2026 PEI Chess Festival - Charlottetown - July 24-26

[Fred McKim]

I’m pleased to share an update on one of Chess PEI’s major events for 2026.

The PEI Open Chess Championship is being expanded and rebranded as the PEI Chess Festival, to be held July 24-26, 2026 at the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown.

The Festival format builds on the long-running PEI Open Chess weekend and will now feature five events over three full days, including:

• ANVO PEI Open Championship (now with a FIDE-rated top section)
• Rapid Championship (new)
• Amateur Championship
• Junior Championship
• Blitz Championship

Full event details are available here:
https://mcc.devastation.ca/peifest26.html

I’m also very happy to announce that International Master Rohan Talukdar has confirmed his participation in the Festival. Rohan competed in the 2024 Maritime Chess Festival, where he tied for first place in the Maritime Open, and we’re delighted to welcome him to Charlottetown in 2026. Depending on budgetary constraints, we may be able to being in one additional featured player. Stay tuned.

More information on IM Rohan Talukdar:
https://mcc.devastation.ca/IM%20Rohan%20Talukdar.pdf

Why July in PEI
Late July is one of the most popular times of year to visit Prince Edward Island. Charlottetown offers a walkable downtown, waterfront activities, festivals, dining, and beaches all within easy reach. For many players and accompanying family members, the PEI Chess Festival provides an opportunity to combine competitive chess with a summer vacation in one of Atlantic Canada’s most attractive destinations.

Accommodations
As in past years, UPEI will be our host venue, with affordable one-, two-, and three-bedroom residence suites available on campus. In addition, we are exploring the option of a featured local hotel to provide an alternative accommodation choice for players who prefer traditional hotel lodging. Details will be shared once confirmed.

This expanded festival format is intended to emulate the success of the Maritime Chess Festival in Summerside, while continuing the PEI Open’s long tradition in Charlottetown. Further announcements will follow in the coming months. Registration details are now available for each event and early bird pricing will be in effect for several months.

Please feel free to share this information with players who may be interested, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions.

Fred

[Fred McKim]

Dreaming of summer - especially when we're getting blasted by snow in a few hours, expected to last 24 hours.

[Fred McKim]

PEI Chess Festival
July 24-26, 2026
UPEI, Charlottetown


02/28
Dear Chess Players and Families,

You are warmly invited to participate in the 2026 PEI Chess Festival, taking place July 24–26, 2026 at the Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering Building at UPEI in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

This three-day festival will feature five exciting events for players of all ages and rating levels:

• ANVO PEI Open Chess Championship
 – Includes a FIDE-rated section
• PEI Rapid Championship
• PEI Blitz Championship
• PEI Junior Championship
• PEI Amateur Championship

We are pleased to announce that International Master Rohan Talukdar is expected to compete, offering participants the opportunity to play against a titled player in a competitive tournament setting.
Venue and Accommodations


The event will be held on the beautiful UPEI campus in Charlottetown.

Participants may choose from convenient accommodation options:

• UPEI Conference Residences — Modern 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom suites on campus
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Charlottetown — Preferred hotel partner offering festival rates
Experience Prince Edward Island in Summer


Late July is one of the most beautiful times to visit PEI, with beaches, festivals, and family attractions throughout the region. The festival schedule allows players and accompanying family members to enjoy the Island between rounds.
Growing Community Support


We are grateful for the support of new community sponsors, including:

• Murphy’s Pharmacies
• The Alley (Murphy’s Community Centre)
• Lone Oak Brewing Co.

Their support is helping us enhance prizes, player experience, and festival activities.
Registration Information


Players are encouraged to register early to assist with planning.

Early Bird Registration is open now, with payment not due until June 8, 2026.

Full event details, schedules, and registration instructions are available on the festival webpage.
https://mcc.devastation.ca/peifest26poster.pdf

We hope you will join us for what promises to be a memorable weekend of chess and community on Prince Edward Island.

Sincerely,

Fred McKim
President, Chess PEI
Organizer — PEI Chess Festival
fredmckim@gmail.com
902-626-5019

[Fred McKim]

PEI Chess Festival
July 24-26, 2026
UPEI, Charlottetown




Dear Chess Players and Families,


I’m pleased to share a March update on the 2026 PEI Chess Festival, taking place July 24–26, 2026 at the Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering Building at UPEI in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

We are now entering the stage where many players begin planning their summer schedules, and we hope a trip to PEI will be part of your plans.

