Prague International Chess Festival 2026 — Don Giovanni Hotel, Prague (24 Feb – 6 Mar)
Prague International Chess Festival 2026 returns to the iconic Don Giovanni Hotel, Vinohradská 157a (Prague 3) for its 8th edition, bringing together elite round-robin invitationals, a norm-eligible Open Master, Rating Round Robins, plus a vibrant suite of rapid, blitz, Basque, Fischer Random, pair blitz, and bughouse events. A unified Grand Prix Don Giovanni runs across the whole festival.
📌 Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | 24 February – 6 March 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Prague, Czech Republic |
| 🏟️ Venue | Don Giovanni Hotel, Vinohradská 157a, Praha 3 |
| 🏁 Tournament Type | International Festival (Round Robins, Open Master, Rating RR, Rapid/Blitz variants) |
| 🧩 Tournament System | RR (A/B/C & Rating Groups E) · Swiss (Open D; Rapid/Blitz side events) |
| 🔢 Number of Rounds | A/B/C: RR · D: 9 · E: 9 · Rapid (7) · Blitz (13) · Basque (7) · Fischer Random (7) · Pair Blitz (11) |
| ⏱️ Time Control (Classical) | 2×90′/40 + 30′ to finish + 30″/move from move 1 (D & E) |
| ⏰ Default Time (D/E) | 60 minutes waiting time |
| 👤 Festival Director | Petr Boleslav |
| 👤 Deputy Director | Petr Lausman |
| 👤 Chief Arbiter | IA Pavel Votruba |
| 🏢 Organizer | 1. Novoborský Chess Club, z.s. |
| ✉️ Registration | registration@praguechessfestival.com (D/E & accommodation by 10 Feb 2026) |
💰 Prize Fund
Open Master — Tournament D (Classical, 9R)
| Place | Prize (CZK) |
|---|---|
| 1st | 30,000 |
| 2nd | 20,000 |
| 3rd | 15,000 |
| 4th | 10,000 |
| 5th | 8,000 |
| 6th | 6,000 |
| 7th | 4,000 |
| 8th | 3,000 |
| 9th | 2,000 |
| 10th | 2,000 |
Additional material prizes awarded. Winner qualifies for Challengers 2027.
🧩 Sections / Eligibility
| Section | Dates | System | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A — Masters | 25 Feb – 6 Mar | RR (elite) | Super-GM invitational |
| B — Challengers | 25 Feb – 6 Mar | RR (GM) | Winner → Masters 2027 |
| C — Futures | 25 Feb – 6 Mar | RR (youth) | Winner → Open 2027 |
| D — Open Master | 26 Feb – 6 Mar | Swiss (9R) | GM norm eligible; Winner → Challengers 2027 |
| E — Rating Round Robins | 26 Feb – 6 Mar | 9R groups (10 players) | FIDE <2000, groups by rating bands |
⏱️ Time Control & Tiebreaks
- Classical (D/E): 2×90′/40 + 30′ to finish + 30″/move from move 1
- Waiting time: 60 minutes
- Rapid & Blitz: as stated in event tables
- Tiebreaks (D, G, H, I, J, K): Points → Buchholz Cut 1 → Buchholz → Sonneborn–Berger → Most Blacks
- Tiebreaks (E): Points → Direct Encounter → Sonneborn–Berger → Most Blacks → Drawing of lots
📅 Festival Schedule
| Date | Event | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tue 24 Feb | Opening Ceremony (A/B/C) | 19:00 |
| Wed 25 Feb | R1 A/B/C · Attendance D/E | 15:00 / 17:00–20:00 |
| Thu 26 Feb | Attendance D/E · R2 A/B/C · R1 D/E | 10:00–13:00 / 15:00 |
| Fri 27 Feb | Solving Competition · R3 A/B/C · R2 D/E | 09:00–13:00 / 15:00 |
| Sat 28 Feb | G Rapid Open (7R) · R4 A/B/C · R3 D/E | 09:00–13:30 / 15:00 |
| Sun 1 Mar | H Blitz Open (13R) · R5 A/B/C · R4 D/E | 09:00–13:00 / 15:00 |
| Mon 2 Mar | I Basque Open (7R) · R5 D/E · Free Day (A/B/C) | 09:00–13:30 / 15:00 |
| Tue 3 Mar | J Fischer Random Open (7R) · R6 A/B/C/D/E | 09:00–13:30 / 15:00 |
| Wed 4 Mar | K Pair Blitz (11R) · R7 A/B/C/D/E | 09:00–13:00 / 15:00 |
| Thu 5 Mar | L Bughouse · R8 A/B/C/D/E | 09:00–13:30 / 15:00 |
| Fri 6 Mar | R9 A/B/C/D/E · Closing Ceremony | 11:00 / 18:00 |
📝 Registration & Fees
- Deadline: 10 February 2026
- Tournament D fees: GM/IM/WGM free; others graded by rating (1800+ → €125; <1800 → €166.5)
- Tournament E fees: €71 (with organizer accommodation) · €112.5 (others) + €40 refundable deposit
- Side events: €9–16.5 per player/pair
- On-site payments in EUR/CZK or by card
🏢 Organizer
1. Novoborský Chess Club, z.s.
Festival Director: Petr Boleslav · Deputy: Petr Lausman · Chief Arbiter: IA Pavel Votruba
🏟️ Venue
Don Giovanni Hotel, Vinohradská 157a, Prague 3
A 4-star hotel providing playing halls, accommodation, and dining under one roof. Special rates for participants, breakfast included, with Executive options offering Lounge access. Municipal fee: 50 CZK/night (for adults).
🛏️ Accommodation
- Single Standard: €83.5
- Double Standard: €87.5
- Triple Standard: €112.5
- Executive/Suite options: €96–€154 with Lounge access
Early booking highly recommended as rooms fill up quickly during the festival.
🚉 How to Get There
- Air: Prague Airport (PRG) with bus/metro links to city center
- Train: Praha hlavní nádraží (central station) with direct metro/bus to venue
- Car: Access via Jižní spojka ring road; hotel parking available
The Prague International Chess Festival is more than a tournament — it’s a celebration of chess at every level, where grandmasters and amateurs share the same halls. With world-class organization, rich side events, and the magic of Prague, this festival guarantees a unique chess experience in 2026.
Organizer
1st Nový Bor Chess Club is a leading chess club based in Nový Bor, Liberec Region, Czech Republic. It competes at a high level and supports organized chess across the country. Moreover, the club is widely recognized as a reliable tournament organizer.
The club runs major events and rated competitions for a wide range of players. In addition, it organizes the Prague International Chess Festival, one of Central Europe’s best-known chess festivals. The program typically includes a FIDE-rated tournament in classical chess, alongside open groups and side events.
Furthermore, the club promotes player development through structured activities and strong club culture. As a result, it attracts both ambitious juniors and experienced tournament players. It also supports rapid and blitz chess events when scheduled.
