchyan claimed the Armenian national titles in Yerevan. On the global stage, Magnus Carlsen reaffirmed his dominance in fast chess by winning the SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz in Croatia in early July, ahead of Wesley So and Gukesh Dommaraju. Interest in the game — online and over the board — shows no sign of slowing.
Bring the Game Home
If Chess Fest Armenia has you itching to play, there is no finer way to honor the tradition than with a hand-carved Armenian board. Explore our handmade chess sets, or read our guide to Armenian chess sets to find the one that fits you.
Shop Handmade Armenian Chess Sets
or read the Armenian chess sets guide →
Sources: PR Newswire — Chess Fest Armenia announcement; FIDE — SuperUnited Croatia result. Photographs show Lion Laurel's own handmade chess sets.