Sunday 7th July 2024

ChessFest Returns to Trafalgar Square

Free chess activities for the whole family

ChessFest 2024

A Free Chess Festival Taking Place in Trafalgar Square

ChessFest returns to Trafalgar Square, London on Sunday 7th July 2024, bigger and better than ever before.

Running from 11am to 6pm, ChessFest is the UK's largest chess event and is aimed at anyone who loves chess or wants to learn to play the game. What’s more, it's completely free of charge!

We will once again have a living chess set - 32 professional actors taking on the role of the chess pieces - doing a number of performances throughout the day, recreating famous games played by masters of the past. The theme of ChessFest 2024 is Alice Through The Looking Glass. Will the Red Queen triumph over the White King? Will the March Hare overcome Tweedledum and Tweedledee? Come along to find out. 

Many of the UK’s top chess players will be joining us for the day, taking on members of the public in simultaneous displays and in our Challenge the Chess Master tent. Come and test your chess skills against a master player!

Events at Chessfest

  • Free chess lessons for children and adults from professional chess teachers and top UK players

  • 10 giant chess sets for people to play on

  • 100s of chess tables for children and chess fans to play with each other

  • Challenge a Chess Master at speed chess

  • Puzzle Rush competitions led by WIM Ivette Garcia from ChessKid

  • Blindfold Chess exhibition

  • Giant speed chess display. Watch two masters battle it out in a test of speed and strength.

  •  A truly giant screen (12 x 7m) broadcasting all the action from the square!

  • Live link-ups and challenge matches with ChessFest Hull