FIDE, the Italian Chess Federation and UniChess invite all national chess federations to participate in the World Youth Chess Championships 2026 in Montesilvano, Italy. The event will be held from June 14 (official day of arrival) to June 27, 2026 (official day of departure).
Every national federation is entitled to register one official player in each of the six categories: U14, U16, U18 (Open and Girls). This provides a total of six invited official players, plus one accredited accompanying official (Head of Delegation) with a valid FIDE ID.
The following players also have the personal right to participate:
- The top three players from the previous World Youth Championships in the U14, U16, U18 categories.
- The gold medalists of the previous edition may choose to play in their corresponding age category or in a higher age category.
- The Champions (gold medalists) of the last Continental Youth Championships.
Registration deadline and the deadline for visa data documentation submission are April 7, 2026.
An extensive summer programme is planned for all participants, including excursions, beach access, a blitz tournament, a football match, and other activities.
Invitation letter, regulations, schedule (PDF)
Email: worldyouth@fide.com
Official website: chessworldyouth.com/
The full regulations and registration form are available on the official website.