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Chess, cocktails, live music and soft serve. Sundays in Canberra are about to get a major upgrade! A new interactive art experience called Clubb Chess is taking over the city for three Sundays in November (as part of the 2026 Craft + Design Festival), and you don’t need to know your rook from your bishop to get involved.
Hosted by the legends at Such and Such – one of our favourite Canberra restaurant and wine bars – Clubb Chess puts a twist on the usual gallery rules. Step inside this interactive exhibition to discover custom chess sets, card games and board games reimagined by eight contemporary artists, including Jaquie Meng, Mark Brook, Shaun Hayes, Harry Townsend, Hands on Studio, Olivia Kidson, April Phillips and Nathan Nhan.
The overarching idea is art you can actually touch, play with and, if all goes to plan, use to absolutely destroy your friends. Pre-booking a session online is recommended, but you can also join the waitlist on the day.
Outside, Legislative Plaza is joining the party with more games, music and room to hang around. You can scan one of the QR codes and play your mates or other randoms on chess.com. Or if you don’t want to spend an entire Sunday thinking about chess, simply soak up the vibes and live tunes. Trust FM will handle the daytime sessions, while live bands will keep the party going until 8.30pm, including Tee Vee Repairman and The King Hits on launch night.
As for food and drinks, Indigenous-owned specialty shop Tukka by the Bush will be slinging johnny cakes and warm damper paired with native Australian condiments, while Tom Hellwig (Pilot) will handle dessert with custom soft serve. The drinks list is equally banging, featuring non-alcoholic bevvies from Such and Such, cocktails by Tom Opie, plus wines and beers from local producers.
Clubb Chess takes over Such and Such across three Sundays: November 15, 22, and 29. First-release tickets are $15, or free for kids 14 and under. Once you grab your ticket, you’ll receive an email link to secure your preferred 30-minute chess session. If you’re feeling competitive, you can even enter a ballot to play a chess simul against Matt Cooper, lead guitarist of Canberra band Hands Like Houses and a keen chess player, on November 22 and 29.
So, come for the art, stay for the music and soft serve, and try not to fall out with your friends over a board game.