International Youth Chess Festival Rudaga – Kaissa 2026 Summer will take place from July 13 to 19, 2026, in Jūrmala, Latvia. This FIDE-endorsed international children’s and youth chess festival brings young players to the Baltic seaside city for classical chess, rapid chess, blitz chess, and educational activities.

The festival will be held at Lielupe by Semarah Hotels, in the Conference Centre “Jurmala Hall.” The venue is located in Bulduri, one of the best-known areas of Jūrmala, close to the beach, hotels, cafés, and local transport.

The event is designed for children and youth players from different federations. In addition, the program includes a simultaneous game session, a master class, and Chess Yoga, making the festival more than a standard chess tournament.

🗓️ Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The festival includes classical chess, rapid chess, and blitz chess events. The classical chess events form the main part of the festival, while rapid and blitz give players additional rated-game opportunities during the week.

The events will be conducted under the FIDE Laws of Chess. Therefore, players should know the main tournament rules before arrival and follow the arbiters’ instructions throughout the festival.

The festival format gives young players a broad chess experience. Classical games help players develop deeper calculation and tournament discipline, while rapid and blitz events add a faster competitive element.

📂 Sections / Groups

The festival offers several playing groups for different levels and age categories.

The structure gives players several ways to participate. Experienced youth players can choose the Open or sports-class groups, while beginners and preschool players have separate options.

In addition, the rapid and blitz events allow players to add faster time controls to their festival schedule. This makes the event suitable for both developing players and more experienced juniors.

📅 Schedule

The main festival runs from July 13 to 19, 2026. Players entering the A Open or B II Sports Class should plan for the full festival period.

Shorter sections take place on July 18–19, which gives younger or less experienced players a compact weekend format.

📝 Registration

Players should register through the official Google registration form.

Players should enter their personal details carefully, because the information may be used for diplomas and awards.

A FIDE ID is requested in the registration form. Players should check their FIDE profile before registration and contact the organizer if they need guidance.

Payment Details

Players should follow the organizer’s payment instructions and include the required reference so the payment can be matched with the correct player and tournament.

👥 Organizer

Rudaga – Kaissa Organizing Committee organizes the Rudaga – Kaissa 2026 Summer festival in Jūrmala. The event continues the Rudaga – Kaissa youth chess project and brings together young players, coaches, families, and delegations.

The festival combines tournament chess with educational and developmental activities. As a result, players can gain competitive experience, meet children from other countries, and enjoy a structured international chess environment.

📍 Venue

Lielupe by Semarah Hotels, Conference Centre “Jurmala Hall” – Bulduru prospekts 64/68, Jūrmala, Latvia.

The festival takes place at Lielupe by Semarah Hotels, one of the main hotel venues in Jūrmala. The playing area is located in the hotel’s Conference Centre “Jurmala Hall.”

Players should use the full venue address when planning their route to the playing hall.

🏨 Accommodation

The official hotel for the festival is Lielupe by Semarah Hotels.

Players and families can request accommodation through the organizer’s registration process. Staying at or near the official hotel gives participants practical access to the playing venue and reduces daily travel time during the festival.

Jūrmala also offers hotels, apartments, guesthouses, and family-friendly accommodation in Bulduri and nearby areas.

🚆 How to Get There

Jūrmala is located west of Riga and is one of Latvia’s main seaside resort cities.

International players can usually arrive through Riga International Airport. From Riga, families can continue to Jūrmala by train, taxi, car, or private transfer.

Players arriving by car should use the full venue address:

Lielupe by Semarah Hotels, Conference Centre “Jurmala Hall” – Bulduru prospekts 64/68, Jūrmala, Latvia.

ℹ️ Other Information

The festival welcomes young chess players, coaches, families, and delegations from different federations.

In addition, the event supports fair play, sporting development, and international friendship through chess. Players can combine tournament games with educational activities and a summer stay in Jūrmala.

Join Rudaga – Kaissa 2026 Summer in Jūrmala and take part in an international youth chess festival by the Baltic Sea.