The European Schools Chess Championship 2026, scheduled for April 26-May 6, 2026 in Trogir, Croatia, brings Europe’s best school-age players together for a prestigious ECU youth championship in classical chess. The event runs separate Open and Girls championships in six age categories, giving young competitors a focused pathway to continental titles in a well-structured, nine-round Swiss format at an official championship venue.

Set in the Split-Dalmatia County near the Adriatic coast, the championship combines serious over-the-board competition with a practical one-venue setup and full-board official accommodation. National federations register players and accompanying persons, and the organizers manage accreditation, controlled access, and official transfers for the championship days to keep conditions consistent across all sections.

🗓️ Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The championship uses a 9-round Swiss System and applies ECU Championship Rules and the FIDE Laws of Chess. Each game uses a classical time control of 90 minutes with a 30-second increment from move 1, and the default time is 15 minutes after the start of each round.

When players tie on points, the event applies tie-breaks in this order: direct encounter, Buchholz Cut 1, Buchholz, greater number of games played with Black, and greater number of wins. Players whose federations do not confirm participation at the technical meeting may not enter the pairings.

📂 Sections / Groups

📅 Schedule

📝 Registration

👥 Organizer

The European Chess Union and the Croatian Chess Federation organize the European Schools Chess Championship in Trogir, delivering a unified championship structure across all age groups with official accreditation, controlled access to the playing area, and a centralized venue and accommodation concept designed for youth events.

• Email: ecuschool2026@gmail.com

• Phone: +385 99 377 6460

• Website: https://hrvatski-sahovski-savez.hr/european-school-2026/

🏨 Venue

Congress Hall of Hotel Medena, Trogir, Croatia
The championship plays in the congress hall of the official hotel complex, which supports a consistent daily round schedule and controlled access procedures for players and accredited personnel.

🛎️ Accommodation

The organizer provides full-board accommodation at the Hotel Medena complex for participants and accompanying persons, with pricing based on room category and occupancy.

Superior New rooms (4*)

Superior Sea Side rooms and Superior rooms with a French balcony (3*)

🚗 How to Get There

The organizer recommends Split Airport for arrivals, located about a 15-minute drive from Hotel Medena, with strong European flight connectivity and multiple daily connections to Zagreb. The organizer offers transfers from and to Split International Airport on the official arrival and departure days for €30 per person round trip, and the organizer must confirm transfers for other travel dates.

Join your national delegation, compete for a European Schools title, and turn nine classical rounds in Trogir into a milestone year for your chess development.

🧾 Other

Only players and arbiters may enter the playing area unless the Chief Arbiter grants permission. European anti-cheating rules apply, and the event may conduct random anti-cheating inspections during the championship. Appeals require a written protest submitted within one hour after the end of the relevant game and a €200 deposit, which the event returns if it upholds the appeal and forfeits to the ECU if it rejects the appeal.