Chess Olympiad tickets now on sale: prices, dates and how to buy
Tickets for the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand are now available online, FIDE has confirmed. Prices start at UZS 50,000 for Uzbek residents, while eligible young citizens can attend free of charge.
The Olympiad will bring around 200 national teams to the Silk Road International Exhibition Centre. The opening ceremony is scheduled for 15 September, with 11 rounds played between 16 and 27 September.
Games begin at 15:00 local time. There will be no round on the rest day, 22 September.
How much do Chess Olympiad tickets cost?
Three ticket categories are available:
| Ticket | International visitors | Uzbek citizens or residents |
|---|---|---|
| Single day | From $20 or UZS 240,000 | From UZS 50,000 |
| Family day | From $30 or UZS 360,000 | From UZS 80,000 |
| Full pass | $200 or UZS 2.4m | UZS 500,000 |
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- A single-day ticket covers one round of the buyer’s choice.
- A family ticket provides access for a family to one selected round using a single QR code.
- The full pass covers every round from 16 to 27 September. It permits one entry per day.
- Citizens and permanent residents of Uzbekistan must verify their status through OneID to receive local prices.
- Uzbek citizens aged 14 to 30 can obtain tickets free of charge. OneID verification is also required.
Where and how to buy tickets
Tickets are sold through the official website, chess-ticket.uz.
Buyers receive a QR code immediately. It can be shown on a phone or printed for scanning at the entrance.
Each ticket is personal and non-refundable. Visitors must bring a passport or ID card matching the name on the ticket.
Capacity is limited for each viewing period, so popular rounds may sell out.
What spectators need to know
- Entry to the spectator area is open from 15:00 to 17:00.
- Spectators who leave may re-enter only during the same two-hour window.
- Mobile phones are allowed in the playing hall only until 15:15. After that time, visitors must remove their phones from the hall.
- Spectators watch the games standing, rather than from fixed seats.
- Tickets also provide access to the exhibition hall, workshops, fan zones and interactive events.
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