BRAINS &
HOOPS
Where basketball meets chess. Compete, connect and enjoy an action-packed weekend of basketball, strategy, family matches, creative activities and a vibrant pop-up market at Sheikha Fatima Park.
2026 • SPORTS & STRATEGYBring your skills. Bring your people.
Friday brings the pop-up market and movie night. International Chess Club and Sheikha Fatima Park present the 1st Sheikha Fatima Park Rapid Chess Tournament on Saturday, while basketball runs on Saturday and Sunday.
Chess Tournament
Saturday 28 November at 4:00 PM · 7-round Swiss rapid · 10+2 · FREE · Max 100 players.
Register for chess →Three days. A different experience each day.
Event at Sheikha Fatima Park, Abu Dhabi. Tournament registrations are separate from free visitor QR passes.
Pop-Up Market & Movie Night
Market opens at 3:00 PM. Movie screening time will be announced.
Chess & Basketball
Rapid Chess Tournament begins at 4:00 PM (about 3.5 hours). Basketball: 4:00–8:00 PM.
Basketball Competition
Basketball: 4:00–8:00 PM. Chess takes place on Saturday only.
Be part of Brains & Hoops.
Apply as a sponsor, retail vendor or food vendor. The same application and review process from the Brains & Hoops site is available here, with a separate event database.
Sponsorship
Connect your brand with families, athletes and chess enthusiasts. Sponsor applications are reviewed by the organizer.
Sponsor ApplicationRetail Vendors
Showcase fashion, crafts, gifts and lifestyle products in the pop-up market.
Retail ApplicationVendor and sponsorship fees currently follow the supplied Brains & Hoops template and must be confirmed for Brains & Hoops before publication. No payment is collected on this website.
Find us at Sheikha Fatima Park.
Brains & Hoops 2026 takes place at Sheikha Fatima Park, Al Khalidiyah (W12), Abu Dhabi.
