Candidates 2026: Venue, side events & expert forecasts

Sixteen elite players, a cliffside resort, and a festival of chess

By Barmoiben Kipkemoi Araap Korir · edwinkorir@gmail.com

🏝️ A festival of chess on the Mediterranean

With just days remaining before the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournaments begin, excitement is reaching a crescendo. Sixteen elite players – eight in the open section, eight in the women’s – will soon descend on the Cap St Georges Hotel and Resort in Pegeia, Cyprus, for the fourteen‑round double round‑robin that will determine the next challengers for the world championship titles. The tournament runs from 28 March to 16 April 2026, and organisers have prepared a full programme of side events, fan activities, and expert commentary to enhance the spectator experience.

FIDE’s official press release describes the event as “one of the most demanding competitions in the chess calendar”, with a festival atmosphere that reflects growing anticipation worldwide.

🏨 The venue: Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort

Perched on the unspoiled coastline of Peyia, Paphos, the Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort is an award‑winning luxury destination that blends elegance, tranquillity, and excellence. Surrounded by landscaped gardens with centuries‑old olive trees, the resort offers a setting designed for privacy and comfort.

Players and spectators will enjoy exceptional facilities:

• Olive Tree Beach and Kafizis Beach – a beachfront framed by natural surroundings
• Outdoor and heated indoor swimming pools
• Spa and wellness centre with fully equipped fitness facilities
• Ten restaurants and bars offering refined international and local cuisine

Both the open and women’s tournaments will be held under one roof, with a dedicated playing hall, VIP viewing areas, and a spacious fan zone.

🎉 Side events & fan zone

The tournament is more than just elite chess. The Pafos Municipality & Pafos Chess Club are hosting the 4th International Open Tournament from 13–19 April, overlapping the Candidates’ final week. This 9‑round classical Swiss has a €5,000 prize fund and has already attracted 10 GMs and numerous titled players. Ideal for norm and title seekers, the full lineup is available on the official website.

The fan zone, hosted by Angelika Valkova, will feature daily activities:

♟️ Master classes

♟️ Simultaneous displays

♟️ Lectures & Q&A sessions

♟️ Player interviews & photo opportunities

Legendary players confirmed to appear include Vishy Anand, Nigel Short, Boris Gelfand, Victor Bologan, and Alexandra Kosteniuk. The schedule is evolving; check the fan zone page for updates.

Tickets are available at tickets.fide.com. Standard tickets grant access to the viewing area and fan zone; VIP packages include exclusive lounge access, premium seating, all‑day catering, and a chance to play a grandmaster.

🎙️ Expert forecasts

Over the past few days, several top experts have shared their insights on the tournament.

“The Candidates is one of the great competitions in chess. People are very‑highly motivated, and they have a chance to play for the world title, which is obviously the big prize. We have four people who are new and four who have played the Candidates before. Bluebaum is a bit of a surprise; Wei Yi and Esipenko, you sort of think they could be in there. Fabiano and Hikaru are getting on in age – it doesn’t show, but in a long event you never know. I think youngsters almost always have more energy.”
— Viswanathan Anand, five‑time world champion

“I think that the good old game‑after‑game strategy does apply. It’s good to score points at any moment, but the players will start taking more risks when they are at plus one and there’s not that much tournament to go. You can’t really pace yourself in the Candidates, but sometimes when a player gets to plus three, they freeze a little bit or stop taking risks and wait for the moment to score against a lower‑rated opponent.”
— Jan Gustafsson, onsite commentator

“For me this has always been the most exciting tournament of the year, and definitely one of my highlights of the year. I don’t think there is a clear favourite, but if I had to pick a player with a gun to my head I would go with Fabiano Caruana. He is so consistent and has a fantastic record playing in the Candidates. However, it’s a very interesting field this year – Praggnanandhaa also has a decent shot.”
— Peter Svidler, eight‑time Russian champion and three‑time Candidates contender

📅 Practical information

• Dates: 28 March – 16 April 2026
• Venue: Cap St Georges Hotel and Resort, Pegeia, Cyprus
• Format: 8‑player double round‑robin (14 rounds)
• Time control: 120 minutes for 40 moves + 30 minutes for the rest + 30‑second increment from move 41
• Official website: candidates2026.fide.com
• Tickets: tickets.fide.com

All games will be broadcast live on FIDE’s YouTube channel with commentary by Svidler, Gustafsson, and special guests.

© 2026 · The Gauntlet · A chess history series

Source: FIDE Press Release / ChessBase News / Michal Walusza photos