Home / Event / Bled Chess Festival 2026

Bled Chess Festival 2026

- Bled

9-15 March 2026, Hotel Rikli Balance

We are delighted to announce the Bled Chess Festival 2026 - an international chess festival that will bring chess back to Bled, one of the most legendary venues in chess history, after many years.

In the past, Bled has hosted the biggest chess events and left an indelible mark on the world chess community. With this new edition, we want to continue this rich tradition - in a modern but respectful spirit. The congress hall of the Rikli Balance Hotel, with its magnificent view of Lake Bled, the complete festival programme and the experienced organising team ensure that all chess players in Bled will feel like Grandmasters.

The festival will combine competition, socialising and the magical scenery of Bled.

Main tournament

The OPEN standard chess tournament (Swiss system, 9 rounds) will be open to players rated 2300 and under. The prize pool for the Open tournament is €6,000! The winner will win €1,000, and there will also be a number of other prizes for different rating groups, women, seniors and juniors. The best team will be rewarded with a grandmaster dinner and practical prizes, and there will also be prizes for fair play and the most combative chess player.

Accompanying programme

The multi-day chess festival offers a complete, unique and unforgettable experience. For chess players we have prepared:

- dinner with the Grand Master,

- morning walks with the Grandmaster around Lake Bled,

- Tour of Bled Castle and boat ride,

- culinary tasting evenings,

- a chess simultaneum with a grandmaster,

- a seminar with Grand Master and Doctor of Psychology Jana Krivec,

- an evening rapid transit tournament, an accelerated “Chess960” tournament and a memorial rapid transit tournament.

Festival Ambassadors

This year's Festival Ambassadors are Grandmasters Laura Unuk and Markus Ragger, who will spend the whole week with Festival participants.

Applications and discounts