XV Festival Internacional de Ajedrez Ciudad de Lorca 2026
The XV Festival Internacional de Ajedrez Ciudad de Lorca 2026 takes place from December 26 to 30, 2026 in Lorca, Murcia, Spain. Club Ajedrez Lorca organizes the traditional year-end international tournament, which returns for its 15th edition.
Current 2026 tournament information describes a nine-round Swiss competition with a classical time control of 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move. The official festival website currently advertises more than €5,000 in prizes, while a current partner tournament listing publishes a €7,500 prize fund.
Detailed 2026 regulations, including the final venue, section structure, entry fees and round-by-round schedule, have not yet been published in full. Therefore, players should check the official tournament website for the latest information before making final travel arrangements.
♟️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏷️ Event | XV Festival Internacional de Ajedrez Ciudad de Lorca 2026 |
| 📅 Dates | December 26–30, 2026 |
| 🌍 Country | Spain |
| 📍 City | Lorca, Murcia |
| 👥 Organizer | Club Ajedrez Lorca |
| ♟️ Format | 9-round Swiss |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move |
| ⭐ Rating | International classical tournament |
| 🏆 Prize Fund | Official website: more than €5,000 (approx. $5,720+); current partner listing: €7,500 (approx. $8,570) |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The XV Festival Internacional de Ajedrez Ciudad de Lorca 2026 is currently announced as a nine-round Swiss-system tournament.
The published time control is 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move.
Detailed 2026 tournament regulations have not yet been made publicly available in full. Therefore, additional rules such as default time, tiebreak order and bye conditions should be checked again after the organizer publishes the final regulations.
🏆 Prize Fund
The official XV Festival website currently advertises more than €5,000 in prizes, which is approximately $5,720+.
A current 2026 partner listing for the Lorca festival publishes a prize fund of €7,500 (approx. $8,570).
Because the organizer has not yet published the complete 2026 prize table publicly, the individual prize distribution should not be assumed until the final tournament regulations are released.
🗓️ Schedule
The tournament is scheduled from:
Saturday, December 26 to Wednesday, December 30, 2026
The event is announced as a nine-round Swiss tournament.
Exact round starting times and check-in arrangements have not yet been published in the currently accessible 2026 tournament information.
📝 Registration
Players should register through the official tournament website once the complete 2026 registration procedure is available.
Official tournament website:
https://clubajedrezlorca.com/torneo/
Tournament email:
torneoajedrezlorca@gmail.com
Entry fees, payment details and the final registration deadline for the 2026 edition have not yet been publicly confirmed.
👤 Organizer
Organizer Name: Club Ajedrez Lorca
Email: torneoajedrezlorca@gmail.com
Phone: +34 968 470 526
Club Ajedrez Lorca organizes the festival with support from local and regional chess and sports institutions. The club has staged the Ciudad de Lorca international festival as one of its major annual events for many years.
🏨 Accommodation
Several accommodation options are available in Lorca. Since the final 2026 playing venue has not yet been publicly confirmed, players should check its location before making a non-refundable booking.
| Accommodation | Approximate Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Spa Jardines de Lorca | from €72 (approx. $90) per night | Alameda Rafael Méndez, s/n. Four-star hotel close to the historic centre with spa, restaurant, Wi-Fi and free parking. |
| Parador de Lorca | from approx. €75 (approx. $90) per room/night | Located within Lorca Castle, with spa, indoor pool and views over the city. |
| Hotel Félix | approx. €51 (approx. $60) per night | Av. de las Fuerzas Armadas 14. Central hotel with restaurant, Wi-Fi and parking options. |
Rates are indicative and can change considerably during the Christmas holiday period.
🚆 How to Get There
By air: Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport and Región de Murcia International Airport are the main airports for international travellers.
From Alicante Airport: Bus connections to Lorca are available via Murcia. Current services can take approximately two to three hours depending on the connection.
From Región de Murcia International Airport: Bus services connect the airport with Murcia city. From Murcia, players can continue to Lorca by intercity bus.
By rail: The Murcia–Lorca C2 railway corridor is currently affected by major infrastructure works. Renfe states that C2 services are being operated by road while improvement works continue. Therefore, players should check the current transport arrangement shortly before travelling.
