The Best Amateur Chess Tournament in the World
Bled Chess Festival 2026
9th – 15th March 2026
The Bled Chess Festival will be held from March 9 to 15, 2026, at the Rikli Balance Hotel Congress Centre, which offers a stunning view of Lake Bled. The playing hall and the official hotels are just a short walk from the center of Bled and the lake. Free parking is available for chess players staying in either of the official hotels.
Only players with a FIDE rating of 2300 or below are eligible to participate in
the tournament (FIDE rating at the time of registration and payment of the entry
fee is taken into account; players with chess titles may also participate).
9 rounds, Swiss system (Baku Accelerated).
Time control: 75 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move; after 40
moves, additional 15 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move.
Maximum 3 byes (1⁄2 point each).
Players with a FIDE ID can register via the official festival website or by
e-mail bled@sah-ljubljana.si