The Queens’ Online Chess Festival is set to return for its sixth edition in March 2026, promoting women’s and girls’ involvement in chess worldwide. Organized by FIDE’s Commission for Women’s Chess, the event runs from March 1 to 29 and ties into International Women’s Day celebrations. It offers free participation for all skill levels through two main tournaments.
The festival, part of the Chess4All FIDE WOM Project, welcomes women and girls of all ages globally, including those without ratings. It features the Queens’ Women’s Open Tournament for players with a FIDE ID and the Unrated Princesses’ Tournament for girls under 17 lacking an official rating.
The Women’s Open includes continental online blitz qualifiers in Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas, leading to a semi-final and final to determine the champion. Top finishers in this category will receive prize money, training sessions with Women Grandmasters, and invitations to the World Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan.
Meanwhile, the Princesses’ Tournament awards trophies, diplomas, and FIDE shop vouchers to winners across various age groups. All semi-finals and finals adhere to FIDE’s online fair-play rules, incorporating live video monitoring and statistical reviews post-event.
Registration varies by region and category, with organizers urging early entries ahead of the March schedule. This initiative underscores FIDE’s commitment to fostering female participation in chess on an international scale.
