FIDE Launches Excellence Awards to Celebrate Outstanding Contributions to Chess
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has officially launched the FIDE Excellence Awards, a new biennial awards program designed to honor outstanding achievements across the global chess community.
The awards will recognize exceptional players, organizers, federations, teams, creators, and projects that have helped chess grow and make a positive impact around the world.
First Awards Ceremony in Samarkand
The inaugural FIDE Awards ceremony will be held in September 2026 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, during the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad.
The awards will cover achievements made during each two-year Olympiad cycle, beginning after one Chess Olympiad and ending at the next.
Nominations Now Open
FIDE has opened nominations and is inviting chess enthusiasts worldwide to submit candidates through the official FIDE Excellence Awards website.
FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich emphasized that excellence in chess goes beyond results on the board.
According to him, the awards will also recognize outstanding work in tournament organization, chess education, federation development, innovation, media coverage, and projects that create meaningful social impact through chess.
Award Categories
The FIDE Excellence Awards will feature:
- Six regular award categories
- Five discretionary award categories
These awards aim to celebrate excellence both on and off the chessboard.
Three-Stage Selection Process
The winners will be chosen through a three-stage process.
Stage One: Community Nominations
From June 1 to June 30, 2026, members of the global chess community can submit nominations online.
After nominations close, the FIDE Excellence Awards Working Group will review all submissions and create longlists for each category.
Stage Two: Shortlist Selection
From July 1 to July 15, 2026, the FIDE Excellence Awards Jury will evaluate the longlists and select the official shortlists. Each category will feature 10 shortlisted nominees, with the lists being published on July 15, 2026.
Stage Three: Final Voting
The FIDE Excellence Awards Panel will then vote to determine the winners. The winners will be announced during the official awards ceremony in Samarkand in September 2026.
Celebrating Excellence Across the Chess World
The FIDE Awards will shine a spotlight on world-class players, rising creators, successful federations, innovative projects, and initiatives that use chess to make a positive difference in society.
By recognizing achievements both on and off the board, FIDE hopes to inspire further growth and development throughout the global chess community.
Nomination Deadline: June 30, 2026
Photos: FIDE_Chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
