Today, July 20, the chess community celebrates International Chess Day. The year 2026 marks the 61st Chess Day.

Chess Day has been celebrated annually since 1966. The date commemorates the founding of FIDE on July 20, 1924. The tradition was established by UNESCO and later implemented by FIDE. In 2019, the United Nations General Assembly officially recognized International Chess Day on the global calendar.

The international holiday is celebrated in more than 170 countries worldwide. On this day, FIDE organizes various events and competitions. In 2024, players across over-the-board clubs and online platforms set a Guinness World Record for the most chess games played in 24 hours. Over 7,000,000 games were played during that day.

Credit: Michal Walusza / FIDE