The International Chess Federation (Fide) has received four bids to host the 2026 World Amateur Championships and one for the new Rapid and Blitz edition. Bids came from the UAE, Spain, China, and Nigeria by the January 26 deadline. The evaluation process is now underway, with hosts to be announced later.
The Fide Events Commission announced that it has gathered several proposals for organizing the 2026 World Amateur Championships, marking a new format for the event. Submissions closed on January 26, 2026, resulting in four bids for the main championships and one additional proposal for the inaugural World Amateur Rapid and Blitz Championships, which is a new tournament category introduced by Fide. This development follows the federation's call for bids earlier, aiming to select suitable venues for these prestigious amateur-level competitions. For the standard World Amateur Championships, the interested parties include: - United Arab Emirates (Fujairah), proposing dates from October 15 to 22, 2026; - Spain (Sitges), suggesting October 29 to November 5, 2026; - China (Shenzhen), planning for October 15 to 25, 2026; - Nigeria (Abuja), offering September 1 to 8, 2026. Separately, Nigeria (Abuja) also submitted a bid for the Rapid and Blitz Championships, set for May 31 to June 8, 2026. These bids reflect growing global interest in hosting Fide's amateur events, which attract players rated below 2300 Elo and emphasize fair play among non-professional competitors. The evaluation will consider factors such as facilities, logistics, and compliance with Fide standards. Once completed, Fide plans to reveal the chosen hosts, ensuring the tournaments proceed as scheduled in late 2026. This process underscores Fide's commitment to expanding chess accessibility worldwide through well-organized international gatherings.