PICF 2027: 9th Edition Brings New Challenges and a New 28+ Tournament
In February 2027, the Prague International Chess Festival will return to the Don Giovanni Hotel for its ninth edition. The Festival regulations have now been published, and players can choose from a wide variety of tournaments. This year also introduces a new event: the 28+ Tournament, open to all players born in 1999 or earlier. However, the Festival will offer much more than chess games.
The 9th edition of the Prague International Chess Festival will take place from 16th to 26th February 2027 at the Don Giovanni Hotel Prague. The newly published regulations bring a programme designed for chess players of all performance levels.
The Festival's traditional events include the closed Masters, Challengers, and Futures tournaments, as well as an open tournament with the opportunity to earn a GM norm for the players. The winner of the Challengers tournament will qualify for the Masters 2028, and the winner of the Open tournament will earn a place in the Challengers 2028. The best Open player registered with the Czech Chess Federation will qualify for the 2027 Czech Championship.
New event: 28+ Tournament
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his year will also bring a new tournament designed for a specific age group. The 28+ Tournament is an open event for players born in 1999 or earlier. It will take place from 21 to 25 February and will consist of five rounds. The results will count for FIDE and the Czech LOK rating system.
One more important note: all rounds are played in the morning, with each round starting at 9:00.
In this way, we want to create space to players who see the chess festival as an opportunity to play high-quality games, meet friends, enjoy time spent at the chessboard, and still have enough time to watch the Masters games in the afternoon and attend the evening cultural programme.
Chess In Many Forms
In 2027, the Festival will once again offer much more than regular chess games. The side programme includes rapid and blitz chess, Basque chess, Fischer Random Chess, and a pairs blitz tournament. Visitors can also enjoy bughouse chess or a solving competition.
The festival will also feature the Grand Prix Don Giovanni 2027. The overall score will be determined by results from thirteen Festival tournaments and daily quizzes. This means that the winner will not be decided by a single tournament, but by their overall activity and success throughout the Festival.
The winner of the Grand Prix will receive a special Festival prize, including Festival merchandise signed by all Masters players and a commemorative picture they can take with the Masters players. In the Grand Prix, you will be competing not only for points, but also for the opportunity to take home a truly unique souvenir from Prague.
The Festival Doesn't End at the Chessboard
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n 2027, the Festival will once again offer much more than just tournaments. We are preparing a varied programme of side events that will connect chess with culture, sport, and many other areas. Details of individual events will be announced in the upcoming months. Several events are still in preparation, and more information will be revealed gradually. There is plenty to look forward to, but some parts of the Festival will remain a secret for now.
One thing is for sure, though: In February 2027, Prague will once again have its chess centre.
PICF Player Card and PICF Fan Card
Participants in the Open, Rating, and 28+ tournaments will receive a digital PICF Player Card, which can be downloaded to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. The card provides quick access to tournament information, instant notifications about schedule changes and important updates, current Grand Prix standings, and a range of Festival benefits.
PICF also cares about its fans. For those who want to be even closer to the Festival, there is the PICF Fan Card. It offers holders special discounts, access to Festival news before it is officially published, and the opportunity to enter competitions for great prizes.
All tournaments will take place at the Don Giovanni Hotel, where Festival accommodation is also available. The PICF 2027 regulations have now been published. Registration for the Open and Rating tournaments, as well as accommodation bookings, is open until 2nd February 2027.
Do you want to know what PICF is planning before everyone else? Download a PICF Fan Card and become part of the Festival, not just as a visitor, but as a fan.
The ninth edition of the Prague International Chess Festival is drawing closer. Come and be part of it.