Festival des 400 Coups 2026 – Open International des Boulets des 400 Coups (+1900) will take place on July 12-18, 2026 in Montauban, France. This long summer classical event forms part of the larger Festival des 400 Coups and brings stronger players to one of the headline tournaments of the week.

This is a chess tournament in Montauban, France, in 2026. The event uses a nine-round Swiss format, a classical time control, and a guaranteed cash prize fund. Therefore, it stands out as a serious option for players rated above 1900 who want a full week of competitive over-the-board chess.

In addition, the tournament runs inside a broader festival that also includes another classical open, a rapid event, a blitz event, and daily side activities. As a result, Festival des 400 Coups 2026 – Open International des Boulets des 400 Coups (+1900) combines strong chess, a lively festival atmosphere, and a practical summer schedule in southern France.

🏁 Event Details

The official tournament notice confirms the event details, while the USD figure is a rounded conversion based on the ECB euro reference exchange rate from March 24, 2026.

⏱️ 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 over nine rounds. Consequently, players get a full competitive week with enough rounds to create meaningful standings and strong opposition throughout the event.

Moreover, the festival website presents this open as the +1900 classical section of the week. Therefore, the event clearly targets stronger club players, titled players, and experienced competitors who want a demanding long-format tournament.

🏆 Prize Fund

Festival des 400 Coups 2026 – Open International des Boulets des 400 Coups (+1900) offers a guaranteed prize fund of EUR 9,200. The published prize list confirms the top three main prizes, while the official notice also states that the event includes additional prizes, cups, and medals within the total fund. Therefore, the tournament offers one of the stronger published prize packages among summer opens of this type.

In addition, the official notice states equal prize amounts for the top three mixed and women’s places. However, it does not publish a full line-by-line breakdown of every remaining prize inside the EUR 9,200 total.

♟️ Sections / Groups

This page covers the stronger classical open inside the festival. Meanwhile, the companion Canons event serves the lower-rated side of the classical program. As a result, the overall festival structure gives players clear options by rating level.

📅 Schedule

The schedule gives players a clear rhythm across seven days. In addition, the wider festival program adds side events and activities around the classical rounds, which makes the week feel more dynamic than a standard single-event open.

📝 Registration

Registration for the classical open follows the festival entry system. Moreover, the registration page also offers reduced-price festival packs for players who want to combine the classical event with the rapid and blitz tournaments.

👤 Organizer

Echiquier Club Montalbanais organizes this event as the main higher-rated classical open inside the Festival des 400 Coups. The club presents a full festival week with multiple tournaments, side activities, and on-site services. Because of that, players can expect a more animated and community-focused atmosphere than at a standard standalone open.

• Email: echiquierclubmontalbanais@gmail.com

📍 Venue

Palais des Sports Jacques Chirac, Rue du Général d’Amade, 82000 Montauban, France

The tournament takes place at the Palais des Sports Jacques Chirac in Montauban. In addition, the official notice confirms food service on site, and the festival registration page explains that the club will run a snack bar throughout the week. Therefore, players can handle breaks between rounds more easily without leaving the venue area.

🚗 How to Get There

The venue is in Montauban and is easy to reach by car, train, bus, or air connections through nearby Toulouse. The festival travel page highlights direct access from the A20 and A62, regular rail service to Montauban Ville-Bourbon, and Toulouse-Blagnac Airport as the nearest major airport. Therefore, arrival planning is straightforward for both French and international visitors.

Festival des 400 Coups 2026 – Open International des Boulets des 400 Coups (+1900) offers a strong classical format, a lively festival setting, and a substantial prize fund for players who want serious summer chess in Montauban.