22nd Chefchaouen International Chess Festival will take place on July 15-22, 2026 in Chefchaouen, Morocco. This long-running summer event brings together titled players, ambitious club competitors, and improving players for a full week of classical over-the-board chess in one of Morocco’s most distinctive destinations.

This is a chess tournament in Chefchaouen, Morocco, in 2026. The event uses a nine-round Swiss format, a classical time control, and a guaranteed cash prize fund. Therefore, it offers strong competitive value for players who want serious games, a full tournament schedule, and an international field.

In addition, the festival is closely tied to the local chess community in Chefchaouen and carries a well-established name on the Moroccan chess calendar. As a result, 22nd Chefchaouen International Chess Festival stands out as an attractive summer event for players who want both competitive chess and a memorable setting.

🏁 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The tournament uses a classical time control of 90 minutes for the full game with a 30-second increment from move one. Pairings follow the Swiss system across nine rounds. Consequently, players can expect a demanding and meaningful week of chess with enough rounds to produce a strong final standings table.

Because the event is listed as a standard over-the-board FIDE tournament, players can also expect a serious competitive format and internationally recognizable rating treatment.

🏆 Prize Fund

22nd Chefchaouen International Chess Festival offers a guaranteed total prize fund of MAD 120,000, which is approximately USD 12,850. The published tournament summary also confirms a first prize of MAD 20,000, or about USD 2,140.

This prize level gives the event strong financial weight for a summer open and adds clear competitive value across the full tournament week.

♟️ Sections / Groups

The published event details present one main open rather than multiple playing groups. Therefore, all participants compete in the same overall tournament field.

📅 Schedule

The event runs across eight days and nine rounds. As a result, players can prepare for a full competitive week rather than a short weekend format.

📝 Registration

The organizer handles entries through its official festival channels. Therefore, players should contact the festival team early if they want to secure a place and confirm the current registration conditions.

👤 Organizer

Association Alwan Fannia d’Échecs organizes 22nd Chefchaouen International Chess Festival and continues to play a central role in Chefchaouen’s international chess activity. The association presents the festival as a recurring annual event that brings players from different countries together for competition and cultural exchange.

• Phone: +212623694212
• Email: alwanfannia1977@gmail.com

📍 Venue

Mohammed VI Complex for Culture, Arts and Sports, 5P9H+Q8, Chefchaouen, Morocco

The tournament takes place at the Mohammed VI Complex for Culture, Arts and Sports in Chefchaouen. The venue gives the festival a practical local base and fits the event well for a full week of classical chess.

🚗 How to Get There

The venue is in Chefchaouen and is easy to use in navigation apps with the full address or map code. Therefore, players can plan arrival directly to the playing site before the first round. Because the event runs over a full week, early travel planning is especially useful for visitors coming from outside the city.

22nd Chefchaouen International Chess Festival offers a strong classical format, a substantial prize fund, and a respected festival setting for players who want serious summer chess in Morocco.