Announcing The 2026 Saint Louis Chess Conference

Registration Open: 2026 Saint Louis Chess Conference

When: October 22–24 
Where: Chase Park Plaza, St. Louis, the city officially designated by the U.S. Senate as the Chess Capital of the United States.

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Hosted by the Saint Louis Chess Club, US Chess, and the Kasparov Chess Foundation, the Saint Louis Chess Conference is a national gathering built specifically for the people advancing chess through research, education, and policy. The 2024 inaugural edition drew over 250 educators, researchers, and enthusiasts from 14 countries and 32 states. 

The conference is dedicated to the love of the game — transforming the chessboard into a powerful engine for social equity, youth empowerment, and critical life skills. It opens with the closing ceremony of the U.S. Chess Championships, then runs two days of keynotes and sessions on chess research and education— academic outcomes, community building, and program design. 

GM Garry Kasparov will deliver a keynote address. Other speakers include a panel on chess and sports featuring NFL and WNBA athletes, a conversation with the filmmakers of the new chess documentary, Madwoman's Game, and numerous other sessions and activities.

Learn more about the conference here. Registration is still open and tickets (which include breakfast, lunch, and receptions on both Friday and Saturday) are discounted by 60% for K-12 and post-secondary students. 

Highlights from the 2024 conference are included in this video:

The preliminary conference schedule is posted on the conference website and can also be viewed here.