International Moon Day 2025; July 20th.

FORUM: ‘‘The first human footprints on the moon.’’ International Moon Day 2025. For thousands of years, human civilizations have looked up to the sky pondering the origin and mysteries of the Moon – our only natural satellite. Ground-based observations enabled by the invention of the first telescopes opened a new chapter in our understanding of our celestial companion. With the birth of space activities, the Moon became the ultimate destination of countless missions, including crewed flights that brought the first human footprints to another place in the universe. As Moon exploration efforts continue taking shape with ambitious plans, this global celebration will serve not only as a reminder of success in the past, but as an annual testimony to future endeavours. The International Moon Day is a good opportunity to educate the public, promote and raise awareness on the status and prospects for humanity. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #InternationalMoonDay, #lunarbeauty, #20july, #firstlandingonmoon, #Themoon, #spacescience, #moonphases, #sustainablemoonexploration.

EVENTS: On Sunday July 20th, the United Nations General Assembly with the United Nations Office of the Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) will host a virtual event to celebrate the International Moon Day 2025 and the 56 years since Apollo 11 moon landing at the United Nations Headquarters. Join us to mark the anniversary of the first landing by humans on the Moon as part of the Apollo 11 lunar mission. Register to participate!

On July 20th, 2025 In the UEA, the global celebration will take place at the University of Dubai. This flagship event entitled “One Moon, One Vision, One Future.” organized by the Moon Village Association in partnership with the University of Dubai, will bring together international space leaders, astronauts, students, and innovators to inspire dialogue and collaboration around lunar exploration. 

Join us for the global celebration of International Moon Day 2025, taking place at the University of Dubai on July 20th. This flagship event, organized by the Moon Village Association in partnership with the University of Dubai, will bring together international space leaders, astronauts, students, and innovators to inspire dialogue and collaboration around lunar exploration.

Agenda Programme

Master of Ceremonies: Ms. Sara Alessa
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM | Opening 

- Dr. Eesa Bastaki, President of the University of Dubai

- Dr. Giuseppe Reibaldi, President of the Moon Village Association
Greetings by

- Mr. Driss El Hadani, Deputy Director, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)
- Prof. Wu Weiren, Director General, Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL)
- Dr. Hiroshi Yamakawa, President, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
- Prof. Teodoro Valente, President, Italian Space Agency (ASI)
9:30 AM- 10:20 AM | Key Notes

- Dr. Nasr Alsahaf, Chairman, International Moon Day (IMD)
- HE Dr. Sultan Al Neyadi, UAE Minister of Youth, Astronaut, (TBC)
- Mr. John C. Mankins, CEO, Mankins Space Technologies Inc.
- Mr. Atsushi Saiki, Executive Fellow, ispace, inc.
10:20 AM – 10:50 AM | Emirates Lunar Mission
Session Speaker: Eng. Amna Khalifa Busoud; Rover Design and Mobility Lead, Emirates Lunar Mission
10:50 AM – 11:10 AM | Networking and Refreshments Break

Exhibition Area: Displays from space organizations (MBRSC, UAE Space Agency, private space startups)
Student project displays showcasing lunar concepts, models, and innovations (this has to be announced and worked out in advance and presented during the celebration)
11:10 M – 11:20 AM | “Lunar Governance – industry perspective” – Fireside chat with Mr. Mike Gold and Dr. Giuseppe Reibaldi

Discussion on Lunar Governance between Mr. Mike Gold, President, Civil and International Space at Redwire and Dr. Giuseppe Reibaldi, President, Moon Village Association.
11:20 AM – 12:00 PM | Expert Panel Session 1: “Moonshots: Innovation & Lunar Markets”

Panel of space experts, entrepreneurs and industry discussing innovation opportunities, space startups, and commercial programs opening new lunar markets

Moderator: 

Dr. Saeed Aldhaheri, Director, Center of Future Studies

Mr. Satoru Kurosu, Yokogawa Electric & MVA
Ms. Fatima Al Khateri, Director of Sharjah Astronomical Planetarium Department at SAASST
Mr. Serdar Baycan, Solar Space Technologies

12:00 PM – 12:30 PM | Student Recognition & Awards Ceremony
Celebrate winners of competitions, award certificates, trophies, and announce special recognitions.

Short speech by distinguished guests acknowledging students’ creativity and enthusiasm.
UAE Mission Moonlight 2050 Challenge: Students must design a moonbase for UAE settlement on the moon by 2050, using digital arts and generative AI tools. The challenge will be announced before the event and winners will be invited to come present their designs and will be recognized during the event.
Presentation and Recognizing the UAE team winner of the NASA International Space Apps Challenge

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch Break
1:30 PM – 2:15 PM | Panel Session 2: Lunar Governance: Challenges and Opportunities

This panel explores the challenges and opportunities for coordination and cooperation of lunar activities, including the Artemis and ILRS programmes. Considering the increasing number of stakeholders involved in lunar missions and the lack of definition of the existing space treaties, new way to define lunar governance are required at the level of the United Nations.

