December 28, 2025 – January 5, 2026
The Caplin Hastings International Chess Congress celebrates its 99th edition this year. The event runs from 28th December to 5th January 2027.
As the world’s longest-running traditional chess congress, this annual tournament is a highlight for the town. The main event is the Hastings Premier. This section traditionally featured 10 to 16 players in a round-robin format. Recent years have also seen the tournament use the knockout and Swiss systems.
The congress also includes a Challengers section open to all players. The winner earns an invitation to the following year’s Premier. The event typically attracts competitors from over thirty countries. In fact, almost every World Champion except Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov has played here.
The Hastings Chess Club located at 2 Cornwallis Terrace, was founded in 1882 and maintains deep roots in the community. With support from Hastings Borough Council, the event brings global attention to our town. Spectators travel from as far as Singapore and New Zealand, providing a great boost to local businesses.
Make a strong move! Join us at the most historic chess congress in the world.
We offer discounted rates for the congress. See our special offers page for details.