The Mind Sports Olympiad
A week-plus of chess, backgammon, Scrabble and more in London.
Plan Tournament TravelThe Mind Sports Olympiad in London
If one event sums up mind sports, it is the Mind Sports Olympiad. Every August for three decades, London has hosted a week-plus festival where you can play chess in the morning, backgammon in the afternoon and a board game you have never tried in the evening.
The Mind Sports Olympiad held its 30th edition from August 22 to 30, 2026, at the Mercure London Earls Court hotel, a larger venue than the year before. The program included rapid FIDE-rated chess, a Catan tournament, a Scrabble tournament and the backgammon world team and individual championships, alongside many other games.
Unlike single-game championships, the Olympiad rewards range: some players chase medals in as many games as they can fit in. Others come for a single event, such as the backgammon championships, and spend the rest of the week as tourists.
The atmosphere is part of the draw. Families, students, retirees and professional players share the same halls, and spectators can wander from one game to the next. For a traveling player it is also a rare chance to try games with small followings in the United States in a serious tournament setting.
Planning a Trip to the Mind Sports Olympiad
- Watch the official site for the next schedule; it is usually published in early summer, and some events fill up.
- Earls Court is in West London, with Underground connections to central London and Heathrow.
- August is high season in London. Book flights and hotels early, and compare options on Rooms Cheap.
- U.S. citizens need a valid passport and, for the United Kingdom, an Electronic Travel Authorisation before travel.
- Leave a day or two for London itself: museums, parks and theater. Many of the big national museums are free to enter.
- Pack for changeable weather; an August week in London can bring both heat and rain.
Mind Sports Beyond the Olympiad
The Olympiad is a good sampler. If one game grabs you, follow it to its own championships: our pages on chess tournaments, bridge tournaments, Scrabble tournaments and the World Series of Poker explain where the next step is. Flights to London can be compared on Airfares for Less.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mind Sports Olympiad?
A multi-game festival held in London each August, with tournaments in chess, backgammon, Scrabble, Catan and many other games. 2026 was its 30th edition.
Where and when was the 2026 Mind Sports Olympiad?
August 22 to 30, 2026, at the Mercure London Earls Court hotel, a new venue that year. Its events included rapid FIDE-rated chess, a Catan tournament, a Scrabble tournament and the backgammon world team and individual championships.
Do I have to be an expert to enter?
No. Many events are open to all, and players often enter several different games over the week.
Plan a London Mind Sports Trip
Tell us your dates and which events you want to play, and we will plan flights and a hotel near Earls Court.
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