FIDE is inviting final nominations for its new biennial FIDE Excellence Awards, launched on June 1, 2026, to honor standout achievements across the global chess community, including individuals, events, federations, teams, creators, and initiatives.
Categories and Selection Process for the FIDE Excellence Awards
The awards cover accomplishments from the current two-year Olympiad cycle, beginning after one Chess Olympiad and concluding at the next. The first ceremony is scheduled for September 2026 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, during the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad.
Submissions from the chess community are open across six regular categories and five discretionary categories, recognizing excellence both on and off the board. Nominations must relate to the current Olympiad cycle, and multiple entries are allowed in different categories if each includes supporting information on achievements and impact.
The selection process has three stages. From June 1 to June 30, 2026, nominations are collected online and reviewed by the FIDE Excellence Awards Working Group, which compiles longlists. From July 1 to July 15, 2026, the Jury reviews those longlists and selects shortlists of ten nominees per category, to be published on July 15. In the final stage, the Panel votes on the winners, who will be revealed at the ceremony in Samarkand in September.
The program is designed to highlight world-class players, innovative creators, leading federations, and projects that use chess for positive social impact. The nomination deadline is June 30, 2026. This initiative not only celebrates achievements in the chess world but also encourages greater participation and recognition of the diverse contributions that enhance the game.
For more information about the FIDE Excellence Awards and submission guidelines, visit the official FIDE website.