Following the successful gathering in Toronto last year, the team behind the open-source chess platform Lichess headed to Europe for the 2026 Lichess Meetup in Prague. Bringing together roughly a dozen team members from Italy, France, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and the Czech Republic, the event combined intense collaborative work sessions with camaraderie, made convenient by the host country's central railway connectivity.

Work Sessions and Structural Milestones

The gathering was structured into two primary components: focused internal working sessions and community engagement with the local chess scene. During the productive weekend, the team addressed several foundational topics. While Director of Operations Theo Wait appeared on the television screen during an interview with Grandmaster Wesley So, team members delved into regulatory frameworks. Operating currently as a French Association loi 1901, Lichess is pursuing the status of an "association d’intérêt général", which would enable tax-deductible donations in various countries. Substantial progress was made in revising internal bylaws in accordance with French regulations.

Interface Customization and User Experience

Another major highlight was the website's homepage customization. The development coordinator conducted one-on-one sessions with team members to evaluate interactive prototypes and navigation flow. The diverse composition of the group—spanning from beginners to titled chess players, and from bullet chess enthusiasts to standard 4545 classical regulars—provided a comprehensive spectrum of feedback. Working face-to-face allowed real-time observation of how users explore and interact with new menus, paving the way for upcoming frontend improvements.