Total Chess organizers announced the rescheduling of the pilot tournament dates on their official website on April 13. The tournament is planned to take place from November 10 to 24, 2026.

On January 6, 2026, organizers scheduled the pilot tournament from October 3 to 15. The plan to hold the full Championship season in 2027 remains confirmed and unchanged. Total Chess organizers did not comment on the date change.

November is the standard month for the World Championship Match. Five Matches were held in November, and two Matches started in November, since 2013. The exact dates of the 2026 Match are unknown at the time of publication.

The Total Chess World Championship Tour is a new series created by Norway Chess and approved by FIDE combining Fast Classic, Rapid, and Blitz disciplines. The Tour aims to crown a unified World Combined Champion across all time controls.

Credit: Lennart Ootes