New Prize Announcement

We are excited to announce that an anonymous donor has contributed a $500 winner-take-all prize, which will be added to the already advertised first prize in the ANVO PEI Open Championship.

While only one player will ultimately claim this prize, it is expected to attract additional strong players, which in turn enhances the overall level of competition and experience for all participants.

Additional Support Secured

We have also received a significant Special Events grant from the City of Charlottetown, which will allow us to:

• Invite a second titled player
• Enhance the overall festival experience with additional improvements

Further details on invited players will be announced as they are confirmed.

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Festival Overview

The 2026 PEI Chess Festival will feature five events over three days:

• ANVO PEI Open Chess Championship (including a FIDE-rated section)
• PEI Rapid Championship
• PEI Blitz Championship
• PEI Junior Championship
• PEI Amateur Championship

Click this link to go to our home page to find out more about these events
https://mcc.devastation.ca/peifest26.html

International Master Rohan Talukdar is expected to compete.

---

Venue and Accommodations

The event will be held on the UPEI campus in Charlottetown.

Accommodation options include:

• UPEI Conference Residences — 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom suites (breakfast included)
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Charlottetown — Official hotel partner offering festival rates

---

Growing Community Support

We are grateful for the continued support of our sponsors, including:

• ANVO Pharma
• UPEI School of Mathematical and Computational Sciences
• Murphy’s Pharmacies
• The Alley (Murphy’s Community Centre)
• Lone Oak Brewing Co.

---

Registration

Registration is open, and players are encouraged to register early to assist with planning.

Early Bird registration is in effect, with payment not due until June 8, 2026.

Full details, schedule, and registration information are available here:
https://mcc.devastation.ca/peifest26.html

---

We look forward to welcoming players and families to Charlottetown for a memorable weekend of chess and summer on Prince Edward Island.

Please feel free to share this invitation with others who may be interested.

Feel free to print and advertize our Festival poster
https://mcc.devastation.ca/peifest26.png


Sincerely,
Fred McKim
President, Chess PEI
Organizer — PEI Chess Festival
fredmckim@gmail.com
902-626-5019

[Fred McKim]

It looks like we can bring in a second titled player for this event. Drop me a line if you're interested.

Fred

[Fred McKim]

PEI Chess Festival
July 24-26, 2026
UPEI, Charlottetown




Hello Everyone,

Thank you again for your continued support of the PEI Chess Festival. We’re pleased to share a brief update as preparations continue for this year’s event, taking place July 24–26 at UPEI.

Strong titled player lineup

We’re very pleased to confirm that IM Mark Plotkin (Toronto, ON) will be joining the PEI Chess Festival this summer. Mark is a returning participant from the Maritime Chess Festival and will now be competing in Charlottetown.

He joins IM Rohan Talukdar (Windsor, ON), also a returning Maritime Chess Festival participant. We’re delighted to welcome both players back to Prince Edward Island, and their participation continues to strengthen the competitive field for this year’s Open section.

Growing community support

We’re also pleased to welcome several new Community Sponsors in recent weeks, including:

• Owl’s Hollow
• PEI Brewing Co
• Bookmark
• PEI Escape Room

Their support plays an important role in helping us deliver a strong festival experience, particularly for junior players and community engagement.

Accommodations at UPEI

For players considering staying on campus, UPEI residences offer suite-style accommodations. If anyone is interested in sharing a two o three bedroom suite, feel free to reach out and we will do our best to help coordinate suitable arrangements as we get closer to the event.

Festival details

Full festival information, including event descriptions and registration links, can be found here:
https://mcc.devastation.ca/peifest26.html

Our festival poster is also available for sharing and posting:
https://mcc.devastation.ca/peifest26poster.pdf

We look forward to continuing to build toward a strong event this summer and hope to see many of you in Charlottetown.

Thank you again for your support of community chess on Prince Edward Island.

Best regards,
Fred McKim
President, Chess PEI
chesspei.events@gmail.com