The International Chess Federation has launched media accreditation for the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament and the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, set to take place in Paphos, Cyprus. These events will feature eight top players each in a double round-robin format from March 18 to April 16. Winners will earn the right to challenge for the world chess championships.
The FIDE Candidates Tournament and the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament represent the final qualifying stage in the FIDE World Championship cycle. Each competition will involve eight of the world's strongest players facing off in 14 rounds of classical chess under double round-robin rules. Scheduled for March 18 to April 16, 2026, in Paphos, Cyprus, the tournaments are known for their demanding nature in professional chess.
Media representatives can now apply for accreditation through the official form at candidates2026.fide.com/accreditation-for-media. Eligible applicants include members of the written press, photographic press, online media, and those affiliated with FIDE National Member Federations. Badges will be issued onsite upon presentation of a valid photo-containing travel document. Organizers promise a supportive environment with facilities matching those at major FIDE events.
In a related development, FIDE has outlined qualification paths for the 2027 FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship. This event, featuring eight players in a mix of online and over-the-board formats from April 2026 to January 2027, includes spots for the top three finishers from the 2026 championship, one from the Grenke Freestyle Chess Open (April 2-6, 2026), two from designated tournaments, one from the Freestyle Friday series on Chess.com, and one from an online event in early January 2027. Freestyle Chess, also called Chess960 or Fischer Random, builds on prior FIDE events held in 2019 and 2022.
Full regulations for the freestyle championship are available on the FIDE website, with spots allocated based on sporting criteria if withdrawals occur. The official site for the candidates events is candidates2026.fide.com.