Moderator: 

- Mr. Driss El Hadani, Deputy Director, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)

- Prof. Scott Pace, Professor of Practice of International Affairs, George Washington University
- Ms. Ulpia-Elena Botezatu, Co-Chair, UN Action Team on Lunar Consultation Activities (ATLAC)
- Eng. Hoor Al Mazmi, Senior Researcher, Space Science, UAE Space Agency
- Prof. Ilias Fernini, College of Science, UAE University

2:15 PM – 2:30 PM | Closing Remarks by Dr. Eesa Bastaki and Dr. Giuseppe Reibaldi

Announcements
Final thoughts and invitation to participants for future involvement in space initiatives.
Networking and photo opportunities with guests, speakers, astronauts, and student participants.

LIVESTREAM: July 20th conference in University of Dubai.

The Main Event will be Live Streamed. The Live Stream starts at 9:00 AM Dubai Time.

Explore the agenda programme and Watch the livestream!

Worldwide Activities: 
July 20 to July 24, starting at 17:00 ending at 18:30 will be held the IMD-25 Moon Day and Moon Workshop at the Al-Qebliya School Cultural Center and Kuwait National Planetarium, Kuwait Al Ma'arri St, Kuwait City.

On July 21th, from 14:00 - 17:00 will be held the International Moon Day Space Exploration workshop in Nanjing ILEWG NUAA at the NUAA Nanjing Aerospace University, China Nanjing.

On July 21th, from 10:00 - 10:30 will be held a virtual event to mark the International Moon Day from ExoSpaceHab Express Moon Base from France - Online

On July 21th, from 10:30 - 13:00; you are invited to participate to the panel discussion entitled ‘‘Understanding Moon through Demonstrations’ at Regional Science Centre and Planetarium, Calicut, Kerala, India Jafferkhan Colony, Calicut.

 Explore the Map and full list of upcoming events.

World Chess Day 2024; July 20th.

FORUM:"100 years of promoting and governing the game of chess."World Chess Day 2024. This year the International Chess Federation (FIDE) celebrates its 100th anniversary. To commemorate the occasion, FIDE wants more chess games played on this day than any other 24-hour period and plans to record the number of games played with Guinness World Records, the global authority for record-breaking achievements.

EVENTS:Be part of the worldwide celebration on World Chess Day 2024 and play at least one game on a platform or in an over-the-board tournament registered for the effort. The time period for games to be played is between 00:00 on July 20 and 00:00 CEST on July 21 (6 p.m. on July 19 and 6 p.m. July 20 ET, or 3:30 a.m. July 20 and 3:30 a.m. July 21 IST). Games can be played online or over-the-board.

International Chess Day 2023; July 20th.

 FORUM: ‘‘FIDE's 99th anniversary.” International Chess Day 2023. Throughout its history, FIDE has been instrumental in shaping the world of chess, and we never stop aiming for new heights, serving the game and chess community. Today we celebrate the power of chess to promote fairness, inclusion and mutual respect. Chess has found its place in the ever-changing world of modern technology. You could teach a kid how to play, as it would be easier and more rewarding for you both! But it can also be a grown-up since learning chess has beneficial effects at any age. To align with the Year of the Woman in Chess, we particularly encourage you to teach a girl how to play chess. Please share this call to action with your regional federations and chess clubs, and encourage them to share their experience on social media using the hashtags: #WorldChessDay, #Chess, #20july, so their actions can inspire others.

EVENTS: To mark the International Chess Day 2023 and the FIDE's 99th anniversary, FIDE organizes online and hybrid events and implements new technological solutions. In 2023 chess became part of the Olympic Esports Series. Next year, FIDE will celebrate its 100-year birthday. The International Chess Federation has come a long way since its first steps a century ago. For July 20th, we’ve planned a few special activities to make the day a little bit more special—and you can join in on the fun! Read on to find out what we’ve got planned. The Chess Olympiad is one of FIDE's flagship events. The Olympiad is a team competition where countries are represented by their four best players. The Olympiad reached record participation, with 186 nations represented in the open competition, plus 160 more in the Women's Olympiad. International Chess Day Activities for 2023 are the 24-Hour Marathon Arena; The Community Streamer Program; The 2023 Bullet Chess Championship (BCC) , The Chessable Festable Festival. Explore all events on the ChessTV activities Schedule.

Statements: Message from Mr. Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President on International Chess Day 2023.

The FIDE Chess in Education Commission is delighted to share the exciting news about the upcoming 9th Preparation of Teachers course.


