The 3rd International Chess Festival of Carmignano 2026 takes place from Sunday, December 27, to Wednesday, December 30, 2026, in the Tuscan hill town of Carmignano, near Prato and Florence. The Circolo Pratese degli Scacchi organizes this FIDE-rated festival with local partners and support from the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Prato. The playing venue is Spazi Polivalenti Il Galli, at Viale Beato Giovanni Parenti 14 in central Carmignano.

The festival features four six-round sections with different eligibility rules. The Magistrale, Open A, and Open B groups play classical games from December 27–30, while the Under-18 Open C runs over December 29–30. Adult groups use 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move; the junior section uses 30 minutes plus the same increment. The organizer’s flyer advertises a €2,500 overall festival prize package, including cash prizes, trophies, and a separately scheduled blitz event.

Players can choose a category matching their published Elo rating and eligibility. In addition, the organizer lists a special hotel arrangement in Carmignano with breakfast included and several countryside accommodation alternatives. Rail travelers can reach Prato Centrale or Signa before continuing by bus or taxi, while motorists can approach through the A11 motorway network. The guide below brings together confirmed entry conditions, detailed prize awards, playing schedules, accommodation and practical directions for visiting Carmignano during the December holidays.

📌 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

All four sections consist of six tournament rounds. However, the adult and youth groups use different clocks and dates, so entrants should select the correct section before making their travel plans. The Magistrale, Open A, and Open B games start with 90 minutes per player, plus an additional 30 seconds after each move from move one. By contrast, Under-18 Open C uses 30 minutes plus 30 seconds per move and begins only on December 29.

♟️ Playing Rules and Rating Requirements

Players must comply with the FIDE Laws of Chess, the Italian Chess Federation’s tournament regulations, and the event’s anti-cheating provisions. The organizer specifically requires electronic devices to remain switched off and inside a separate bag rather than on the player’s person. In addition, a player who arrives after the published 60-minute default period risks forfeiting the game.

Entrants should also have the appropriate FSI membership for 2026 or 2027 and follow the FIDE identification requirements for internationally rated competition. The announcement notes that players who need Italian federation membership may arrange it through the event’s administrative process. Consequently, international players should contact the organizer before paying if their federation status needs clarification.

🏆 Prize Fund

The festival advertises a €2,500 prize package (approximately $2,820). Its official flyer itemizes €2,280 in monetary awards across the Magistrale, Open A and Open B sections. Separately, the accompanying blitz tournament offers food-hamper awards valued at €240. Under-18 Open C awards trophies instead of cash. These figures follow the published prize categories, and the advertised festival total is a rounded overall figure.

🥇 Magistrale — Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Prato

♟️ Open A — Memorial Francesco Gramigni

♟️ Open B — Memorial Claudio Gargini

🌱 Under-18 Open C — Memorial Eros Formica

The leading three players in Under-18 Open C receive a trophy each. The official flyer does not list separate monetary prizes for these junior placements. Therefore, young entrants should not assume the adult cash-award structure applies to their section.

The festival’s separate Blitz con l’amico Natale takes place on December 28, with its own €10 fee, 11 rounds at 3 minutes plus two seconds, and food-hamper prizes. It is not part of the six-round classical standings and should be entered separately.

♟️ Sections / Groups

The festival uses four distinct tournaments, each with its own entry conditions and prize structure. The rating ranges for the Magistrale, A and B groups overlap around some Elo values; consequently, qualifying players should select the appropriate section when entering through Vesus. The junior group is both age-limited and rating-limited.

Every section features six rounds. However, the Under-18 event completes those rounds over two days, while the principal adult groups spread their games across four calendar days. The event is an FSI-approved festival, and the organizer applies its current rating and membership rules when confirming entries.

These sections also commemorate several individuals and supporters. Open A honours Francesco Gramigni, Open B honours Claudio Gargini, and Under-18 Open C honours Eros Formica. Meanwhile, the principal Magistrale tournament carries the name of the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Prato.

📅 Schedule

The main groups play on December 27, 28, 29 and 30, 2026, with two rounds on Sunday and Tuesday. The junior group starts on Tuesday, December 29, and plays six rounds over Tuesday and Wednesday. All times are local Italian time (CET, UTC+1). Below, the separate schedules preserve the official invitation’s exact round start times.

📅 Magistrale, Open A and Open B

🌱 Under-18 Open C

The youth schedule gives two round starts as “following the preceding round” rather than fixed clock times, so players and guardians should follow the arbiter’s instructions. For the adult sections, the Thursday-to-Saturday travel pattern does not apply; the festival starts on Sunday and finishes Wednesday. Thus, accommodation and transport should match the actual December 27–30 dates.

