Trafalgar Square, London

12pm-7pm, Sunday 12th July 2026

ChessFest returned to London’s iconic Trafalgar Square for a day of fun, family-friendly, free chess activities. Thousands of chess-loving guests joined us for the UK’s largest chess event. From young to old, beginner to grandmaster, ChessFest had something for everyone:

• Free chess lessons for children and adults from professional chess teachers and top UK players

• Simultaneous displays against England internationals including British Champions Mickey Adams and Gawain Jones.

• 10 giant chess sets for visitors to play on

• 100s of chess tables for children and chess fans to play with each other

• Challenge a Chess Master at speed chess with prizes for those who manage to get a result

• Blindfold Chess exhibition match

• Giant speed chess display: watch two masters battle it out in a test of speed and strength.

•  A truly giant screen (12 x 7m) broadcasting all the action from the square!

Once again, the highlight of the day was several fantastic performances by our living chess set, 32 actors recreating famous games of chess with commentary from our MC, Owen, and Grandmaster Chris Ward. This year’s theme was wildlife. You read more about this on the CSC website.

ChessFest has grown to become the UK’s biggest chess event and this year celebrated a unique piece of the capital’s history: the 175th anniversary of the Immortal Game. In 1851, London was the capital of international chess when German master Adolf Anderssen entered its folklore by sensationally sacrificing his queen and both rooks to force checkmate. His brilliant winning manoeuvre went down in history as one of the most beautiful and instructive ever seen. One of the most famous games ever, it was likely played just a five-minute walk away from ChessFest at the newly-reopened home of chess, Simpson’s-in-the-Strand.