The magic of chess comes to the National Gallery – 11th Judit Polgár’s Global Chess Festival

Chess is not just a sport, but a way of thinking, a creative adventure, and a shared experience. This is the message once again carried forward by the Judit Polgár’s Global Chess Festival, which will welcome visitors for the eleventh time on September 30, in the impressive halls of the Hungarian National Gallery.

The Global Chess Festival builds bridges between sport, art, education, and digital innovation

At this large-scale, all-day event, thousands of visitors will have the chance to meet the world-famous Polgár sisters in person while discovering the many faces of chess. This year’s festival highlight is RubikChess, a unique mixed-pair team game that combines the strategic elements of chess with the logical challenges of the Rubik’s Cube.

The Global Chess Festival has always been about more than the 64 squares: it builds bridges between sport, art, education, and digital innovation. Visitors will not only enjoy the classical chess experience but also see how the game comes to life in diverse fields – on the canvas, in education, and through technological development. The festival’s keywords are play, inspiration, and experience – all within the stunning setting of the Hungarian National Gallery.

• Judit Polgár named most influential female chess player of the last century

The festival is an event of international significance: it speaks to the world through the language of chess, connecting generations, cultures, and ways of thinking.

Judit Polgár: a former chessboxing world champion will also participate

Judit Polgár, founder and chief organizer of the Global Chess Festival, emphasized about this year’s program:

“The Global Chess Festival is a special experience for me every year. I personally take part in both designing and organizing the programs. This year, I’m especially looking forward to the community simul, where I’ll be playing simultaneously on six boards, each against a different community. There will be Spanish and Hungarian teams, a former chessboxing world champion, and the world’s largest chess platforms will also join the game. It’s all very exciting! Visitors can also try the world’s first AI-powered chess robot, while the Momentán Theatre group will engage the audience in interactive improvisation games.