ChessFest in Manchester Square Gardens

ChessFest 2026 has begun! Over the past three days we’ve hosted 42 schools, nearly 500 children, in the beautiful setting of Manchester Square Gardens in central London. Schools joined us from around the country - Leeds, Liverpool, Hull, Manchester - for a full day of fun chess activities spread across three large marquees.

In our simultaneous tent, Grandmaster Chris Ward and the UK’s top female player, 11-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan took on up to 50 children at once in a giant tandem display, offering expert tips and advice along the way. On our giant sets, CSC tutors organised consultation games between schools while our tournament tent saw CSC Regional Organiser for Merseyside, Rob Steele, running two tournaments each day, giving the children the chance to test the chess skills they’ve developed over the school year. In between, our tutors delivered many lessons and everyone enjoyed a daily reading of a wonderful new children’s chess book, written and performed by Hari Neocleous.

These school events are first in ChessFest 2026, a celebration of chess spanning seven weeks and taking place in several cities and towns across the country. ChessFest continues next weekend in Portishead, Somerset, on 11th July, followed by our flagship event in Trafalgar Square, London, on Sunday 12th July. The remaining events are all open to everyone and all the activities are completely free. Please join us if you can.

Before they left Manchester Square Gardens, all children received some chess goodies to remind them of their day with us. Our huge thanks to them, to their teachers, parents, and our CSC tutors for all their hard work, and to the weather for three fantastic days in the sun! Thank you too to the Manchester Square Gardens Trust for making their fabulous gardens available to us once again.