The 2026 European Youth Chess Championship will take place from 2-13 November, 2026 in Hersonissos, Creta, Greece.
The event will be played in six age categories: U8, U10, U12, U14, U16 and U18, open and girls sections separately. Each championship will be played in 9 rounds, swiss system, with the time control of 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment per each move, starting from move one.
The Championships will be played at ****Royal & Imperial Belvedere Resort in Hersonissos, Crete, which is also the official hotel of the event.
Each federation can register one (1) invited player in each of the categories – under 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 (open and girls sections), and the maximum number of twelve (12) players (“invited players”). Federations can register unlimited number of extra players. The players placed 1-3 in the European Youth Chess Championship 2025 will have the personal right to participate in the championship in the corresponding age-category or a higher age-category if they fulfil the conditions that they have not reached the age of 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 or 18 years, respectively, by January 1st, 2026.
All players must register through their national federations before the 21st of August, 2026 (registration deadline).
The organizer will arrange transfers between the “Nikos Kazantzakis” IATA: HER and the official hotel of the event. Transfer is free for all players and accredited persons on the first day 2nd November (arrival day) and the last day 13th November (departure day).
Requests for visa invitation letters, if needed, shall be included in the application form and submitted to the organizer before the application deadline. These requests must be processed earlier by e-mail no later than 21st of August 2026. The Organizers are not responsible in case the applicants fail to meet all the requirements to obtain a VISA to enter Greece.
Tournament schedule:
Prizes:
The first three players in each group will be awarded medals; the first five players in each group
will be awarded cups and valuable prizes. Each participant will receive presents. Diplomas will be sent to the top five players in each group, in electronic format, after the end of the event. The Winners of each section will receive the title of the European Youth Chess Champions 2026 for the respective age category.
Contact information:
Tournament Director – IO Nikos Kalesis
E-mail: chess.at.events@gmail.com
Tournament website: eycc2026.com
Official invitation and tournament regulations can be downloaded below.