2026 National Elementary School Championship Preview!

This weekend, May 1 through 3, the US Chess National Elementary School Championships take place in Baltimore, MD! This national event features some of the best scholastic chess players in the United States and US Chess is proud to host this exciting event.

First thing’s first, registration is still open until 10:00 a.m. EDT on Friday, May 1. If you have not registered, please visit the event page and register online.

Now, here are a few selections from the schedule of events that you can look forward to at the 2026 National Elementary School Championships!

With four special guests, you'll also want to bookmark the special guests' schedule page, too.

Special Guest Grandmasters Elshan Moradiabadi and Katerina Nemcova

US Chess is proud to welcome guests GM Elshan Moradiabadi and Katerina Nemcova to the National Elementary School Championship!

See if you've got what it takes to beat WGM Nemcova at the "Take-on-all-Comers" Blitz sessions on Friday at 1:30 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m.
See if you’ve got what it takes to beat GM Moradiabadi at the “Take-on-all-Comers” Blitz sessions on Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 10 a.m., and Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
Come see if there really is strength in numbers as Moradiabadi and Nemcova team up to host a special 30-board tandem simul exhibition on Friday at 9 a.m.
Come and learn from the best with four Grandmaster Lectures with Q&A. Moradiabadi will host lectures Saturday at 3:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Nemcova's lectures will be Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and Sunday at 11:30 a.m.

More Special Guests!

IM Danny Rensch, the Chief Chess Officer (CCO) of Chess.com, will be on site all weekend for lectures, blitz, and a book signing of his new memoir Dark Squares.

Rensch is hosting a lecture on Friday at 1:15 p.m., followed by a Q&A. Rensch is also hosting a "Take-on-all-Comers" Blitz at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday and a book signing Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

US Chess Ambassador WGM Jennifer Shahade will also be on site all weekend promoting her new book Thinking Sideways.

Catch Shahade's simul exhibition Friday at 4:30 p.m., and at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday for her book signing.

Girls Club Events and Special Guests

All female players with their families and coaches are invited to the US Chess Girls Club room to take part in special events throughout the weekend. Special guests WFM Laura Smith and Rochelle Ballantyne will be round all weekend for lectures, exhibitions, and human chess.

Blitz and Bughouse Tournaments

Anything can happen during Blitz and Bughouse, which is why it's such an exciting part of our national events! Be sure to sign up for (or stop in to see) the thrilling, fast-moving action.

Blitz tournament will be Thursday, April 30 at 5 p.m. Entry fee is $85 online until 2 p.m. and on-site until 4 p.m.
Bughouse will be Thursday, April 30 at 11 a.m. Entry is $50 per two-player team, register on-site between 9 and 10 a.m.

Friends and Family Chess Tournament

Not competing in the NES but still love to play chess? Join other parents, grandparents, and friends for a special Friends and Family Tournament on Saturday. Four rounds of G/30 games in rated and unrated sections. Join the fun! Registration will be open until 10 a.m. day-of, and the entry fee is $40.

Watch Live on Twitch and Follow Along on CLO

US Chess will be broadcasting live commentary and analysis from our Twitch channel for all seven rounds. First broadcasts begin at 1 p.m. EDT on Friday with special guest commentator WGM Sabina Foisor, who will provide insights and connect all the critical moves for the top boards. Give us a follow, subscribe, and watch live at www.twitch.tv/USChess.

And of course, there will be amazing chess in the playing hall among the 2,560 (and counting!) competitors. We look forward to seeing you in Baltimore (or on our Twitch stream) and will be keeping you updated about the 2026 National Elementary School Championship on Twitter with the hashtag #ElemChessChamps and here, at Chess Life Online with daily recaps.

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