Registration Open for FIDE World Cadet & Youth Rapid and Blitz 2026

FIDE, in conjunction with the Chess Federation of Serbia, have announced that the FIDE World Cadets Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships 2026 will be held April 14-21, 2026 at the Hotel Zepter 4**** in Vrnjacka Banja, Serbia.

** This is the World Cadet and Youth Rapid and Blitz; It is not the World Cadet with Standard time controls nor the World Youth with Standard time controls. 

TOURNAMENT DETAILS

There will be twelve sections: Open and Girls in age categories Under 18, Under 16, Under 14, Under 12, Under 10, and Under 8.

A player's age as of Jan. 1, 2026 determines their age eligibility for a section.

• Under 18: Players born on or after Jan. 1, 2008
• Under 16: Players born on or after Jan. 1, 2010
• Under 14: Players born on or after Jan. 1, 2012
• Under 12: Players born on or after Jan. 1, 2014
• Under 10: Players born on or after Jan. 1, 2016
• Under 8: Players born on or after Jan. 1, 2018

Each event will be an 11-round Swiss System tournament. The Rapid portion is using a time control of 15 minutes with a five-second increment per move starting from move 1. The Blitz portion is using a time control of five minutes with a three-second increment per move starting from move 1.

The full schedule for all rounds can be viewed within the regulations document at https://www.fide.com/wp-content/uploads/Regulations-WCYRB-2026.pdf. 

ACCOMMODATIONS

For security and organizational reasons, all participants must stay at the official event hotel booked through US Chess. The organizer offers the following accommodation option: Hotel Fontana **** / Hotel “Fontana” is located 200 m to the playing hall.

• Single Room - $133/night (must be 18+ years old)
• Double Room - $105/night/person = $210/night for 2 people
• Triple Person Suite - $95/night/person = $285/night for 3 people
• Four Person Suite (two double rooms) - $95/night/person = $380/night for 4 people

For all accredited participants and accompanying persons, the organizer will provide the transfer services from Belgrade "Nikola Tesla" airport, from Nis "Konstantin Veliki" airport and from Kraljevo "Morava" airport to the official hotels only on April 14th (arrivals) as well as the departure transfer on April 21st (departures) free of charge.

REGISTRATION - DEADLINE IS February 27!

US Chess is accepting entries for USA players up until Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, 5:00 p.m. CST. This deadline is imposed due to the organizers' registration deadline of March 20.

Registration Link: FIDE World Cadet & Youth - Rapid and Blitz Championships 2026 --- Google Form

Once you have completed the form, US Chess will send you an invoice which must be paid no later than Friday, March 6, 2026, 5:00 p.m. CST.

Please note, the following additional fees will be charged:

• Tournament Registration Fee - $120/player
• FIDE Entry Fee - $85/player
• Special Accreditation Fee for Accompanying Persons - $73/additional accompanying persons
• US Chess Administrative Fee - $300/player
• Accommodations fee 

A current US Chess membership through the end of the tournament (April 2026) is required for all U.S. participants.

A USA-flagged FIDE ID is required for all U.S. players.

If you do not currently have a FIDE ID, please complete our FIDE ID Request Form at https://forms.gle/fCCTis7WgtJEb2rv6.

REFUND POLICY - DEADLINE IS March 6!

Refunds must be requested by the specific date for your registration deadline (March 6). After your respective registration deadline date, no refund will be provided, unless the tournament is canceled by the organizers. Both players' registration information and funds would have been transferred to the event organizers to secure hotel accommodations, accreditations, ground transportation, and tournament entry after the March 6 deadline. 

TRAVEL WAIVERS

All players will be required to sign a waiver for participation before their entry into the tournament is confirmed. Please visit the USA State Departments Travel Advisory website for the latest information regarding traveling to Serbia for US Travelers.
 

QUESTIONS

If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Brian Yang, US Chess FIDE Events Manager at Click here to show email address.