Second edition of the Saint Louis Chess Conference, a gathering of chess educators, researchers and enthusiasts to explore best practices and the latest research on chess in education.
The Saint Louis Chess Conference returns to the Chase Park Plaza from October 22 to 24, 2026. It's the second edition of the gathering, and the focus is on chess in education. Over three days, chess educators, researchers, and enthusiasts come together to talk through best practices and the latest research on how the game works in the classroom.
The conference is presented by the World Chess Hall of Fame & Galleries, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that's been in the Central West End since September 9, 2011. It's housed in a historic 15,900-square-foot residence, and it didn't start here—it moved to St. Louis from previous homes in New York, Washington, D.C., and Miami. Inside, the museum holds both the World Chess Hall of Fame, which has 61 members, and the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame, with 78 members. The U.S. Hall was established by the U.S. Chess Trust back in 1988.
There's a bigger picture behind this one, too. FIDE has designated 2026 as the 'Year of Chess in Education,' a global initiative to double the number of children participating in educational chess between 2021 and 2026. This conference sits right in the middle of that push, bringing together the people who actually teach the game and the researchers studying how it helps kids learn. If you're into the intersection of chess and education, this is where those conversations are happening in the city.
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The conference runs from Thursday, October 22, through Saturday, October 24, at the Chase Park Plaza.
