2026 North American Junior Championships runs from December 18-23, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. This is a chess tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, in 2026. The event is an important over-the-board chess tournament for young players under 20 from Canada, Mexico, and the United States. It takes place at Hilton Charlotte University Place, uses a 9-round Swiss format, and awards direct titles and norm opportunities for top finishers in both sections.

Moreover, this chess tournament in Charlotte stands out as the official Continental Junior Championship of North America. The 2026 North American Junior Championships combine a serious FIDE rated chess tournament structure with international eligibility rules, medal competition, and a blitz side event during the same week. In addition, the venue offers free internet, free parking, and an official hotel rate for traveling players and families. As a result, this chess event in Charlotte is a strong choice for ambitious juniors who want a high-level classical chess tournament in North Carolina.

🗓️ Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The tournament uses a 9-round Swiss format. Each player receives 90 minutes for the game with a 30-second increment from move one. In addition, the event counts for both US Chess and FIDE rating, which gives players an important international competition opportunity late in the year.

Title and norm opportunities are a major feature of the event. In the Open U20 section, the gold medal winner earns the IM title plus a GM norm, while silver and bronze medalists earn the FM title plus an IM norm. In the Girls U20 section, the gold medal winner earns the WIM title plus a WGM norm, while silver and bronze medalists earn the WFM title plus a WIM norm. Moreover, the event uses a detailed tiebreak order that starts with direct encounter and then moves to wins, games with Black, Buchholz Cut 1, Buchholz, and Sonneborn-Berger.

📂 Sections / Groups

📅 Schedule

📝 Registration

👥 Organizer

Charlotte Chess Center organizes this major North American youth event and continues to run one of the strongest annual calendars of serious chess tournaments in the region. In addition, the organizer stages norm events, open tournaments, scholastic competitions, and international junior events in Charlotte.

• Address: 8629 JM Keynes Drive, Charlotte, NC 28262, USA

• Email: events@charlottechesscenter.org

• Phone: +1 980-265-1156

• Website: https://www.charlottechesscenter.org/events/najr

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CharlotteChessCenter

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlottechesscenter

🏨 Venue

Hilton Charlotte University Place, 8629 JM Keynes Drive, Charlotte, NC 28262, USA

The tournament takes place at Hilton Charlotte University Place in Charlotte. Moreover, the venue offers free internet and free parking, which makes the stay easier for players, parents, and coaches. The official room rate is $139 per night.

🛎️ Accommodation

The official hotel is Hilton Charlotte University Place. The confirmed room rate is $139 per night. In addition, players are encouraged to book early. The organizer also notes that guests may need to use the “edit stay” option in the booking system to match their exact dates.

🚗 How to Get There

Players can reach the venue easily in the University Place area of Charlotte. In addition, the hotel offers free parking, which helps both local and visiting participants. Families arriving from outside the city can continue to the venue by rental car, taxi, or rideshare.

🧾 Other

Medals go to the top three finishers in each section based on tiebreaks. In addition, girls may enter either the Open U20 section or the Girls U20 section. The tournament also includes the NA Junior Blitz side event on Monday, December 21 at 11:00 AM.

Compete in Charlotte and test yourself in one of North America’s key junior chess events of 2026.