Chess calendar 2026

by ChessBase
1/2/2026 – The year 2026 will once again be a major year for chess, with a wide range of top-class tournaments. Here is a list of the dates of the major tournaments, as far as they have already been confirmed. The list will be continuously updated as new dates are announced.
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Chess tournament calendar 2026

Preview of the major tournaments in 2026, insofar as the dates have already been announced.

January

28 December to 4 January 2026
99th Hastings International Chess Congress
Hastings, England

7 to 11 January
Tata Steel India
Kolkata, India

8 to 12 January
European Women's Rapid and Blitz Championship
Monte Carlo, Monaco

16 January to 1 February
Tata Steel Tournament
Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands

February

24 February to 2 March
Saint Louis Masters
Saint Louis, USA

24 February to 6 March
Prague Chess Festival
Prague, Czech Republic

March

25 to 31 March
Reykjavík Open
Reykjavík, Iceland

28 March to 16 April
Candidates Tournament
Paphos, Cyprus

28 March to 16 April
Women's Candidates Tournament
Paphos, Cyprus

April

7 to 19 April
European Championship
Katowice, Poland

14 to 21 April
World Cadet and Youth Rapid Championship
Banja, Serbia

26 April to 5 May
European School Chess Championship
Poreč, Croatia

May

3 to 10 May
Superbet Rapid and Blitz Poland
Warsaw, Poland

12 to 24 May
Superbet Classic Romania
Bucharest, Romania

24 May to 6 June
European Women's Championship
Batumi, Georgia

June

Fischer Random European Championship
Thessaloniki, Greece

14 to 27 June
World Youth Championship U14, U16, U18
Montesilvano, Italy

15 to 28 June
Youth World Cup U8, U10, U12
Batumi, Georgia

19 June to 6 July
SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz Croatia
Zagreb, Croatia

July

6 to 10 July
European Rapid and Blitz Championship
Rzeszów, Poland

11 to 24 July
Biel Chess Festival
Biel, Switzerland

16 to 26 July
European Youth Team Championship
Pardubice, Czech Republic

29 July to 6 August
Saint Louis Rapid and Blitz
Saint Louis, USA

August

7 to 28 August
Sinquefield Cup
Saint Louis, USA

and

Grand Chess Tour Final
Saint Louis, USA

September

World Junior Championship U20
Lima, Peru

2 to 13 September
Grand Chess Tour Season 4
Venue to be announced

15 to 28 September
46th Chess Olympiad
Samarkand, Uzbekistan

October

16 to 24 October
European Club Cup
Budva, Montenegro

20 October to 5 November
World Youth Championship U7 to U17
Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil

November

2 to 13 November
European Youth Championship
Rhodes, Greece

2 to 15 November
World Senior Championship
Banja, Serbia

10 to 17 November
World Cadet Championship U8, U10, U12
Batumi, Georgia

December

European Rapid and Blitz Championship
Lisbon, Portugal

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