The 59th Biel Chess Festival will run from 11 to 24 July 2026, and the headline names already give the event real weight. Chess Players Levon Aronian, Erdogmus and Bluebaum are among the Masters Triathlon stars for an occasion that remains far more than a single elite section.
That matters because Biel has built its reputation as Switzerland's largest and internationally renowned chess festival. Alongside the Masters, the programme includes open tournaments and cultural elements, so the event continues to work on several levels at once rather than as a closed invitation-only competition.
Paul Kohler on the Total Chess idea
Paul Kohler has been central to explaining why the festival keeps evolving. He said: "This Total Chess is a genuine chess triathlon: each encounter is played against the same opponent in three consecutive time controls - rapid (10’+5’’), blitz (3’+2’’) and fast standard (60’+30’’)."
That format is important because it adds variety and tests different skills across the same matchup. The Total Chess concept was invented in Biel in 2019, and it is now being tested by FIDE after Kohler strongly advised the governing body to consider it a few years before 2026.
More than a Masters event
The scale of the festival is a major part of its appeal. With twelve open tournaments and players coming from around forty countries, Biel is designed to bring together elite names and ambitious amateurs in the same setting.
Kohler also pointed to that inclusive spirit when he said: "Everyone can sit in the same hall as such legendary players as Levon Aronian or Alexandra Kosteniuk." It is a simple line, but it captures the festival's identity well. Biel is not just about the top board; it is about shared space, atmosphere and a broad chess culture.
What comes next
The build-up begins even before the main dates, with a simultaneous exhibition scheduled for 10 July 2026 as a prelude to the festival. After that, the 59th edition will unfold over two weeks, with the Masters Triathlon and the open events again giving Biel its distinctive mix of prestige and participation.
For chess players, that is the attraction. The stars bring the headline value, but the wider festival structure is what makes Biel one of the most recognisable events on the calendar.
