The FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess (WOM) is pleased to announce its cooperation with the Budapest Spring Chess Festival 2026, which will take place in Budapest, Hungary, from 27 February to 7 March 2026.
The Spring Festival is a nine-round Swiss tournament, offering strong competitive opportunities in two groups and aiming to promote women’s chess while supporting players’ development and norm chances. As part of this cooperation, entry fees for all women players are fully waived in both groups, underlining a shared commitment to making high-level chess more accessible and inclusive.
In addition to the main tournament, the event will feature several community-oriented activities, including a Women’s Chess Roundtable discussion on 4 March, creating space for dialogue, exchange, and inspiration among women in chess.
This cooperation also fits into WOM’s broader plans for March, which will once again be dedicated to celebrating women and girls in chess worldwide. The Spring Festival will be included in the upcoming March Women’s Marathon, an initiative that was very successful last year and that will be officially announced soon for 2026.
Already now, WOM warmly invites federations, clubs, organizers, and individuals to start planning March events that are inclusive of girls and women. These do not need to be women-only tournaments — mixed events, educational activities, workshops, festivals, and community initiatives that actively welcome and support women and girls in chess are all encouraged.
We thank the organizers of the Budapest Spring Festival 2026 for this meaningful cooperation and their strong support of women’s participation in chess. Together, we continue building a more open, diverse, and welcoming chess community.
You can find the tournament regulations here:
