The Sunway Sitges International Chess Festival 2026 takes place from December 12 to 22, 2026 at Hotel Sunway Playa Golf & Spa in Sitges, Barcelona, Spain. The established international festival combines a ten-round classical Open with a broad program of additional chess competitions and activities.

The main Open is divided into Group A and Group B. Both groups are FIDE, FEDA and Catalan-rated, while Group A is also valid for international title norms. The classical tournament uses a time control of 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment from move one.

The current detailed 2026 prize pages publish €30,050 (approx. $34,320) in prizes for the Open. The festival also stages rapid, blitz, junior blitz, Chess960, bullet and other chess activities around the main competition.

♟️ Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The main Open consists of 10 rounds under the Swiss system. Pairings are produced using Swiss-Manager.

Time Control: 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment per move from move one.

Default Time: 60 minutes.

A player who does not arrive within 60 minutes of the scheduled starting time loses the game.

Draws may not be agreed before both players have completed at least 30 moves unless the arbiter gives permission.

Requested byes are scored as zero points and must be requested from the arbiter or by email before the relevant pairings are made.

The published tiebreak order is:

1. Buchholz FIDE minus the lowest result
2. Total Buchholz FIDE
3. Sonneborn-Berger
4. Direct encounter
5. Drawing of lots

For Group A, additional match-play tiebreaks may be used when players within the top eight remain tied on points after the standard tiebreak criteria.

🏆 Prize Fund

The current detailed official 2026 prize pages publish a total Open prize fund of:

€30,050 (approx. $34,320)

Of this amount:

Group-A – General Classification

Group A also offers rating prizes in the 2300–2449, 2150–2299 and 2000–2149 FIDE rating bands.

Group-B – General Classification

Group B also offers rating prizes for 1800–1949, 1700–1799 and under 1700.

Additional women’s and veteran prizes are included in the published tournament prize structure.

Women’s prizes include:

• Group A: €1,500 / €1,000 / €500
• Group B: €500 / €300 / €100

Veteran prizes include:

• Group A: €300 / €200 / €100
• Group B: €200 / €150 / €100

Special youth trophies are also awarded in several age categories.

♟️ Sections / Groups

Group-A

Group A is open to players with a valid FIDE federation licence.

Games are rated for FIDE, FEDA and FCE rating purposes. In addition, Group A is valid for obtaining international title norms.

Group-B

Group B is open to players who:

• Have a current FIDE rating below 2000; and
• Have not exceeded a FIDE rating of 2100 during the previous three years.

Participation in Group B is optional. Eligible players may choose to enter Group A instead.

🗓️ Schedule

The main festival runs from December 12 to 22, 2026, and the classical Open consists of 10 rounds.

The official 2026 schedule page has not yet published the individual round dates and starting times.

Players should therefore check the official schedule shortly before finalizing travel arrangements:

https://www.sunwaychessfestival.com/en/sitges/schedule

📝 Registration

The published Open entry fees for players who do not stay at the official hotel are:

Free Entry: GMs, WGMs and players with a FIDE rating above 2450.

Players who stay for at least 10 nights at the official Hotel Sunway Playa Golf & Spa and book directly through the hotel or festival receive free Open registration.

Players staying for at least 10 nights in qualifying Sunway apartments receive a 50% registration discount under the published festival conditions.

The official online registration form currently indicates that registration will be available soon.

Players may also register through:

Email: info@sunwaychessfestival.com

Phone: +34 93 811 34 10

Registration becomes valid once payment has been completed and the festival organization has confirmed the entry.

👤 Organizer

Organizer Name: Sunway Sitges International Chess Festival / Hotel Sunway Playa Golf & Spa

Email: info@sunwaychessfestival.com

Phone: +34 93 811 34 10 / +34 664 434 218

📍 Venue

Hotel Sunway Playa Golf & Spa – Passeig Marítim 92–94, 08870 Sitges, Barcelona, Spain

The four-star seafront hotel serves as both the tournament venue and official festival accommodation.

It is located in the residential Terramar area of Sitges beside the golf club. The property includes multiple playing and convention rooms, restaurants, swimming pools, a spa, gym, parking and other hotel facilities.

Players booking the official hotel directly for at least 10 nights receive free registration for the main Open under the festival conditions.

🚆 How to Get There

From Barcelona-El Prat Airport: Players arriving at Terminal 2 can travel by Renfe train and change at El Prat de Llobregat for a service to Sitges.

A bus connection from Barcelona Airport Terminal 1 to Sitges is also available through Monbus.

From Sitges Railway Station: Local bus line L2 toward Terramar serves the area near the tournament hotel. The stop near ME Sitges Terramar is approximately 260 metres from Hotel Sunway Playa Golf & Spa.

Taxis are also available outside Sitges railway station.

By car: The hotel is located directly on Passeig Marítim in the Terramar area and provides parking facilities.

Players should check current Renfe, airport bus and local transport timetables shortly before travel.

ℹ️ Other Information

The festival operates under current FIDE, FEDA and Catalan Chess Federation regulations.

Electronic devices capable of providing chess assistance are prohibited within the playing area during games unless specifically authorized by an arbiter.

Players who fail to appear for a round without justification may be considered withdrawn. A player who misses two rounds, consecutive or otherwise, may be removed from the tournament under the published rules.

Cash prizes are subject to applicable Spanish tax withholding. Prize winners must present identification or a passport.

General-classification and rating-band prizes are not cumulative. Where a player qualifies for more than one applicable prize, the higher-value prize is awarded.

The festival also publishes rules and prizes for additional events including rapid, blitz, junior blitz, bullet, Chess960 and the Chess Pentathlon.

Official Website:
https://www.sunwaychessfestival.com/en/sitges/