FIDE and the Chess for Freedom initiative are pleased to announce that registration is now open for two major upcoming events aimed at promoting rehabilitation, education and international cooperation through chess: the 6th Intercontinental Chess Championship for Prisoners and the Chess for Freedom Conference.
6th Intercontinental Chess Championship for Prisoners
The 6th Intercontinental Chess Championship for Prisoners will take place 15– 17 October 2026, bringing together correctional institutions from around the world for one of the largest international sporting events held inside prisons. Since its launch in 2021, the championship has united thousands of incarcerated players representing dozens of countries, demonstrating the unique power of chess to foster critical thinking, discipline, communication and hope. The event has become a cornerstone of the Chess for Freedom programme, highlighting the positive role that chess can play in rehabilitation and personal development. In 2025, the 5th edition of the FIDE Intercontinental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners has set a new participation record, with 135 teams from 57 countries.
Teams and composition
Teams from correctional facilities across the globe are invited to participate, with each country able to register up to three teams: one representing male inmates, one for female inmates, and one for juveniles under 20 years old. Countries that hold national prison chess tournaments may be granted additional teams. In cases where needed, teams can include players from multiple facilities. Each team is composed of four players with an unlimited number of substitutes, all of whom must be incarcerated individuals. Their names and identities will remain protected unless disclosure is permitted by local laws for media purposes.
Format
The event will take place on Chess.com using a time control of 10 minutes plus a 5-second increment per move. On October 15, teams will compete in round-robin groups of up to eight teams, grouped by time zone to ensure fair play conditions. No two teams from the same country will be placed in the same group. The top two teams from each group will move on to the Championship Round on October 16. On October 17, the best teams from each category, men’s, women’s, and youth, will battle for the championship title, while the next two will fight for the third-place spot. Correctional institutions wishing to participate in the 2026 event are invited to complete the registration form.
Registration for the 6th Intercontinental Chess Championship for Prisoners: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/ 1Rfc6HAiIVxAc5j2FKYkTGSGhEQ9vmbBp3mStrcer9ZM/viewform? edit_requested=true
The deadline for registration and additional technical information will be communicated directly to registered participants.
Chess for Freedom Conference 2027
Registration is also open for the next Chess for Freedom Conference, which will be held in Chicago, USA, from 17–19 March 2027. The conference will bring together representatives of prison administrations, policymakers, academics, chess federations, researchers and practitioners from around the world to exchange experiences and discuss best practices in implementing chess-based educational and rehabilitation programmes in correctional facilities. Participants will have the opportunity to attend presentations, panel discussions and workshops dedicated to the social impact of chess, rehabilitation initiatives and international cooperation.
Conference registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/ 1RQM7LDfYCBreHWQffSDEKKQDOp_WT7Pvd5tGJHLnWIQ/viewform? edit_requested=true
Upon receiving the completed registration form, the organizers will issue invitation letters for participants who require visas to travel to the United States.
About Chess for Freedom
The Chess for Freedom programme is a joint initiative of FIDE and Cook County (Chicago, USA) Department of Corrections under Sheriff Thomas Dart, launched to promote chess as an educational and rehabilitative tool in correctional facilities worldwide. Through international competitions, conferences and educational activities, the programme continues to expand its global reach, encouraging cooperation between prison systems while demonstrating how chess can contribute to personal growth, learning and successful reintegration into society. FIDE invites prison administrations, national chess federations and partner organizations to take part in these landmark events and continue strengthening the global Chess for Freedom community.
Official website: https://chessforfreedom.fide.com/