The 15° Festival Città di Palmanova 2026 takes place from December 27, 2026 to January 3, 2027 in the historic fortress city of Palmanova, Italy. A.S.D. Palmascacchi organizes the international FIDE-rated festival, which features four Standard chess tournaments for different rating levels.
The Master and Challengers tournaments run throughout the festival and consist of nine Swiss rounds. Meanwhile, the Experts and Amateur weekend tournaments use a shorter five-round format and conclude on December 29.
Palmanova is a UNESCO World Heritage fortress city in Friuli Venezia Giulia. The playing venue, the Ex Caserma Napoleonica Montesanto, is located close to the historic center.
♟️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | December 27, 2026 – January 3, 2027 |
| 🌍 Country | Italy |
| 📍 City | Palmanova, Udine |
| 🏛️ Venue | Ex Caserma Napoleonica Montesanto – Via Marcello 5, 33057 Palmanova (UD), Italy |
| 👥 Organizer | A.S.D. Palmascacchi |
| ♟️ Format | FIDE Swiss |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE Standard rated |
| 🧩 Tournaments | Master, Challengers, Experts, Amateur |
| 🔢 Rounds | 9 rounds in Master/Challengers; 5 rounds in Experts/Amateur |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
All four tournaments use the Swiss pairing system and are submitted for FIDE Standard rating.
| Tournament | Time Control | Rounds |
|---|---|---|
| Master | 90 minutes for 40 moves, then 30 minutes for the rest of the game, plus 30 seconds per move | 9 |
| Challengers | 90 minutes for 40 moves, then 30 minutes for the rest of the game, plus 30 seconds per move | 9 |
| Experts | 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move | 5 |
| Amateur | 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move | 5 |
The published default time is 60 minutes. A player who arrives after the permitted default period may therefore lose the game under the tournament regulations.
🧩 Sections / Groups
The festival consists of four separate FIDE-rated tournaments.
| Tournament | Rating Requirement | Dates | Rounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master – Tournament A | Elo 2000+ | December 27 – January 3 | 9 |
| Challengers – Tournament B | Elo below 2100 | December 27 – January 3 | 9 |
| Experts – Tournament C | Elo 1600+ | December 27–29 | 5 |
| Amateur – Tournament D | Elo below 1800 | December 27–29 | 5 |
The rating ranges intentionally overlap. Therefore, players who qualify for more than one tournament should confirm the appropriate group through the organizer’s registration process.
🗓️ Schedule
The Master and Challengers tournaments run from December 27, 2026 to January 3, 2027 and consist of nine rounds. The current Italian Chess Federation listing indicates one double-round day.
The Experts and Amateur tournaments run from December 27 to 29, 2026 and consist of five rounds. Their schedule includes two double-round days.
Players should check the current organizer regulations or Vesus listing for exact check-in and round starting times before travelling.
📝 Registration
Pre-registration is available through Vesus or directly through A.S.D. Palmascacchi.
Vesus:
https://vesus.org/tournament/6l88feLH?selectedTab=tournament.details
Email:
palmascacchi@gmail.com
Organizer website:
https://www.palmascacchi.it/
Players should check the current tournament regulations for entry fees, payment deadlines and confirmation procedures.
👤 Organizer
Organizer Name: A.S.D. Palmascacchi
Contact Person: Giulia Guida
Email: palmascacchi@gmail.com
Phone: +39 347 296 3103
Website: https://www.palmascacchi.it/
📍 Venue
Ex Caserma Napoleonica Montesanto – Via Marcello 5, 33057 Palmanova (UD), Italy
The former Napoleonic barracks regularly hosts chess competitions organized by A.S.D. Palmascacchi.
Palmanova itself is a distinctive nine-pointed star-shaped fortress city. It has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2017 as an important example of Venetian defensive architecture.
🚆 How to Get There
By train: Palmanova has its own railway station on the Udine–Cervignano del Friuli line. Regional trains connect the town with Udine, Cervignano, Trieste and other destinations in Friuli Venezia Giulia.
