The lineup for Norway Chess 2026 has been finalized, setting the stage for another clash between world number-one Magnus Carlsen and reigning World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju.
The 14th edition of the prestigious tournament will take place place May 25 to June 5, and marks the beginning of a new era as it relocates from Stavanger on Norway’s west coast to central Oslo, just steps away from the iconic Opera House.
While the setting is new, the format remains unchanged. Six players will face each other twice in a double round-robin, totaling 10 rounds. If a classical game ends in a draw, it will be followed by an Armageddon decider.
| Player | FED | Rating | World Rank | |
| 1 | Magnus Carlsen | 2840 | 1 | |
| 2 | Vincent Keymer | 2775 | 4 | |
| 3 | Alireza Firouzja | 2759 | 7 | |
| 4 | Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu | 2758 | 8 | |
| 5 | Gukesh Dommaraju | 2754 | 9 | |
| 6 | Wesley So | 2753 | 11 |
Seven-time Norway Chess winner Carlsen may have scaled back on his classical schedule in recent years, but he remains a regular in Norway’s only super tournament. Following the move to the capital, he will also enjoy the luxury of living just a 15-minute drive from the venue.
The return of Gukesh will also be welcomed by fans. The reigning world champion stunned Carlsen in Stavanger last year, in a game that went viral after Carlsen reacted in frustration by slamming the table.
Gukesh is ready for another battle: “I am really happy to take part in Norway Chess again, fighting against a very strong field as always, and looking forward to all the exciting games.”
Indian GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, who finished third in 2024, also returns: “I am looking forward to being back in Norway Chess, I enjoyed playing in 2024. Most exciting format I have played!”
French star GM Alireza Firouzja, playing for the fourth time after almost winning on his debut in 2020, said, “I’m looking forward to competing against the best chess players in the world at Norway Chess 2026 in Oslo.”
After an absence of a few years, GM Wesley So returns for a sixth appearance. “I am delighted to be coming back to play Norway Chess… Toasting to a fun and challenging event! Skål!”
Toasting to a fun and challenging event! Skål!
—Wesley So
The only newcomer this year is GM Vincent Keymer, who has climbed to fourth in the world after a fantastic 2025. The German said: “I am looking forward to participating in my first Norway Chess event and getting the opportunity to fight for tournament victory among this elite field.”
CEO and co-founder of Norway Chess, Kjell Madland, told Chess.com that they are pleased with the lineup. “We feel it’s a very exciting field. Five of the players have played the tournament more than once, and Keymer is a new player. It’s very exciting.”
He said they are particularly happy with the return of So, a player who has become a fan-favorite in Norway. “It’s been a pity that we haven’t had space for Wesley for many years. It’s great that it worked out this time.”
One notable storyline is the absence of Norway Chess regulars GMs Hikaru Nakamura (seven appearances) and Fabiano Caruana (nine appearances), the world numbers two and three.
Madland said that calendar considerations and ongoing discussions with players shape invitations. “It’s always like that when you put together a field. It doesn’t always fit for everyone,” he said. “We are continuously in dialogue with them and we know their calendars. When we invite players, we have discussions and see what fits.”
Past Norway Chess Winners
Open Section
2025: Winner: Magnus Carlsen. Runner-up: Fabiano Caruana
2024: Winner: Magnus Carlsen. Runner-up: Hikaru Nakamura
2023: Winner: Hikaru Nakamura. Runner-up: Fabiano Caruana
2022: Winner: Magnus Carlsen. Runner-up: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
2021: Winner: Magnus Carlsen. Runner-up: Alireza Firouzja
2020: Winner: Magnus Carlsen. Runner-up: Alireza Firouzja
2019: Winner: Magnus Carlsen. Runner-up: Levon Aronian
2018: Winner: Fabiano Caruana. Runner-up: Magnus Carlsen
2017: Winner: Levon Aronian. Runner-up: Hikaru Nakamura
2016: Winner: Magnus Carlsen. Runner-up: Levon Aronian
2015: Winner: Veselin Topalov. Runner-up: Viswanathan Anand
2014: Winner: Sergey Karjakin. Runner-up: Magnus Carlsen
2013: Winner: Sergey Karjakin. Runner-up: Magnus Carlsen
Norway Chess Women has become one of the most important tournaments for the world’s top female players, together with the Cairns Cup in St. Louis. In a first for a major event, the Women’s prize fund is equal to that for the Open tournament.
| Player | FED | Rating | Women’s World Rank | |
| 1 | Zhu Jiner | 2578 | 2 | |
| 2 | Ju Wenjun | 2559 | 4 | |
| 3 | Humpy Koneru | 2535 | 6 | |
| 4 | Anna Muzychuk | 2522 | 8 | |
| 5 | Bibisara Assaubayeva | 2497 | 11 | |
| 6 | Divya Deshmukh | 2497 | 12 |
Former winners Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun (2024) and GM Anna Muzychuk (2025), along with GM Koneru Humpy return to play again. They are joined by three newcomers, GM Zhu Jiner, who has climbed to world number-two, as well as rising stars GM Bibisara Assaubayeva and GM Divya Deshmukh.
Madland tells Chess.com that the move to Oslo represents the biggest structural shift in the tournament’s history. The six-floor Deichman Bjørvika is Oslo’s main library, beautifully located with a view over the Oslo fjord.
“It’s incredibly exciting to secure one of the country’s national landmark buildings,” Madland said. “The location, the type of building, the surroundings—it’s fantastic.”
It’s incredibly exciting to secure one of the country’s national landmark buildings. The location, the type of building, the surroundings—it’s fantastic.
—Kjell Madland, Norway Chess CEO
At the same time, hosting a major elite tournament inside a fully functioning public library presents logistical challenges.
“It is, of course, a challenge when we are using a building that is in active use during the day and in the evenings,” he said. “But challenges are part of it. We have good experience from moving the tournament around over the years. We know quite well what is important, what works, and what doesn’t.”
The venue will span multiple floors of the award-winning library, including a dedicated playing hall, long staircase areas connecting the fourth and fifth floors, and VIP sections designed to enhance the spectator experience.
The relocation to Oslo, however, comes at a cost and the budget for 2026 has increased compared to previous years. “Everything is more expensive in Oslo,” he says. “It’s a tournament with a very high standard, and that makes it relatively expensive.”
Planning For Future Norway Chess Events In Oslo
The move to Oslo, combined with Norway Chess’ involvement with the upcoming Total Chess World Championship in October, has led to some concerns about the long-term future of the event. Madland, however, was clear about their ambitions, assuring fans: “We are working towards continuing Norway Chess in Oslo in the same form as it is now. The goal is to turn it into a festival, like we tried to do in Stavanger.”
“We want the same mix: A super tournament, an open event, and activities for kids. That’s our goal,” Madland says. A children’s tournament is planned to take place at the Nobel Peace Prize Center, while the Norway Summit will be held on June 3. There will also be an open tournament taking place from June 1-7 at The Good Knight chess pub.
The combined prize fund for the two main events is 3.4 million Norwegian kroner (approximately $355,000), with $73,000 awarded to each winner.
