28th International Chess Festival “Città di Trieste” 2026 runs from August 29 to September 4, 2026 in Trieste, Italy. This is a chess tournament in Trieste, Italy, in 2026. The festival is organized by Società Scacchistica Triestina 1904 A.S.D., with co-organization from the Comune di Trieste and support from the Regione Autonoma Friuli Venezia Giulia and the Libero e Zora Polojaz Foundation.

The event returns for its 28th edition and uses a multi-section format that serves stronger titled players, club players, and beginners in one venue. Moreover, the festival is held at PalaCalvola in Trieste, which gives the event a fixed indoor playing hall for the full week.

🏁 Event Details

The official festival regulations confirm the details above.

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The festival uses the FIDE Swiss pairing system. Therefore, each section follows a structured multi-round format across the full week rather than a short weekend schedule. Open A runs for 9 rounds, Open B for 8 rounds, and Open C for 7 rounds.

Every game uses 90 minutes for the whole game plus a 30-second increment from move one. Meanwhile, the published tie-break order is REP, Buchholz Cut 1, Sonneborn-Berger, and APRO. The organizer also allows one half-point bye, but players must request it before the tournament starts.

Players who arrive more than 30 minutes after the scheduled start lose the game. In addition, the regulations ban electronic devices in the playing hall unless they remain completely switched off inside a visible bag.

💰 Prize Fund

The confirmed total prize fund for the 2026 festival is EUR 6,800, which is approximately USD 7,960. The official regulations also state that prizes are not cumulative and not divisible. Moreover, the organizer pays any required Italian tax deductions separately, so the listed prize amounts are the actual sums paid to players.

♟️ Sections / Groups

This three-section structure gives the festival broad appeal. As a result, stronger players can target the Master section, while club players and newer competitors can choose the lower groups that better fit their level.

📅 Schedule

The official schedule confirms the shared start date and common award ceremony on the final afternoon.

📝 Registration

Players must pay by bank transfer to Società Scacchistica Triestina and then confirm registration by email. Italian players and foreign players residing in Italy need a valid FSI competitive or junior card for 2026, while foreign players need a FIDE ID number.

👤 Organizer

Società Scacchistica Triestina 1904 A.S.D. organizes the festival and uses festival@sst1904.com as the main registration and event contact. The published phone contacts are Filippo Camana and Matteo Marusich, which gives players direct communication channels before the event.

Phone: +39 380 187 7528
Email: festival@sst1904.com

📍 Venue

Palazzetto Atleti Azzurri (PalaCalvola), Via di Calvola 2/1, 34143 Trieste, Italy

The festival takes place at PalaCalvola in Trieste. The official regulations identify it as the fixed venue for all three sections, which makes planning easier for players staying in the city for the full week.

The organizer also recommends several local services for visitors. These include Hotel Milano in central Trieste and the university residence Opera Figli del Popolo, while the affiliated Birreria Forst offers a complete meal menu at a published player-friendly price.

🚗 How to Get There

Trieste is well connected by road and rail, so most visiting players can reach the city without difficulty. Moreover, because attendance confirmation closes before 3:00 PM on the opening day, arriving in Trieste a little earlier is the safer option. Players who stay near the city center can also use the recommended accommodation list as a practical base for the week.

It is a strong late-summer festival for players who want a historic multi-section event, a full week of classical chess, and a confirmed EUR 6,800 prize fund.