📝 Registration

Pre-registration is available through the official Vesus festival entry page. Players select their tournament section and complete the required information. The organizer limits the festival to a maximum of 150 participants. Moreover, the official regulations require advance bank-transfer payment by December 13, 2026; transfers after that date incur a €10 surcharge.

💳 Payment and Membership

The official invitation instructs entrants to make the bank transfer to Circolo Pratese degli Scacchi through Intesa Sanpaolo before the deadline. It also asks players to specify their tournament section when making payment. Consult the official PDF for the organizer’s full bank details and payment reference, rather than using payment instructions from an earlier edition.

Players must possess a valid FSI competitive or junior membership for 2026 or 2027, as applicable. The organizer can assist with membership arrangements during event registration. In addition, international participants should ensure their FIDE identification and federation status meet the requirements for their section. Questions may be sent to the named tournament contact through the organizer’s verified email.

👥 Attendance Confirmation

The Magistrale, A and B groups require confirmation by 9:00 AM on Sunday, December 27, with Round 1 at 10:00 AM. Under-18 Open C closes confirmation at 8:30 AM on Tuesday, December 29, ahead of the 9:30 AM start. Because the festival takes place during the December holiday period, players should plan transport and arrival carefully, especially on opening morning.

🏛️ Organizer

Circolo Pratese degli Scacchi is a chess association based in Prato, Tuscany, affiliated with the Italian Chess Federation. It runs FSI- and FIDE-rated competitions, youth tournaments and other chess activities in the Province of Prato. The association is part of the recognized Italian amateur sports system and appears in the national sports register under chess affiliation number 17010.

The 2026 festival involves support from the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Prato, the regional chess committee, the municipality of Carmignano and local partners. The four-section structure creates opportunities for strong competitors and lower-rated players, while the junior tournament gives Under-18 entrants a separate programme.

Marco Caprino is the organizer contact named in the official festival flyer. The MyChess.Events organizer profile contains a fuller account of the club’s competitive and youth-chess activity. For registration conditions, use the Vesus entry page and the official event invitation.

📍 Venue

Spazi Polivalenti Il Galli, Viale Beato Giovanni Parenti 14, 59015 Carmignano (PO), Tuscany, Italy.

The event takes place in the Il Galli multipurpose community building on Viale Beato Giovanni Parenti 14, within Carmignano’s historic town area. The official three-page festival invitation identifies the venue as Spazi Polivalenti Il Galli. The same address appears in local venue listings and reporting by Pro Loco Carmignano.

Il Galli has a long history as a community gathering place. Local sources describe the building’s use as a café, theatre and cinema before its reopening in September 2023 following a substantial renovation. It now hosts a range of cultural and social activities, including community meals and exhibitions. Consequently, the tournament offers a venue rooted in local town life rather than an anonymous conference room.

Carmignano sits in the Montalbano hills west of Florence and south of Prato. Visitors should enter the complete address in navigation and distinguish it from similarly named venues in other towns. The venue is close to the church of Santi Michele e Francesco and the traditional centre of Carmignano. Parking arrangements are subject to municipal restrictions, so players arriving by car should allow time to find a legal space.

🏨 Accommodation

The official festival invitation recommends accommodation in central Carmignano and the nearby countryside. Hotel Villa San Michele is in the town square and advertises special festival room rates; Tenuta di Capezzana and Agriturismo Sottotono are rural alternatives requiring transport to Il Galli.

For an independent stay, the suggested travel dates are 2026-12-26 to 2026-12-31, one day before the first tournament day through the day after the final date. Actual prices, occupancy, meal plans, cancellation conditions and availability depend on the hotel and booking method. Organizer room blocks must be requested separately when published.

Official Hotel Villa San Michele festival rates (per room/night):

These terms come from the official chess invitation. Verify availability and the hotel’s eligibility conditions directly on its official reservation website. The ordinary Stay22 booking link does not guarantee any festival rate.

Travel advice: Hotel Villa San Michele is central, while the other two are outside the urban playing-hall district. For the December 27–30 event, check road conditions and early-round travel.

🚆 How to Get There

Spazi Polivalenti Il Galli, Viale Beato Giovanni Parenti 14, 59015 Carmignano (PO), Tuscany, Italy. Carmignano is a hill town in Tuscany, southwest of Prato. It does not have its own mainline railway station, so visiting players generally travel first to Prato Centrale or Signa and complete the journey by regional bus, taxi or car. The municipality publishes official guidance for these approaches.