By air: Trieste Airport at Ronchi dei Legionari is approximately 35 km from Palmanova. The regional rail network currently provides connections between the airport railway station and Palmanova. However, players should recheck the timetable for the tournament dates because the current published railway timetable ends before late December.
By car: Palmanova has convenient access from the A4 motorway toward Venice and Trieste and the A23 motorway toward Udine and Tarvisio. The SS352 also serves the town.
The historic center of Palmanova is compact, so many central services and attractions can be reached on foot.
ℹ️ Other Information
The current Italian Chess Federation listing permits half-point byes under the tournament regulations.
The federation listing also provides two wild cards in Tournament A and Tournament C. Players who wish to use a wild card should contact the organizer in advance for the applicable procedure.
A.S.D. Palmascacchi organizes the festival in Palmanova, a UNESCO-listed fortress town known for its geometric nine-pointed star plan.
Players should consult the latest organizer information before the event for final entry fees, prize information, detailed round times and any additional side events.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - 8440
Organizer
♟️ About A.S.D. Palmascacchi
A.S.D. Palmascacchi is an active chess association based in Palmanova, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy. The club organizes rated tournaments, youth competitions, chess courses, school projects, and community events in Palmanova and the wider Udine area. Its activities range from introductory chess for children to international FIDE-rated tournaments attracting titled players from many countries.
The association is led by Giulia Guida, who is publicly listed as President and the principal club contact. Davide Ciani, a FIDE Instructor and long-time figure in regional chess, has also played a major role in the club’s educational and organizational work. Palmascacchi maintains its regular club base at Via Marcello 10 in Palmanova, while larger events often use nearby venues such as the Ex Caserma Napoleonica Montesanto.
Youth development is a particularly important part of the club’s identity. Palmascacchi has worked with local schools for more than a decade, providing chess courses during school hours and creating pathways into organized competition. Its program combines instruction, youth tournaments, provincial and regional championships, and participation in major Italian junior competitions.
🏆 Tournaments & Chess Activities
The club’s flagship event is the Festival Città di Palmanova, an international chess festival traditionally held across the New Year period. The event has grown into a multi-section competition featuring strong Master groups alongside rating-restricted tournaments for club players.
The 15th Festival Città di Palmanova is scheduled from December 27, 2026 to January 3, 2027. A.S.D. Palmascacchi is the organizer, with the main Master tournament played over nine rounds and submitted for FIDE rating. Additional sections give lower-rated players opportunities to compete within the same festival structure.
Palmascacchi also organizes the Open di Pasqua di Palmanova, regional and provincial championships, rapid and blitz competitions, Grand Prix events, and Chess Immersion tournaments. The club regularly hosts FIDE-rated weekend events as well as competitions for younger players.
🌱 Youth Chess & Development
Palmascacchi has built a substantial junior program through both club-based instruction and cooperation with schools. Its educational projects introduce children to chess fundamentals, tactics, strategy, notation, and competitive play while providing structured progression for more experienced juniors.
The club’s young players regularly participate in regional and national youth competitions. Palmascacchi also organizes qualifying events and team competitions, helping young players gain tournament experience and progress toward higher levels of competitive chess.
These activities complement the club’s broader school program and provide a clear pathway from introductory chess to formally rated competition.
🏅 History & Achievements
A.S.D. Palmascacchi has developed into one of the most active tournament-organizing clubs in Friuli Venezia Giulia. In 2017, the Italian Chess Federation recognized Palmascacchi as its Society of the Year for Northern Italy, with Giulia Guida listed as President.
The growth of the Festival Città di Palmanova has been one of the club’s most visible achievements. Recent editions have included players from many countries, titled competitors, electronic boards with live coverage, and opportunities for title norms.
Alongside major international events, the club continues to invest in grassroots chess. Its combination of school programs, junior development, regional championships, regular tournaments, and international festivals has made Palmascacchi an important part of the chess community in northeastern Italy.
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