We invite you to join us for this exceptional learning experience. Ideal for teachers, chess educators, and beginner and advanced players who have a basic knowledge of chess and experience working with children, the course will be run online in English from August 18-20, 2023. The participants will have an opportunity to take an exam to qualify for the esteemed FIDE title of School Instructor. Moreover, FIDE Chess in Education Commission offer participants who successfully complete the course a special benefit - exclusive lifetime access to the Opening Master Premium Chess Database, which currently contains more than 9.6 million official over-the-board chess games and is being updated on a monthly basis. For a comprehensive overview of the course, To secure your spot, kindly complete and submit the registration form provided here.

Please note that the deadline for applications is August 14. Given the limited number of places available (20 in total), we encourage you to register at your earliest convenience, as applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

International Chess Day 2022; July 20th.

FORUM: ''Develop useful skills for children in their future'' International Chess Day 2022.

FIDE delegates, Dvorkovich cited the following points as his main priorities for his second term:

1) To keep improving its top events, those that are part of the World Championship cycle, like the driving force of FIDE. "Not only do they generate a large interest for the game - they are a source of income required to invest in different parts of the world where chess is being developed. That should help us to make FIDE a sustainable institution, financially stable, and independent of politics", he said.

2) To expand FIDE's online projects, seeking new partnerships and reinforcing the existing ones, "leveraging both on the strong positive image chess has earned throughout the centuries - and the ability of chess to thrive with new technologies."

3) To maintain and strengthen the support to member federations. After fulfilling the goal of waiving or reducing most of the fees, Dvorkovich expressed his intention "to send our best people to help, to train, to share best practices. We will provide chess materials and help to raise a new generation of arbiters, organizers, and coaches, as well as school instructors".

4) To keep investing in promoting women's chess. "For years, the level of female engagement stood at 10-15 percent. We already see it rising above 20% - but that is not only about the numbers. We will continue creating a friendly environment, we will provide incentives, we will engage coaches and build programs", said the President. "These initiatives must be shaped like a long-term project, rather than punctual activities."

5) To continue expanding FIDE's social programs. "We will keep promoting the idea that chess is a culture and a tool to improve our societies - more than just a game or a sport. Chess is an excellent tool to develop useful skills for children in their future, like complex problem-solving, as well as socio-emotional intelligence"

EVENTS; 44th Chess Olympiad.

Announcing Special Events To Celebrate International Chess Day 2022.

It’s that time again! July 20 marks International Chess Day, recognizing the anniversary of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) being founded on this day in 1924. To celebrate, we’ve planned a few special activities to make the day a little bit more special—and you can join in on the fun! Read on to find out what we’ve got planned.

2022 International Chess Day Activities:

24-Hour Marathon Arena

Community Streamer Program
Chess.com Global Championship Community Spotlight
Discord Trivia Event
ChessTV Schedule

24-Hour Marathon Arena

Every single second of International Chess Day will be covered with this 24-hour marathon arena, starting 12 a.m. Pacific Time. If you haven't played an arena before, now's a great time to try it out for the first time. And if you're already a veteran chess gladiator, this is your chance for glory! First place will receive a one-year Diamond membership, while second to tenth place will receive a one-month Diamond membership.

Community Streamer Program
Watching other people stream chess can be lots of fun, but why don't you give it a try yourself? Our brand-new Community Streamer feature is now live and makes it easier than ever to broadcast your stream to a chess-loving audience right here on Chess.com. Try co-streaming the ChessKid Monthly Championship (starting 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time on ChessTV) on your own Twitch channel, and you might find a friendly neighborhood Chess.com staff member dropping in to say hi...
Chess.com Global Championship Community Spotlight

Ever wanted superstar chess commentator GM Daniel Naroditsky to review your brilliant moves? Now's your chance! Make sure you post your best game from the Chess.com Global Championship in this forum thread to have a chance at getting some exclusive grandmaster-level insights into your chess game.

Discord Trivia Event

Update: unfortunately the trivia session is cancelled due to illness. We still recommend joining the Chess.com Discord server to connect with likeminded chess fans from around the world!

Of course, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy International Chess Day online. Some of our favorite chess streamers will be online to help you celebrate, including GM Arturs Neikšāns covering the Biel International Chess Festival. Here’s a summary of who's scheduled to be on ChessTV tomorrow:

• Anna Cramling: 03:00 - 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time | 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. CET
• GMNeiksans: 5:00 a.m. - 6:00 a.m. Pacific Time | 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. CET
• GothamChess: 6:00 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. Pacific Time | 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. CET
• GMHikaru: 7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time | 4:30 p.m. -10:00 p.m. CET
• BotezLive: 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time - 10:00 p.m. - 01:00 a.m. CET

* Note that times and schedules may change.