FIDE Confirms India As Host Nation For Global Chess League 2026

The fourth season of the Global Chess League will take place in India, organisers announced on Friday, in partnership with FIDE.

The host city for the upcoming edition will likely emerge in the coming days.

The previous season of the league was organised in Mumbai in December 2025, where Alpine SG Pipers emerged as champions after an impressive run in the tournament.

Since its launch, the league has focused on presenting chess in a faster and more audience-friendly format through franchise-based teams, rapid matches and mixed-gender line-ups.

Organisers said India has become one of the strongest centres for global chess engagement, with strong fan participation, packed venues and growing digital viewership across earlier editions.

Season 4 will likely feature leading international players once again in a team competition format designed to combine elite chess with entertainment and storytelling elements.

FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich said India continues to play a major role in the worldwide growth of chess because of both its emerging talent and passionate fanbase.

“The Global Chess League has introduced a new energy to the sport by combining world-class competition with an engaging team format,” he said while announcing the new season.

Gourav Rakshit, commissioner of the league, said the tournament has helped make chess more dynamic and accessible to spectators.

According to Rakshit, India’s rapidly expanding chess ecosystem made it a natural choice for hosting another edition of the competition. He added that the upcoming season would once again bring together top players from around the world, along with a large global audience.

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