LUGANO-PARADISO EASTER FESTIVAL 2026 (3–6 April, Lugano-Paradiso, Switzerland)
LUGANO-PARADISO EASTER FESTIVAL 2026 brings a spring weekend of classical chess and an evening blitz to the lakeside town of Lugano-Paradiso. The festival runs 3–6 April 2026 at the Sala Multiuso, offering a 6-round Open plus a Blitz Open on Saturday night. Clear regulations, practical schedule, and generous prizes make it an ideal Swiss weekend event.
📌 Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | 3 – 6 April 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Lugano-Paradiso, Ticino, Switzerland |
| 🏟️ Venue | Sala Multiuso, Via delle Scuole 21, CH-6900 Lugano-Paradiso |
| 🏁 Tournament Type | International Open (Standard) + Blitz Open |
| 🧩 Tournament System | Standard Open: 6-round Swiss · Blitz: 9-round Swiss |
| ⏱️ Time Control | Standard: 90′ + 30″/move · Blitz: 5′ |
| ⏰ Default Time | Standard: 60′ tolerance · Blitz: 5′ |
| 📝 Byes | ½-point bye allowed in R1–R4 (Standard Open) with request |
| 🧮 Rating | Standard: FIDE/Swiss/DWZ rated · Blitz: FIDE Blitz rated |
| 🏢 Organizers | Swiss Chess Tour & Circolo Scacchistico Luganese |
💰 Prize Fund
Total prizes: CHF 4,000 (Standard) + CHF 500 (Blitz)
Standard Open
| Place | Prize (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 1st | 800 |
| 2nd | 700 |
| 3rd | 500 |
| 4th | 400 |
| 5th | 200 |
- Rating band prizes: 2000–2199, 1800–1999, 1600–1799, <1600 (prizes allocated if enough players)
- Special prizes: Women, Seniors, U16 (book or material prizes)
Blitz Open
| Place | Prize (CHF) |
|---|---|
| 1st | 200 |
| 2nd | 150 |
| 3rd | 100 |
| 4th | 50 |
🧩 Sections / Eligibility
- Standard Open: Open to all players with a valid FIDE ID, 6 rounds.
- Blitz Open: 9 rounds, open to all players with FIDE ID.
⏱️ Time Control & Regulations
- Standard: 90′ + 30″/move from move 1.
- Blitz: 5′ (FIDE Blitz).
- Default times: 60′ (Standard), 5′ (Blitz).
- ½-point bye available for R1–R4 (Standard Open).
- Tie-break: Buchholz system.
📅 Schedule
Standard Open (6 rounds)
- Fri, 3 Apr — 18:00–18:50 Check-in · 19:00 Round 1
- Sat, 4 Apr — 09:30 Round 2 · 15:00 Round 3
- Sun, 5 Apr — 09:30 Round 4 · 15:00 Round 5
- Mon, 6 Apr — 10:00 Round 6 · Awards after
Blitz Open
- Sat, 4 Apr — 21:00–21:20 Check-in · 21:30 Start (9 rounds)
📝 Registration & Fees
- Standard Open: CHF 110 · Reduced CHF 90 (U16 / IM / GM).
- Blitz: CHF 25 · U16 CHF 15.
- Capacity may be limited; payment due at check-in.
- FIDE ID required for all players.
🏟️ Venue
Sala Multiuso, Via delle Scuole 21, CH-6900 Lugano-Paradiso — central, modern municipal hall near Lake Lugano with easy transport access.
🛏️ Accommodation
- Hotel Victoria au Lac, Via Generale Guisan 3, Paradiso.
- Ibis, Novotel, Hotel Admiral (Paradiso/Lugano).
- Book early due to Easter demand.
🚉 How to Get There
- By Air: Lugano (regional), Milan Malpensa (MXP), or Zurich (ZRH) with train connections.
- By Train/Bus: SBB to Lugano, then local bus/short walk to Paradiso.
- By Car: A2 motorway exit Lugano-Sud / Paradiso; public parking nearby.
Easter in Lugano-Paradiso is a perfect blend of chess and Ticino spring: a smooth 6-round open, a fun late-night blitz, professional organization, and a lake-view setting. Enjoy the holiday atmosphere while competing for prizes in a festive environment.