Women's Chess Olympiad 2026: Full schedule, fixtures, live streaming details & more
India will look to defend their title in Samarkand.
The Women’s Chess Olympiad 2026 will be held from September 15 to 27, with Samarkand, Uzbekistan, hosting the 46th edition of the prestigious biennial team competition. The playing rounds will begin on September 16, while the opening ceremony is scheduled for September 15.
The women’s tournament will feature 11 rounds under the Swiss-system format. Each team consists of five players: four compete in every round, with a reserve.
India enter the competition as defending champions after winning the women’s gold medal at the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest.
The Indian squad features Koneru Humpy, Divya Deshmukh, R Vaishali, Vantika Agrawal and Savitha Shri B, giving the defending champions a strong combination of experience and emerging talent.
India are the top-seeded team with an average rating of 2466. Georgia, Kazakhstan, China and the United States are among the leading contenders, while Ukraine, Azerbaijan, France, Poland and Germany are also fielding strong squads.
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Top teams and players in the Women’s Chess Olympiad 2026
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India lead the women’s field with an average rating of 2466, with Koneru Humpy, Divya Deshmukh, R Vaishali, Vantika Agrawal and Savitha Shri forming the defending champions’ squad. Georgia are second at 2451 and feature Nana Dzagnidze, Nino Batsiashvili and Bella Khotenashvili.
Kazakhstan, third at 2438, will be led by Bibisara Assaubayeva, while China boast Zhu Jiner, Song Yuxin and Lu Miaoyi. The United States, ranked fifth, will feature Carissa Yip, Alice Lee and Irina Krush. Ukraine, Azerbaijan, France, Poland and Germany complete the top 10 teams by average rating.
When is Women’s Chess Olympiad 2026 scheduled to start?
The Women’s Chess Olympiad 2026 opening ceremony will take place on September 15, with the opening competitive round scheduled for September 16. The tournament will conclude with Round 11 and the closing ceremony on September 27.
Where will the Women’s Chess Olympiad 2026 take place?
The women’s section of the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, at the Silk Road EXPO complex. The Open and Women’s competitions will take place simultaneously at the same venue.
Related: Chess Olympiad 2026 – Full list of participants from the top women’s teams
Where & how to watch the Women’s Chess Olympiad 2026 worldwide?
Viewers can follow the tournament through FIDE’s official digital platforms and Chess.com’s live coverage. The official broadcast will provide access to live games and coverage throughout the competition, subject to regional availability.
Women’s Chess Olympiad 2026 Schedule
The Women’s Chess Olympiad will begin with the opening ceremony on September 15. Rounds one to six will be played consecutively from September 16 to 21, followed by the tournament’s only rest day on September 22.
Rounds seven to ten will then take place from September 23 to 26, before the final round on September 27. Rounds 1-10 are scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM local time in Samarkand, which is 3:30 PM IST. The final round begins earlier at 11:00 AM local time, or 11:30 AM IST.
Women’s Chess Olympiad 2026 fixtures and pairings
The Women’s Chess Olympiad uses a Swiss-system format, meaning there is no fixed fixture list for all 11 rounds. Teams are paired according to their results and standings after each round.
The Round 1 pairings will be determined before the tournament begins, with subsequent pairings released after each round. Fans can follow fixtures, board-by-board games, results, pairings and updated standings through the official tournament platforms.
India will be one of the teams to watch as they look to defend their title and win a second consecutive gold medal at the Women’s Olympiad.
| Date | Event | Time in India |
|---|---|---|
| September 15 | Opening Ceremony | TBC |
| September 16 | Round 1 | 3:30 PM IST |
| September 17 | Round 2 | 3:30 PM IST |
| September 18 | Round 3 | 3:30 PM IST |
| September 19 | Round 4 | 3:30 PM IST |
| September 20 | Round 5 | 3:30 PM IST |
| September 21 | Round 6 | 3:30 PM IST |
| September 22 | Rest Day | — |
| September 23 | Round 7 | 3:30 PM IST |
| September 24 | Round 8 | 3:30 PM IST |
| September 25 | Round 9 | 3:30 PM IST |
| September 26 | Round 10 | 3:30 PM IST |
| September 27 | Round 11 & Closing Ceremony | 11:30 AM IST |
Who are the defending champions of the Women’s Chess Olympiad?
India enter the competition as defending champions after winning the women’s gold medal at the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Budapest.
Where is the Women’s Chess Olympiad 2026 being held?
The women’s section of the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, at the Silk Road EXPO complex.
Where to watch the Women’s Chess Olympiad 2026 in India?
Viewers can follow the tournament through FIDE’s official digital platforms and Chess.com’s live coverage.
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