Bled Chess Festival 2026 – Reviving a Chess Jewel

By WGM Darja Kapš, Festival Director

For nearly a century, Bled has held a special place in the history of world chess. In 1931, Bled hosted one of the most famous international tournaments of its time, won by World Champion Alexander Alekhine. In the decades that followed, Bled’s chess tournaments welcomed numerous greats of the game, including the legendary Bobby Fischer and Mikhail Tal, who in 1961, together with a lineup of masters, created a true chess spectacle. Many games from Bled’s tournaments have gone down in history as masterpieces and still inspire younger generations on their chess journeys.

The highlight of the modern era came in 2002, when Bled organized the 35th Chess Olympiad, the largest team competition in the world, and again in 2018, when it hosted the World Senior Chess Championships. All this has cemented Bled as one of the most recognizable and desirable chess destinations in Europe.

Reviving Tradition – A Personal Story of the Organizers

The organizers from the chess club Tajfun – ŠK Ljubljana have been connected with chess in Bled since our youth. In the 1990s, we ourselves competed in Bled’s tournaments — among us Grandmasters Luka Lenič, Duško Pavasovič, Jana Krivec, Ana Srebrnič, and Darja Kapš — and later together represented the Slovenian national team at the 2002 Bled Chess Olympiad.

Looking back, we realize how invaluable those moments were: superb playing conditions, legendary tradition, the magic of the location, and the feeling of being part of something greater. This is exactly the experience we want to offer again to chess lovers from around the world.

Bled is a natural jewel — a world-renowned destination where the beauty of the landscape is not just a backdrop but an essential part of the experience. Our goal is not merely to revive Bled’s successful chess past but to create a new, modern festival that offers top-quality playing conditions, opportunities for chess improvement, social interaction, and unforgettable memories. Playing a central role in this will be the festival ambassadors, Austrian Grandmaster Markus Ragger (AUT) and Slovenian Woman Grandmaster Laura Unuk (SLO), who will spend the entire week among the participants — analyzing, discussing, inspiring, and sharing experiences.

Festival Philosophy: Between Competition and Experience

In the chess world, there are events we attend for competition and festivals we attend for the experience. The Bled Chess Festival brings both together. It will take place from 9 to 15 March 2026 in the prestigious Rikli Balance Hotel, which, with its panoramic view of the lake, island, and castle, offers one of the most beautiful playing venues in the world.

Our approach is based on the idea that the most inspiring chess stories are not always written by superstars, but by chess enthusiasts who play purely out of passion. Therefore, the main tournament is designed differently from most traditional chess events.

OPEN Amateur Tournament for Players Rated 2300 or Below

The main classical tournament is open to young talents, hobby players, seniors — to everyone who loves chess, regardless of title. The Swiss system used (Baku Accelerated) includes 9 rounds with a time control of 75 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move, plus a 15-minute addition after move 40. The tournament will be FIDE-rated. Players may take up to three byes.

A substantial prize fund of €6000 awaits the best players, distributed across multiple categories: overall standings, rating groups, women, juniors, seniors, teams, fair play, and fighting spirit.

Alongside the main classical event, the organizers have prepared a rich accompanying program for both players and accompanying persons (parents, coaches, friends…), aiming to offer everyone an experience that goes far beyond the chessboard:

– evening chess gatherings with grandmasters

– a simultaneous exhibition with a GM, rapid, blitz, and Chess960 tournaments

– a seminar on chess psychology

– culinary tastings

– a guided tour of Bled Castle

– a boat trip to the island

– optional morning walks around the lake (also with grandmasters)

Participants can choose from several carefully designed VIP packages, which include various experiences and comfortable accommodation in the official hotels. The packages are structured so that every chess enthusiast — individual player, family, or club — can find the option that best suits their festival experience. Special attention has been given to ensuring that all activities foster a sense of community, intergenerational connection, and genuine chess enthusiasm.

Why Bled Chess Festival Is the Perfect Event for All Generations

• Families appreciate the cozy atmosphere, safety, and the fact that everything — hotel, playing hall, town, and attractions — is just a few steps away.

• Children and youth find an inspiring space where chess further awakens their curiosity and creativity.

• Seniors enjoy a peaceful, relaxed environment ideal for focusing on the game, socializing, and culinary delights.

• Recreational players love the relaxed atmosphere without the pressure of elite competition, yet with excellent playing conditions.

• Ambitious players can challenge themselves in a demanding but welcoming tournament environment.

It is no coincidence that the entire festival will be held under the slogan: “Play, explore, enjoy.” For more details, visit the festival website.

See you in Bled!

Replay significant games held in Bled annotated by GM Markus Ragger

Links

Bled Chess Festival: Official site, fb page and instagram

Tournament Regulations

About the Author

WGM Darja Kapš is the Festival Director of Bled Chess Festival 2026. She played for Slovenia in 35th, 36th and 39th Olympiad. She won the Slovenia Women's Championship in 2001 and 2004.

At the European Team Championship 2001(Spain) she won a silver medal on the second board; in 2003 (ETCC, Bulgaria) she earned a bronze medal on the third board. In 2005, she obtained the title of Woman Grandmaster. After concluding her period of intense competition, she redirected her energy toward broader social and organizational projects. She completed her studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences, where she also earned her master’s degree in 2017.

Between 2009 and 2020, she worked in the public administration, including as Head of the Cabinet of the President of the National Assembly. In parallel, she remained active in the chess world — as a promoter (she received the title of Slovenian Chess Ambassador), organizer and coach (she holds a FIDE trainer license). In 2013, she founded the first chess center in Ljubljana, which later evolved into a chess school, and co-founded the Ljubljana Chess Club together with Grandmasters Luka Lenič and Duško Pavasović. From 2019 to 2023, she served as Vice President of the Slovenian Chess Federation, having previously been a long-standing member of its Executive Board and the Commission for the Promotion of Chess. She actively participated in organizing European Team Chess Championships (2021), European Individual Chess Championship (2022) and other international events, including the Bled Chess Festival (2016, 2017 and 2018) and the Ljubljana Chess Festival (2014 – today). Her work is strongly marked by her dedication to promoting chess among young people, advocating gender equality in sports, and fostering the growth of the chess community.

The article was edited by Shahid Ahmed

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