Exciting changes to the Sligo event in 2026. Now a multi-tournament chess festival. Save the dates in your calender Jan 30th to Feb 8th.

The Sligo event is undergoing a major transformation in 2026 from a weekender to a multi-tournament festival. The Sligo Chess and Culture Festival will have entertainment, social, cultural, and sporting activities, chess talks, workshops, simuls, as well as public facing events.

The primary new tournament is the 9-round open which will run from Monday, February 2nd to Sunday, February 8th. It is understood that most people work Monday to Friday, but there aren't many opportunities to play 9-round events with international competition in Sligo premium playing conditions. This is a brilliant opportunity for Ulster players to enjoy this format of tournament close to home. They can play in a 9-round event, this is a great chance to do so even if it means taking some time off of work - and enjoying a Chess focused holiday. You can choose to play in the 9-round open during the week and then play in the blitz open and the rapid open over the weekend and/or participate in all of the educational chess activities as well as social activities on offer.

Alternatively  players unable to play in the 9-round open, could enjoy playing in the weekender, work during the week, and then come back the next weekend to play in the blitz open, rapid open, and participate in all of the educational chess activities as well as social activities on offer.