FIDE Excellence
Awards

Honouring outstanding achievements, individuals, events, teams, federations, and initiatives across the global chess community

Verification & Shortlisting July 1 – 15, 2026
01 About the Awards

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

11
awards 6 regular + 5 discretionary
46th FIDE World Chess Olympiad Hosts the Ceremony
10
nominees per category on the shortlist The winners will be honoured on stage
Achievement period 2 years (September 2024 – August 2026)
02 How It Works

The nomination and selection process takes place in three stages

  1. 01
    Jun 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

  2. Now
    02
    Jul 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

  3. 03
    September 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

About the Awards

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.

The awards recognise excellence over the previous two-year cycle, beginning after each Chess Olympiad and culminating at the next Olympiad. The inaugural FIDE Excellence Awards ceremony will take place in September 2026 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, during the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad.

Awards will be presented across six regular categories and five discretionary categories, celebrating excellence both on and off the board.