The 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad takes place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 15 to 27 September 2026, with around 200 national teams competing across the Open and Women’s sections at the Silk Road International Exhibition Centre. Spectator tickets are now on sale, giving fans the chance to watch the world’s leading players at the board across eleven rounds of competition.
Games run daily from 15:00 local time, with rounds played from 16 to 27 September and a rest day on 22 September. Spectators watch from designated areas alongside the playing zone, walking amongst the boards rather than viewing from fixed seating, which makes this one of the closest vantage points available at any FIDE event.
Ticket categories
Tickets are sold in three categories, with reduced pricing for citizens and permanent residents of Uzbekistan verified through OneID:
- Single Day. Access to the spectator area for one round of your choice. From $20 or 240,000 UZS, and from 50,000 UZS for Uzbek citizens.
- Family Day. Access for the whole family to one round of your choice, under a single QR code. From $30 or 360,000 UZS, and from 80,000 UZS for Uzbek citizens.
- Full Pass. Access to the spectator area on every round day from 16 to 27 September, one entry per day. $200 or 2,400,000 UZS, and 500,000 UZS for Uzbek citizens.
Citizens of Uzbekistan aged 14 to 30 receive their spectator tickets free of charge, subject to OneID verification.
Capacity in the playing hall is limited and the number of tickets available for each viewing slot is capped, so fans are encouraged to book early for the rounds they most want to attend.
What your ticket includes
Alongside access to the playing hall, ticket holders can visit the exhibition hall, where workshops, fan zones and interactive events run throughout the competition.
Before you arrive
A few practical points worth reading before your visit:
- Entry to the playing hall is between 15:00 and 17:00. If you leave the spectator area and wish to return, you may re-enter only within that same window.
- Mobile phones may be brought into the playing hall until 15:15. After 15:15, phones are not permitted inside.
- You must bring an ID card or passport that matches the details on your ticket.
- Tickets are personal, non-refundable, and valid for one entry per day.
How to buy
Tickets are available online at chess-ticket.uz. Your ticket is issued immediately with a QR code, which can be shown on your phone or printed and presented at the security entrance for scanning.
Full spectator information, including entry rules and venue details, is available at chess-ticket.uz/en/info.
For ticketing questions, the organisers can be reached at tickets@chessolympiad2026.uz or on +998 90 820 20 20.