FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 in Cyprus

Source: International Chess Federation

The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 is the next major stop on the road to the World Chess Championship. In late March and early April 2026, eight of the world’s elite players will gather in Cyprus to decide who challenges reigning world champion Gukesh Dommaraju for the title later in the year.

The Candidates and the Women's Candidates will be held side by side for the first time in Cyprus at the opulent Cap St. Georges Hotel & Resort on the Mediterranean coast close to Paphos. The double event runs from 28 March to 16 April 2026 and is positioned as the central highlight of the 2025–2026 World Championship cycle.

For fans, this is not only a chance to follow an elite tournament online, but also a moment to recreate a bit of that atmosphere at home – for example, by analysing the games on official World Chess championship sets, the same design that has become synonymous with modern title matches.

What is the FIDE Candidates Tournament and how often is it played?

The FIDE Candidates Tournament is the final qualifying step in the World Championship cycle. It is a closed event where top grandmasters compete for a single prize that matters more than any trophy or cheque: the right to challenge the World Champion.

Since 2013, the Candidates has been an eight-player double round-robin event: each participant plays every other opponent twice, once with White and once with Black, for a total of 14 rounds. The winner then advances to the World Championship match. This structure continues in 2026.

The tournament is held once per World Championship cycle, effectively every two years in recent decades. That rhythm makes the Candidates a rare opportunity: for many players, a single bad event can mean waiting another full cycle to try again.

FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026: dates, venue and format

The 2026 edition brings the Candidates to a new host nation. According to FIDE’s announcement, both the open and women’s events will be held at Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort in Pegeia, near Paphos, Cyprus, from 28 March to 16 April 2026.

Schedule and playing days

FIDE has already published the full schedule. The opening ceremony is set for 28 March, followed by rounds 1–4 on consecutive days. A typical rhythm of three or four rounds followed by a rest day continues throughout the event:

This layout allows for a demanding but sustainable classical event where preparation, stamina, and recovery days all matter.

Format and time control

The Candidates in Cyprus will follow the same structure as recent cycles: an eight-player double round robin with classical time control. The regulations specify 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, then 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment starting from move 41. Game scoring is standard: 1 point for a win, 1/2 for a draw, 0 for a loss.

If players tie for first place, a rapid and potentially blitz tie-break will decide the challenger. Two rapid games at 15+10 are played first; if necessary, blitz mini-matches at 3+2 and further tie-break procedures follow until a single winner is determined.

Prize fund

The regulations for the 2026 Candidates specify a minimum prize fund of €700,000, net of local taxes, with a per-half-point bonus for each participant and defined awards for the top finishers.

At the same time, FIDE and media reports have described the 2026 Candidates as targeting a “record” prize pool, with communications mentioning a combined minimum of €1,000,000 across the open and women’s events. In practice, players and fans can expect the Cyprus edition to be one of the most lucrative Candidates tournaments to date, even if exact numbers are subject to final confirmation.

Who’s playing in the 2026 Candidates and how did they qualify?

By late 2025, the full eight-player line-up for the 2026 Candidates had already been decided through a mix of tournaments and rating qualification. The structure of the cycle is designed to balance open knock-out events, Swiss tournaments, a year-long circuit, and classical rating performance.

The 2026 Candidates field and qualification paths

According to the current regulations and FIDE announcements and based on results through late 2025, the following players have qualified for Cyprus via these paths: 

One notable change in this cycle is that the runner-up of the previous World Championship match no longer receives an automatic spot. Instead, that match is treated as part of the FIDE Circuit, with bonus points feeding into the overall standings.

This line-up blends established title contenders with rising stars, making Cyprus 2026 one of the most anticipated Candidates tournaments in recent memory.

For readers who want a fully official overview, FIDE’s announcement “Mediterranean Stage Set for Chess History: The 2026 FIDE Candidates Come to Cyprus” provides a concise summary of the event and its context.

Women’s Candidates 2026: side-by-side with the open event

The FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026 will run in parallel with the open Candidates, sharing the same dates, venue, and overall structure. Like the main event, it will be an eight-player double round robin at Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort in Pegeia from 28 March to 16 April 2026.

The winner of the Women’s Candidates earns the right to challenge reigning Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun in the 2026 title match.

Qualification for the Women’s Candidates

The women’s cycle uses similar principles: a combination of World Cup results, a Grand Swiss, the Women’s Grand Prix series, and a dedicated FIDE Women’s Events circuit. As outlined in FIDE’s documents, the eight places in the 2026 Women’s Candidates are allocated to:

• Top two finishers in the 2024–25 FIDE Women’s Grand Prix.

