World Champion D Gukesh to Feature in Norway Chess 2026 in Oslo

Reigning world chess champion D Gukesh will return to Norway Chess this May, joining a star-studded field led by world number one and defending champion Magnus Carlsen . The tournament, scheduled from May 25 to June 5 , will shift from its traditional base in Stavanger to Oslo , promising one of the strongest classical chess events globally .

This edition marks a historic transition for the tournament, with matches set to be held at the Deichman Bjørvika library in central Oslo. As of February 3, 2026 , Gukesh has officially been confirmed as the fourth participant in the Open section , joining Carlsen, R Praggnanandhaa (World No. 5), and Germany’s Vincent Keymer (No. 1 in Germany, debuting at Norway Chess). Organizers are revealing one new player every week for both the Open and Women’s sections .

The Women’s section already features Anna Muzychuk (defending champion), Divya Deshmukh (debut, youngest at 19), and Bibisara Assaubayeva (World Blitz Champion). Both tournaments maintain the tradition of equal prize money and follow a six-player double round-robin format , with Armageddon tiebreaks for every drawn classical game .

Gukesh, who finished third in last year’s Norway Chess Open , returns as the youngest undisputed world champion in history . He previously secured his first classical victory over Carlsen during the 2025 edition , producing the now-famous table-slam moment that captured global attention.

The Indian prodigy’s meteoric rise includes winning the Candidates Tournament in 2024 and defeating then world champion Ding Liren to secure the title at just 18 years old . He also became the youngest player to cross the 2750 rating mark and earned the Grandmaster title at 12 , ranking as the third-youngest in history .

Tournament Logistics & Registration:

The Norway Chess Open will also host public tournaments at The Good Knight chess bar , with the May Edition running May 23–29 and the June Edition from June 1–7 .

In preparation, Gukesh and Keymer are currently competing in the Prague International Chess Festival , which began in late February, serving as a major warm-up. The 2026 Candidates Tournament , scheduled for late March in Cyprus, will also be a key preparatory event ahead of Norway Chess.

“Having Gukesh D return to Norway Chess as reigning world champion is something we truly value,” said Benedicte Westre Skog, COO of Norway Chess . “India has emerged as a major chess powerhouse, and fans across the country will be following his games closely.”

Norway Chess 2026 promises thrilling encounters as Gukesh faces elite competitors, including Carlsen, Praggnanandhaa, Keymer, and other top super-GMs , in pursuit of his first Norway Chess title.