Sligo Chess & Culture Festival 2026
Set on the Wild Atlantic Way, the Sligo Chess & Culture Festival 2026 runs from Friday, 30 January to Sunday, 8 February 2026 in Enniscrone, County Sligo, Ireland. Hosted at the four-star Diamond Coast Hotel, the festival combines a premium playing experience with coastal scenery and family-friendly amenities. Multiple classical, rapid, and blitz events cater to titled players, ambitious club competitors, juniors, and returning alumni.
Across ten days you’ll find a FIDE-rated Weekender (multi-section Swiss), a longer 9-Round Open, plus dedicated Rapid and Blitz tournaments. The organising team emphasises professional delivery: 100% digital boards on top tables, clear sections by FIDE rating bands, streamlined registration, and practical on-site services. Players and families typically stay on-site or in nearby guesthouses, making logistics easy during winter seaside season.
With strong Irish and international participation, the festival is designed for both rating progress and a memorable chess holiday. Spacious halls, firm anti-cheating policies, defined tie-breaks, and visible pairings keep rounds running smoothly; Sligo’s beaches, sea baths, and cafes provide perfect resets between games.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 🗓️ Dates | 30 January – 8 February 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Diamond Coast Hotel, Bartragh, Enniscrone, Co. Sligo, F26 E9F9, Ireland |
| ♟️ Format | Multi-event festival: Weekender (5-round Swiss, rating-banded), 9-Round Open (classical), Rapid Open, Blitz Open |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE rated (classical/rapid/blitz per event); national rating as applicable |
| ✅ Eligibility | Open across sections with rating bands (see below) |
| 🧭 Sections (Weekender) | Master (≥1900), Expert (1750–1899), Championship (1600–1749), Major (1450–1599), Challenger (≤1449) |
| 🧑⚖️ Officials | Tournament Director: Craig DuBose • Chief Arbiter: Colm Ó Muireagáin |
| 🧩 Equipment | DGT/Smart boards on top boards; branded score sheets and name placards |
🏆 Prize Fund
| Event | Prizes (published so far) |
|---|---|
| Blitz Open | Open: 1st €600 • 2nd €400 • 3rd €200 • Women: 1st €300 • 2nd €200 • 3rd €100 • Additional grading prizes (published by organiser) |
| Other events | Prize structures and grading/ladies prizes are published on the individual tournament pages and follow festival regulations (prizes not shared; tie-break decides places). |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
Classical (Weekender, 9-Round Open): 90 minutes + 30 seconds from move 1.
Rapid: festival rapid time control (published on event page; FIDE Rapid regulations apply).
Blitz: festival blitz time control (FIDE Blitz regulations apply).
Pairings: Swiss-system by section; tie-breaks per regulations (e.g., Buchholz/Sonneborn-Berger in stated order).
Default time & device policy: anti-cheating/device rules enforced; prize money not shared—final places determined by tie-break.
📂 Sections / Groups
| Tournament | Sections / Entry Notes |
|---|---|
| Weekender (Fri–Sun) | Master (≥1900) • Expert (1750–1899) • Championship (1600–1749) • Major (1450–1599) • Challenger (≤1449) |
| 9-Round Open | Single Open section (classical); published rating/entry requirements apply |
| Rapid Open | Single Open section with separate women’s and grading prizes |
| Blitz Open | Single Open section with separate women’s and grading prizes |
📅 Schedule
Weekender (Fri, 30 Jan – Sun, 1 Feb 2026)
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| Fri, 30 Jan 2026 | Round 1 |
| Sat, 31 Jan 2026 | Rounds 2–3 |
| Sun, 1 Feb 2026 | Rounds 4–5 • Awards |
9-Round Open (dates within 30 Jan – 8 Feb 2026)
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| Sat–Sun, 31 Jan – 8 Feb 2026 | Rounds 1–9 • Awards |
Rapid Open
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| During festival week | Rapid rounds • Awards |
Blitz Open
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| During festival week (evening) | Blitz rounds • Awards |
Exact start times are published on each tournament page; following your instruction, the time column is omitted where times are not confirmed.
📝 Registration
Festival info & online entry: https://sligochessfestival.com/
Registration portal: https://sligochessfestival.com/register/
Weekender section selection uses FIDE rating (or national rating where appropriate).
Entry may close on capacity; late-entry surcharges and bye rules per event page.
FIDE ID required for rating submission; juniors welcome across appropriate sections.
👥 Organizer
Sligo Chess & Culture Festival / Sligo Chess Club — an Irish organising team delivering a premium, player-centric event at a four-star venue with professional arbiters, digital boards, and clear communications. The team emphasises fair play, women’s participation (dedicated women’s prizes), strong grading prizes, and a welcoming experience for families and international guests.
Phone: +353 89 485 9892
Email: info@sligochessfestival.com
Website: https://sligochessfestival.com/
Socials: https://www.facebook.com/SligoChessFestival/ • https://x.com/ChessSligo/ • https://www.instagram.com/sligochessclub/
🏨 Venue
Diamond Coast Hotel
Bartragh, Enniscrone, Co. Sligo, F26 E9F9, Ireland
A modern, four-star, family-friendly hotel beside Enniscrone’s beach and dunes. The chess ballroom offers generous spacing, top-board broadcasting, and convenient breakout areas for analysis. On-site restaurants, bar/lounge, and nearby sea baths and cafes make non-playing hours easy for families and companions.
🛎️ Accommodation
On-site (recommended): Diamond Coast Hotel (standard/twin/family rooms). Players often book bed-and-breakfast or half-board to match round cadence.
Nearby options: Guesthouses and apartments in Enniscrone and surrounds; early booking advised for sea-view rooms and family suites over the festival period.
Practical tips: Ask about late check-out on the final day, quiet-floor rooms, and meal times coordinated with round intervals.
🚗 How to Get There
Air: Fly to Ireland West (Knock – NOC) or Dublin (DUB); continue by car or bus to Enniscrone.
Rail/Bus: Train to Collooney/Sligo with regional bus/taxi to Enniscrone.
Car: Enniscrone is reached via N59 from Sligo/Ballina; allow extra time for winter coastal conditions.
Parking: Hotel guest parking on site; additional local parking nearby.
Start your year with a premium chess holiday on the Atlantic coast – the Sligo Chess & Culture Festival 2026 offers FIDE-rated competition, professional organisation, and a relaxed seaside setting for players and families.