• Top three finishers in the 2025 Women’s World Cup.

• Top two players from the 2025 FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss.

• One player from the FIDE Women’s Events 2024–25 circuit standings.

The system is designed to keep the field both strong and diverse, with qualification chances via different formats.

For many new fans discovering elite women’s chess through this double event, it can also be a natural trigger to start playing themselves. Families looking for accessible equipment often begin with robust beginner chess sets that prioritise piece clarity and durability, such as those in the beginner chess sets collection.

Why the Candidates matter for the 2026 World Championship cycle

The Candidates has always been more than “just another super-tournament”. Its winner becomes the challenger in the World Championship match, which, in this cycle, means facing Gukesh Dommaraju in 2026.

The current cycle is also notable for its adjusted qualification philosophy:

• No automatic spot for the previous match’s loser (in contrast to older cycles).

• Enhanced role for year-long circuit standings in both the open and women’s events.

• Stronger integration between World Cup, Grand Swiss, and other FIDE flagship tournaments.

A similar logic applies on the women’s side: the Women’s Candidates in Cyprus is the final filter before the Women’s World Championship match. Together, the two tournaments in 2026 will crown both challengers and effectively set the tone for the next chapter of top-level chess.

How to watch the 2026 FIDE Candidates

With both the open and women’s events taking place in Cyprus, fans will have several options to follow the action.

Official and online coverage

FIDE will provide official coverage, including pairings, standings, and key news, via its website and dedicated event pages. Live moves and commentary are typically available through partner platforms, with many broadcasters offering engine-assisted commentary, daily recap videos, and social-media highlights.

Major online chess platforms such as Chess.com and Lichess are also expected to host live boards, analysis tools, and community commentary around the Candidates, making it easy for club players and casual fans to follow along in real time.

Recreating the tournament feel at home

For many players, watching the Candidates is also a chance to turn passive viewing into active training:

• Analysing games on a real board. Studying critical rounds on a physical set forces slower, more disciplined thinking than clicking through variations. The tournament chess sets collection offers FIDE-size Staunton equipment close to what professionals use.
  
  

• Training with proper time controls. To simulate classical or rapid rounds at home, digital chess clocks are almost mandatory. The digital chess clocks collection includes popular DGT models and other tournament-ready timers used in clubs and official events.
  
  

• Staying flexible on the go. Not everyone can sit at the same desk each day of the tournament. Travel chess sets combine magnetic or folding boards with compact pieces, making it easier to replay key games on commutes or during breaks.

Whether the goal is serious preparation or simply enjoying the spectacle, having the right physical equipment can make following Cyprus 2026 feel more immersive.

As the 2026 FIDE Candidates and Women’s Candidates approach, Cyprus is set to become the centre of the chess world. Over two intense weeks at Cap St Georges, the world will discover who earns the right to challenge for both the open and women’s world titles — and which new stories will define the next chapter of elite chess.

FAQ about FIDE Candidates 2026

Where is the Candidates Tournament in 2026?

The Cap St.Georges Hotel & Resort in Pegeia, close to Paphos on Cyprus' southwest coast, will host the 2026 Candidates Tournament. The event runs from 28 March to 16 April 2026 and shares its venue and dates with the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament.

How often is the chess Candidates Tournament?

The Candidates is organised once per World Championship cycle. In recent years, that has meant approximately every two years, with each edition determining the challenger for the subsequent World Championship match.

What is the prize money for the FIDE Candidates 2026?

According to the official regulations, the minimum prize fund for the 2026 Candidates is €700,000, net of local taxes, with a defined distribution between places and a per-half-point payment to all participants. FIDE and media communications have also described a combined minimum prize pool of €1,000,000 across the open and women’s events, positioning Cyprus 2026 as a record-setting cycle in financial terms.

Who is hosting the FIDE 2025?

In the context of the Candidates cycle, the key FIDE event in 2025 is the FIDE World Cup, which serves as a major qualifier. The 2025 FIDE World Cup will be hosted in Goa, India, at Resort Rio from 31 October to 27 November 2025. The top three finishers there — Javokhir Sindarov, Wei Yi, and Andrey Esipenko — all qualified directly to the 2026 Candidates in Cyprus.

Where is the next Chess Olympiad in 2026?

The 46th Chess Olympiad in 2026 is scheduled to take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, at the Silk Road International Exhibition Center. FIDE delegations have already inspected the venue, and local authorities have committed to hosting the Olympiad at a high organisational standard.