Chess Olympiad 2028 is in Abu Dhabi

The Chess Olympiad 2028 is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, from October 28 to November 11, 2028. It will be hosted at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), the largest venue of its kind in the Middle East, with a proposed budget of 15.3 million euros. Abu Dhabi won the bid with 96 votes against 60 for Genoa, Italy, during the FIDE Council meeting on December 17, 2023.

This marks the second time the UAE will host the Chess Olympiad, following the 27th edition in Dubai in 1986.The event will include the main Chess Olympiad (Open and Women’s sections), the 4th FIDE Olympiad for People with Disabilities, and the 98th FIDE Congress. The Olympiad is expected to attract over 200 federations in the Open section, 160 in the Women’s section, and at least 80 teams in the People with Disabilities category, with each team consisting of four main players and one reserve.

The Chess Olympiad 2028 follows the Chess Olympiad 2026, which will take place in Uzbekistan.