The 2026 Great Lakes Festival runs April 24-26, 2026 in Brookfield, Wisconsin, USA, and it delivers a focused FIDE-rated weekend for established tournament players in a limited-size field. The organizers cap the event at 50 participants and aim the competition at the 2000+ level while still welcoming all rated players who meet the eligibility requirements. You can choose a full three-day classical schedule or a two-day option that merges into the main event after an accelerated opening round.

The festival plays at the Embassy Suites in Brookfield and pairs serious chess with practical on-site convenience for a full weekend routine. The tournament offers a $1,200 cash prize fund with rating-class awards, and it supports flexible planning through advance entry tiers and pre-declared bye options. If you want a compact FIDE weekend with clear logistics and meaningful prizes, this festival fits that goal.

🗓️ Event Details

🏆 Prize Fund

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The 3-day schedule uses G/90 + 30 seconds increment and runs as a FIDE-rated event. The 2-day schedule starts with G/30 + 5 seconds increment for Round 1, then merges into the 3-day schedule; the organizers do not FIDE-rate Round 1 of the 2-day schedule. The organizers may use accelerated pairings.

The organizers may choose the highest of the published ratings (Regular, Rapid, Online Regular, Online Rapid, FIDE) for section selection, pairings, and prizes, and the event affects regular ratings only. Players may take up to two half-point byes in any rounds when they commit before Round 1.

📂 Sections / Groups

The event runs a single section as a FIDE-rated competition weekend with a three-day schedule and a two-day entry option that merges into the main tournament after the opening round.

📅 Schedule

3-day schedule

2-day schedule

📝 Registration

Register online and select the schedule that matches your travel plan. The organizers apply tiered pricing: $89 online by April 6, $99 online by April 20, and $119 after that or onsite. Players rated under 2000 may enter with a $50 play-up fee. Late entry conditions apply: 3-day entries after 6:00pm Friday receive a half-point bye for Round 1, and 2-day entries after 8:00am Saturday receive a half-point bye for Round 1. Request any byes by committing before Round 1, with a maximum of two half-point byes.

Refund policy: notify the organizers at least one hour before the start of Round 1 to receive a refund of the entry fee minus the online registration fee ($1) and payment processing ($0.30 + 2.9% of the entry fee).

Registration: https://www.kingregistration.com/register/2026GreatLakes
Tournament page: https://new.uschess.org/2026-great-lakes-festival

👥 Organizer

The organizing team runs the Great Lakes Festival as a limited-capacity, FIDE-rated weekend designed for serious tournament play with streamlined logistics and a consistent round cadence. The organizers provide uniform boards, sets, and clocks and require players to use them, and they enforce notation requirements across the event except where the schedule specifies otherwise.

• Website: https://new.uschess.org/2026-great-lakes-festival

🏨 Venue

Embassy Suites by Hilton Milwaukee Brookfield, 1200 S Moorland Rd, Brookfield, WI 53005, USA
The tournament plays at an Embassy Suites hotel in Brookfield with on-site meeting space for the playing hall. The hotel applies a no outside food or drink policy in the meeting rooms and public spaces, while allowing personal water bottles.

🛎️ Accommodation

Embassy Suites by Hilton Milwaukee Brookfield offers a chess rate of $119 per night (king bed or two queen beds) when you reserve by April 12 using the official booking link.

Hotel booking: https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/mkembes-92s-9079fcbf-2b1a-4579-ab2f-98842c454fff/

🚗 How to Get There

Travel to Brookfield, Wisconsin and plan local transportation directly to Embassy Suites by Hilton Milwaukee Brookfield at 1200 S Moorland Rd. If you drive, use the hotel’s on-site parking and arrive early enough to check in and set up before your scheduled round.

Commit to the full weekend, stay sharp across the merged schedules, and turn five rounds into a high-quality FIDE performance.

🧾 Other

The organizers provide uniform equipment (boards, sets, clocks) and require players to use it. Notation is mandatory for the entire game except Round 1 of the 2-day schedule. Unrated players may not participate.