FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship 2026

FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship 2026
Magnus Carlsen, the winner of the Freestyle Chess Championship 2026.
VenueSchloss Weissenhaus
LocationWangels, Germany
Dates13–15 February 2026
Organizing bodyFreestyle Chess Operations
Websitewww.freestyle-chess.com
Champion
Magnus Carlsen

The FIDE Freestyle Chess World Championship 2026 was the first Freestyle Chess World Championship and third official World Chess960 Championship, organized by FIDE and Freestyle Chess Operations. The competition had followed a format similar to the previous editions held in 2019 and 2022; an online play-in open to all titled players determined one player to join seven invited players in the over-the-board final, which took place at the Schloss Weissenhaus resort in Wangels, Germany from 13 to 15 February 2026. Magnus Carlsen won the championship after defeating Fabiano Caruana in the final, securing his maiden Chess960 title and twenty-first world title of his career.

The incumbent Chess960 champion, Hikaru Nakamura, had declined the invitation to defend his title.