🚉 From Prato Centrale Railway Station

Arrive at Prato Centrale, the principal rail interchange in the Province of Prato. It has regional connections toward Florence and other Tuscan cities. The municipality recommends the LAM-MT Azzurra route, connecting Prato with Comeana, Seano and Carmignano. From a suitable Carmignano stop, continue toward the centre and Viale Beato Giovanni Parenti.

Use the Autolinee Toscane operator page to check the exact December timetable. Bus services can be less frequent on holidays or early mornings. For players carrying substantial luggage or arriving shortly before the round begins, a taxi from the railway station may be more practical than relying on a tightly timed connection.

🚆 From Signa Railway Station

Signa is another rail access point suggested by the Municipality of Carmignano. The town’s published tourism guidance identifies local bus connections toward the Carmignano area, including the LAM-MT network. This alternative may suit travelers arriving from the Florence area depending on their train and bus itinerary.

Confirm which departure stop and service operate on December 27–30 before setting out. The Municipality of Carmignano tourist-information page provides the main route descriptions. Likewise, travelers with a hotel reservation should check whether the property offers transfer assistance.

✈️ From Florence Airport

Florence Amerigo Vespucci Airport is a useful airport for international arrivals to the Prato area. Travelers can reach Prato by local surface transport, including connections from the airport transport hub, and then continue toward Carmignano. The official Prato tourism transport guide provides general airport access information.

Alternatively, travelers can take the Florence tram toward the railway network, continue to Prato Centrale, and use a bus or taxi for the last stage. Since the tournament starts on Sunday morning, arriving on Saturday evening may provide a more reliable itinerary than attempting an early flight-to-bus connection.

🚌 Local Buses and On-Demand Services

Carmignano and the surrounding Montalbano villages are served by regional transport from Autolinee Toscane. The municipal transport guidance mentions the LAM-MT Azzurra corridor and the ProntoBus Carmignano on-demand service. Some rural areas do not have frequent regular buses, so visitors should choose their accommodation with local transport access in mind.

Check the operator’s published routes, timetables and reservation requirements before travelling. This is especially important during the holiday period, when departures may differ from an ordinary weekday. Once in central Carmignano, follow local streets to the Il Galli community building at Viale Beato Giovanni Parenti 14.

🚗 By Car and Parking

From the A11 motorway, the municipality recommends exiting at Prato Est, continuing toward Poggio a Caiano–Artimino, and following the signs for Carmignano. From the A1 motorway northbound approaches may use the Prato-Calenzano exit, while other routes can approach through the Florence/Signa area.

For the last stage, set the destination to Spazi Polivalenti Il Galli, Viale Beato Giovanni Parenti 14, 59015 Carmignano. The event venue is in the historic centre and local parking conditions may differ by street. Consequently, allow time to find a legal space and reach the hall before registration closes.

🕒 Tournament Arrival and Departure

Magistrale, A and B entrants must confirm their attendance by 9:00 AM on Sunday, December 27, with the first round at 10:00 AM. Under-18 Open C players have a separate confirmation deadline of 8:30 AM on Tuesday, December 29. The final prize ceremony is scheduled for 3:00 PM on Wednesday, December 30. Those expecting an award should therefore avoid booking a return connection that overlaps the ceremony.

ℹ️ Other Information

🏛️ Carmignano and the Il Galli Community Venue

Carmignano is known for its Tuscan hill landscapes, historical churches and connections with the Medici period. The Il Galli venue is a restored local community building that reopened in 2023. It hosts cultural and social events in addition to the chess festival. The tournament therefore provides an opportunity to visit a smaller historic Italian town rather than a large urban exhibition centre.

⚖️ Anti-Cheating and Federation Rules

The organizer applies FIDE and FSI tournament rules, including anti-cheating procedures. Electronic devices may be brought only when switched off and kept separately from the player’s body. The published 60-minute tolerance applies to late arrival. Meanwhile, players must satisfy the FSI membership requirements for the competition year.

🎄 Separate Christmas Blitz Tournament

The festival programme also features Blitz con l’amico Natale on Monday, December 28, at 3:30 PM. Its eleven rounds use 3 minutes plus two seconds per move, with a separate €10 entry fee and food-hamper prizes with a published value of €240. This is a different event from the classical sections; entrants should check its conditions separately rather than counting its games toward the six classical rounds.

👥 Registration and Last-Minute Checks

The festival is limited to 150 players, and the published payment deadline is December 13, 2026. Players can use the Vesus pre-registration page and consult the official three-page invitation for bank transfer details and section eligibility. The flyer also describes special entry reductions for titled players and some family combinations. Before departing, reconfirm the tournament timetable and admission instructions with the organizer.

🔗 Useful Official Links