FIDE Excellence
Awards
Honouring outstanding achievements, individuals, events, teams, federations, and initiatives across the global chess community
Celebrating excellence both on and off the board
The FIDE Excellence Awards is a new biannual awards programme established in 2026 by the International Chess Federation to honour outstanding achievements, individuals, events, teams, federations, and initiatives across the global chess community
46th FIDE World Chess Olympiad Hosts the Ceremony
The nomination and selection process takes place in three stages
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Now Open
01Jun 1 – 30, 2026
Nominations
The chess community submits nominations online. The FIDE Excellence Awards Working Group reviews all entries and compiles initial longlists, screening out candidates who do not meet the stated criteria
Submit a Nomination -
02Jul 1 – 15, 2026
Verification & Shortlisting
The FIDE Excellence Awards Jury, appointed by the FIDE President, in consultation with the Management Board and the FIDE Excellence Awards Working Group, reviews the longlists and selects the official shortlist in each category. Shortlists will contain ten nominees and will be published on July 15, 2026
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03September 2026
Selection of Winners
The FIDE Excellence Awards Panel votes to determine the winners in each category. Winners will be announced during the official FIDE Excellence Awards ceremony in Samarkand September 2026 during the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad
Awards will be presented across six regular categories
and five discretionary categories
Regular Nominations
06 AwardsDiscretionary Nominations
05 AwardsSubmit a Nomination
Recognise an outstanding individual, event, team, federation or initiative from the 2024–2026 Olympiad cycle
Select a category above to see the fields you need to complete. The set of fields depends on the chosen award.
Nomination Received
Thank you. Your submission has been recorded and will be reviewed by the FIDE Excellence Awards Working Group.