Znojemská Rotunda Open 2026 runs from August 1 to August 8, 2026 in Znojmo, Czech Republic. This is a chess tournament in Znojmo, Czech Republic, in 2026. The festival takes place in the stucco halls of Loucký Monastery, one of the city’s most distinctive historic venues.

The event combines a 7-round FIDE Open, a 7-round under-18 tournament, an 11-round blitz tournament, and a 7-round rapid tournament. Moreover, the classical sections use a full long-play time control, so the festival gives players a serious over-the-board format rather than a short weekend schedule.

The week also includes extra festival activities. In addition, players can join training blocks, a Swiss-Manager workshop, a town hall tower visit, a local wine tasting, and a closing social gathering. As a result, the event offers more than just tournament games.

📌 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The festival’s two main classical events use a 7-round Swiss format. Tournament A is the FIDE Open, while Tournament B is the under-18 classical section. Both use 90 minutes for 40 moves, then 30 minutes to finish, plus a 30-second increment from move one.

Meanwhile, the side events keep the program dynamic. Tournament C is an 11-round blitz tournament with 5+2, and Tournament D is a 7-round rapid tournament with 10+5. Therefore, players can choose a full classical week, a shorter fast-chess event, or both.

The structure also gives the festival a clear sporting identity. Tournament A targets open competition and district-championship prizes. Tournament B focuses on junior players, and its entry fee also includes free access to all festival training blocks.

🏆 Prize Fund

The festival publishes CZK 87,600 in confirmed cash prizes, which is approximately USD 4,111. This cash total includes the clearly listed prizes for all four tournaments and excludes non-cash prizes in kind.

FIDE Open

Under 18

Blitz

Rapid

The festival also adds several category prizes. For example, Tournament A includes district-championship awards and rating-category prizes, while Tournament B adds extra prizes for rating groups, the best female player, and other junior distinctions.

👥 Sections / Groups

The festival is divided into four tournament tracks. Because of that, players can choose the format and level that best fit their goals.

This setup gives the event good variety. At the same time, the two classical tournaments remain the core of the festival week.

🗓️ Schedule

The festival runs from Saturday to Saturday. First, the rapid tournament opens the week on August 1. Then the two classical sections continue from August 1 through August 7. After that, the festival closes with the blitz tournament and social events on August 8.

The daily rhythm stays consistent. Consequently, players can plan both tournament preparation and sightseeing without much difficulty.

📝 Registration

Players register through the form on the official festival website. The registration becomes valid after payment of the entry fee. In addition, payment is handled either by bank transfer or in cash, depending on the tournament.

The entry structure is flexible. Moreover, it lets players choose a full classical event, a junior section, or one of the fast side tournaments. Tournament B participants also receive free entry to the festival training sessions.

🏢 Organizer

Agentura rotunda s.r.o. organizes the festival in cooperation with SK GPOA Znojmo. Together, they run the Znojemská Rotunda Open as a revived summer chess festival in Znojmo with classical competition, side events, and extra chess activities across the week.

Phone: +420 774 235 357
Email: znojemska.rotunda.open@gmail.com
Website: https://znojemska-rotunda-open.cz/public/cs

📍 Venue

Loucký Monastery, Klášterní, 671 81 Znojmo, Czech Republic

The festival takes place in the stucco halls of Loucký Monastery, one of Znojmo’s landmark historic complexes. Therefore, the event combines tournament chess with a strong local atmosphere and a venue that stands out visually from standard hotel or sports-hall settings.

The monastery setting also supports the wider festival program well. As a result, the organizers can host both the main tournaments and the extra training and workshop activities in one recognizable location.

🚆 How to Get There

Znojmo has a railway station and regular regional transport links, so players can arrive by train, bus, or car. In addition, the town sits close to the Austrian border, which makes access from both the Czech Republic and nearby Austria practical.

For international travel, Brno Airport is one nearby option, while Vienna Airport is another convenient gateway for many players. After arrival in Znojmo, local transport or a short taxi ride can take players to Loucký Monastery.

This Czech summer chess festival is a strong choice for players who want a full classical week with extra rapid, blitz, and training events in a memorable historic venue.