The 59th Biel International Chess Festival officially began on July 11, 2026, at the Biel Congress Center in Switzerland.
The event brings together more than 500 participants, from world-class grandmasters to enthusiastic amateurs.
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The two-week festival runs until July 24, 2026, and includes 12 open competitions alongside its signature elite invitational tournaments, as reported by ChessBase.
Masters Triathlon Highlights
The flagship Masters Triathlon features a six-player field.
Notable participants include former world number two Levon Aronian, who is making his debut at the festival, three-time champion Liem Le, and 15-year-old Turkish prodigy Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus.
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The tournament uses a specialized weighted scoring system across classical, rapid, and blitz formats. Classical wins earn 4 points, rapid wins 2 points, and blitz wins 1 point.
Draws and losses have corresponding lower scores.
Generations Challenge
In parallel, the Generations Challenge pits seasoned legends against rising stars. Competitors include former World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk and 2026 FIDE Women's Candidates winner Vaishali Rameshbabu.
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The festival events continue daily in Switzerland until the closing ceremony on July 24, 2026.
