The Queens’ Online Chess Festival will take place throughout March 2026, bringing together women and young female chess players from across the world in a fully online, FIDE-governed competitive environment. The festival is organised by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) through its Commission for Women’s Chess and has become a key annual event in the women’s chess calendar.
The 2026 edition features a clearly defined qualification structure, age-specific tournaments, and fixed dates, making it easier for players, parents, and coaches to plan participation in advance.
Tournament Overview and Official Schedule
The Queens’ Online Chess Festival 2026 includes two main tournaments, each with its own eligibility rules and timeline.
Queens’ Women’s Open Tournament – Dates and Structure
The Queens’ Women’s Open Tournament is open to female players with a valid FIDE ID. It is conducted in multiple stages, starting with continental online qualifiers and ending with a global final.
Continental Online Blitz Qualifiers
Each continental qualifier follows a 9-round Swiss system with a 3+2 blitz time control.
- African Online Blitz Qualification
9 March 2026 at 19:00 UTC - European Online Blitz Qualification
7 March 2026 at 19:00 UTC - Asian Online Blitz Qualification
8 March 2026 at 20:00 UTC - Americas Online Blitz Qualification
15 March 2026 at 13:00 UTC
Players finishing at the top of each continental qualifier advance to the next stage.
Queens’ Online Semi-Final
- Date: 22 March 2026
- Time: 13:00 UTC
- Format: 9-round Swiss
- Participants: 100 qualified players from all continents
This stage is critical, as only the top performers move on to the final.
Queens’ Online Final
- Date: 29 March 2026
- Time: 13:00 UTC
- Format: 7-round Swiss
- Time Control: 5+0 blitz
The final is designed to test speed, accuracy, and mental resilience under high pressure.
Registration Deadlines for Women’s Open
- Africa: 22 March 2026
- Europe & Asia: 1 March 2026
- Americas: 7 March 2026
Players must complete registration before their continental deadline to be eligible.
Unrated Princesses’ Tournament – Dates and Eligibility
The Unrated Princesses’ Tournament is specifically created for young female players without a FIDE rating, making it highly relevant for school-level and academy-trained students.
Eligibility Criteria
- Girls born on or after 1 January 2009
- No FIDE rating required
- Open to international participants
Tournament Stages and Dates
All stages are played online with a 5+2 blitz time control, consisting of 7 rounds per stage.
- Group A Qualification:
16 March 2026 at 10:00 UTC - Group B Qualification:
16 March 2026 at 13:00 UTC - Final Stage:
29 March 2026 at 11:00 UTC
Unrated players aged 17 years and above may choose to participate either in the Queens’ Women’s Open or the Princesses’ Tournament, depending on readiness and experience.
Registration Deadline for Princesses’ Tournament
- Final date for registration: 8 March 2026
Late registrations are not accepted.
Fair Play, Monitoring, and Online Safety
All matches in the Queens’ Online Chess Festival are conducted under FIDE Online Fair Play Regulations, which include:
- Mandatory camera and screen sharing
- Anti-cheating detection systems
- Continuous monitoring during games
- Statistical game analysis and verification
These measures are particularly important for junior and youth participants and help build trust among parents.
Awards and Recognition
All participants receive an electronic certificate of participation.
Additional awards include:
Queens’ Women’s Open
- Continental trophies for qualification winners
- 100 USD FIDE shop vouchers for qualification winners
- Training sessions with Women Grandmasters for top performers
- Prize fund of USD 600 for finalists
- Invitation to the 2026 World Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan, including accommodation for final winners
Unrated Princesses’ Tournament
- Diplomas for top three finishers in each category
- Training sessions with Women Grandmasters
- Physical trophy for the overall winner
- 100 USD FIDE shop voucher for the final winner
- 50 USD FIDE shop voucher for the second-place finisher
Why This Level of Structure Matters for Parents
Clear schedules, fixed deadlines, and transparent formats allow parents to:
- Prepare children mentally and practically
- Balance school commitments
- Choose the right tournament based on experience level
- Avoid last-minute registrations and confusion
Events like this reward preparation, not luck.
