The 11. Internationales Frankenthaler Weihnachtsopen 2026 is scheduled to take place from December 27 to 30, 2026, in Frankenthal (Pfalz), Germany. The traditional year-end chess event is organized by Schachklub Frankenthal e.V., a long-established chess club that has staged the Weihnachtsopen series for many years.

The tournament is currently listed for the IGS Robert-Schuman-Schule in Frankenthal, which also hosted the previous edition. However, the organizer has not yet released the official 2026 tournament regulations. Therefore, competition-specific details such as section limits, entry fees, prize distribution, the exact time control, registration procedure and round-by-round schedule are not included until they are officially confirmed.

The most recent completed edition attracted more than 200 players across three strength groups. Consequently, the Frankenthaler Weihnachtsopen has developed into a substantial four-day event between Christmas and New Year, attracting players from Germany and neighboring countries.

♟️ Event Details

Detailed regulations for the 2026 edition have not yet been released. Therefore, players should confirm the final tournament conditions after the organizer publishes the new prospectus.

👥 Organizer

Organizer: Schachklub Frankenthal e.V.

Email: info@sk-frankenthal.de

Phone: +49 6233 65845

Schachklub Frankenthal has more than a century of chess tradition and organizes competitive, youth and club chess activities in the Palatinate region. Moreover, the club has run the Internationales Frankenthaler Weihnachtsopen as a recurring year-end tournament.

📍 Venue

IGS Robert-Schuman-Schule – Ziegelhofweg 16, 67227 Frankenthal (Pfalz), Germany

The Robert-Schuman-Schule was the official venue of the 2025 Frankenthaler Weihnachtsopen and is also the currently listed venue for the 2026 edition.

The previous official tournament regulations described the venue as being in northern Frankenthal with convenient access from the B9 and A6. In addition, they stated that substantial parking was available around the school.

Players travelling to the 2026 event should nevertheless reconfirm the venue when the new tournament regulations are released.

🏨 Accommodation

Frankenthal offers several practical accommodation options for players staying during the four-day tournament.

The organizer has not yet published an official 2026 tournament hotel or special tournament rates. Therefore, players should check December availability and final prices directly with the accommodation provider before booking.

🚆 How to Get There

By train: Frankenthal (Pfalz) Hauptbahnhof is the main railway station for the city. Regional and long-distance connections are available via nearby transport hubs such as Mannheim and Frankfurt.

From Frankfurt Airport: Deutsche Bahn currently offers rail connections between Frankfurt Airport and Frankenthal Hbf with at least one change. Typical current journey options take approximately one hour to one hour and fifteen minutes. However, players should check the timetable again for the actual December travel dates.

By car: Frankenthal lies close to the A6 and B9. The Robert-Schuman-Schule is located in the northern part of the city at Ziegelhofweg 16. Previous tournament information noted substantial parking availability at the venue.

ℹ️ Other Information

Previous edition – 2025

The 10th Frankenthaler Weihnachtsopen took place from December 27 to 30, 2025. More than 200 players from Germany and neighboring countries competed in three strength groups over seven rounds.

The A Tournament was won by IM Martin Jablonicky after he finished on 5.5/7 and took first place on tiebreak. Markus Holzinger won the B Tournament with 6/7, while Jannik Ebenrecht won the C Tournament with 6/7.

The 2025 edition used three DWZ-based groups. The A and B tournaments received both FIDE and DWZ rating, while the C Tournament received DWZ rating. In addition, the advertised prize fund exceeded €4,500.

These details describe the 2025 edition only. Section thresholds, rating conditions, time control, entry fees, prizes, registration rules and playing times may change for 2026 and should not be assumed until the organizer publishes the new regulations.