By bus: Lorca has regular intercity bus connections with Murcia, Alicante and other cities in southeastern Spain.
By car: Lorca is conveniently located near the A-7 Mediterranean motorway.
ℹ️ Other Information
The official 2026 festival website already confirms the 15th edition and advertises more than €5,000 in prizes.
A current partner listing additionally publishes December 26–30 as the competition dates, nine Swiss rounds, a 90+30 time control and a €7,500 prize fund.
The final 2026 playing venue, tournament groups, individual prizes, entry fees and detailed playing schedule have not yet been published in the accessible organizer information. Players should therefore check the official festival website again before completing travel and registration arrangements.
The previous edition, held in December 2025, attracted more than 150 players from approximately 15 countries and featured two FIDE-rated groups. However, those 2025 section limits and regulations should not be assumed for the 2026 edition.
Organizer
♟️ About Club Ajedrez Lorca
Club Ajedrez Lorca is an established chess organization based in Lorca, Region of Murcia, Spain. The club has been part of the city’s organized sporting community for decades and is officially registered as a local sports association. Its activities combine competitive chess, tournament organization, junior development, coaching, school chess, and community events.
The club is based at Casa del Deporte de Lorca, on Alameda de la Constitución. Regular activities include training for players of different ages and levels, club competitions, preparation for regional and national championships, and participation in team events organized through the Federación de Ajedrez de la Región de Murcia.
José Luis Romero Martínez serves as President of Club Ajedrez Lorca. The current leadership team also includes Juan José Motos López as Vice-President, together with a board responsible for the club’s sporting, administrative, and educational activities.
🏆 Tournaments & Competitive Chess
Club Ajedrez Lorca maintains an active tournament program throughout the year. Its competitions range from local rapid events and school tournaments to major FIDE-rated international festivals.
The club’s flagship competition is the Festival Internacional de Ajedrez Ciudad de Lorca, traditionally held during the Christmas period. The event has developed into an established international tournament attracting players from Spain and abroad, including Grandmasters, International Masters, and other titled competitors.
The festival reached its 15th edition in 2026. Recent editions have featured several rating-based sections, FIDE-rated classical chess, substantial prize funds, and international participation. Juan José Motos López has played a central organizational role as Tournament Director.
Club Ajedrez Lorca also organizes the traditional Torneo de Ajedrez Rápido de los Juegos Deportivos del Guadalentín, which reached its 47th edition in 2026. In addition, the club is involved in open tournaments, memorial competitions, school events, and chess activities in Lorca and neighboring municipalities.
🌱 Chess School & Junior Development
Junior chess is one of the club’s principal areas of activity. Escuela Municipal de Ajedrez de Lorca, managed by the club, provides regular instruction throughout the academic year at Casa del Deporte.
The training program includes players with different levels of experience, from children learning chess for the first time to juniors preparing for official competition. The technical program has included Grandmaster Alfredo Giaccio, together with club coaches José Luis Romero, Ginés Pérez, and Francisco José Llamas.
Club Ajedrez Lorca also works with local schools to introduce chess to children outside the club environment. Young members regularly represent Lorca at regional and Spanish age-group championships, while local tournaments provide additional competitive opportunities throughout the year.
This combination of structured coaching, school outreach, and tournament participation creates a pathway from introductory chess to regional and national competition.
🏅 History & Community Activity
Club Ajedrez Lorca has been officially registered as a sporting association in Lorca since 1987. Over the following decades, it has developed into an important part of the chess community in the Region of Murcia.
The club works regularly with the Concejalía de Deportes del Ayuntamiento de Lorca and the Federación de Ajedrez de la Región de Murcia. Its president, José Luis Romero, also serves within the regional federation’s organizational structure.
The International Chess Festival has become one of the club’s most visible achievements. Recent editions have brought players from numerous national federations to Lorca and have helped connect the city with international competitive chess.
At the same time, the club maintains a strong local focus through municipal chess instruction, school activities, the Juegos Deportivos del Guadalentín, rapid tournaments, and regular club competition.
