2026 National High School (K-12) Championship, Friday March 27 – Sunday March 29, 2026
https://new.uschess.org/nhs-championships-2026
Rules
Information about entry fee, ratings, rules, and regulations. The information for the main event is the same for all sections.
Click here to Register for the Main Event
Main Event Entry Fees
For all sections!
- $105 online or postmarked by 2/16/2026
- $160 online or postmarked by 3/2/2026
- $235 online ONLY by 3/16/2026
- $360 online ONLY by 3/27/2026
- $400 on-site until 10am Friday 3/28/2026 – See Scholastic Regulations for details on required byes for on-site entries.
- $40 for section changes requested after 2/23/2026
- $40 for any roster changes made after 2/23/2026
- NO registrations by phone.
- NO mailed registrations postmarked after 2/16/2026 will be accepted.
- 100% Entry refunds available if notified by email to Click here to show email address by 2/23/2026. Refunds requested after 2/23/2026 or in person at Chess Control by 11 a.m. CT on 3/26/2026 will incur a $40 service charge. No refunds after 11am 3/26/2026.
BADGING – US Chess will issue badges to all participants. Badges will be required to enter the defined playing area. Please click here to read about the Badging process.
Main event information
- All sections will consist of seven rounds with Swiss system pairings, and a time control of G/90 d10.
- US Chess reviews complete rating history for all players, per the Scholastic Regulations.
- Please bring clocks. Players are responsible for knowing how to set and operate their clock.
- Chess sets and score sheets provided.
- US Chess membership through March 2026 is required.
- Up to two 1/2 point byes available any round if requested before round 1.
- A half-point bye in round 1 must be requested at the time of registration, or on-site before 11 AM Friday.
- A half-point bye request for rounds 2-7 not requested in advance must be requested two hours before the scheduled start of round 2.
- The March 2026 rating supplement will be used in compliance with the Scholastic Regulations.
General Questions, including withdrawals and refunds: contact nationalevents@uschess.org.
Registration for other events
Click here for info about the Blitz HS National (K-12) Championship. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Click here for info about the Special Guest GM Simul Exhibition. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Click here for info about the HS Nationals Friends & Family Tournament. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Click here for info about the Bughouse HS National (K-12) Championship. Registration is on-site only at Chess Control.
Schedule
Click here for a complete schedule, sorted by Day/Time – Printable PDF
Click here for a complete schedule, sorted by Event – Printable PDF
In the blue dropdown menus below, you’ll find the schedule of all events from March 26 through 29, broken down by day. Select a day from the menu below to see all events for that day.
Note that, all weekend, the skittles room, chess store, and apparel vendor will all be in TBA (Skittles)
All Girls Club (link coming soon) events will be in Room TBA. For these rooms, hours will be posted on-site.
For the first time, we will have live commentary of every round, with WGM Sabina Foisor’s coverage available on Twitch. Submit games for analysis at (link coming soon).
All times below are in CT, and all end times are approximate. For a map of the venue, click here.
All sections will consist of 7 rounds with Swiss system pairings. All rounds will be played at a time control of G/90;d10 except K-12 Unrated, K-12 Under-800, and K-12 Under-1200. These sections will play three rounds of G/60;d10 on Friday. Read more here.
- Thursday, March 26
-
Time
Event
Location
9:00am – 10:00am
Bughouse – Registration (onsite only)
Chess Control
11:00am – 2:00pm
HS Nationals K-12 Bughouse Championship
TBD
Online + Onsite – 4:00pm
Blitz – Registration
TBD
5:00pm – 9:00pm
HS Nationals K-12 Blitz Championship
TBD
- Friday, March 27
-
Time
Event
Location
9:00am – 11:00am
Guest GM – Simultaneous Exhibition
TBD
9:30am – 10:30am
My First Tournament Seminar (optional)
TBD
12:45pm – 1:00pm
Opening Ceremony
TBD
1:00pm – 4:30pm
Round 1 (Champ, U1900, U1600) G/90;d10
TBD
1:00pm – 3:30pm
Round 1 (U1200, U800, Unrated) G/60;d5
TBD
3:30pm – 5:30pm
Guest GM – “All Comers” Blitz
TBD
4:30pm – 7:00pm
Round 2 (U1200, U800, Unrated) G/60;d5
TBD
6:00pm – 9:30pm
Round 2 (Champ, U1900, U1600) G/90;d10
TBD
7:30pm – 10:00pm
Round 3 (U1200, U800, Unrated) G/60;d5
TBD
- Saturday, March 28
-
Time
Event
Location
8:45am – 9:00am
Presentation of Blitz Individual Winners
TBD
9:00am – 12:30pm
Round 3 (Champ, U1900, U1600) G/90;d10
TBD
9:00am – 12:30pm
Round 4 (U1200, U800, Unrated) G/90;d10
TBD
9:00am – 10:00am
F&F Tournament – Registration (onsite only)
TBD
10:30am – 12:30pm
F&F Tournament – Round 1
TBD
12:30pm – 1:45pm
Guest GM – Lecture
TBD
12:30pm – 2:30pm
F&F Tournament – Round 2
TBD
1:15pm – 1:30pm
Presentation of Blitz Team Winners
TBD
1:30pm – 5:00pm
Round 4 (Champ, U1900, U1600) G/90;d10
TBD
1:30pm – 5:00pm
Round 5 (U1200, U800, Unrated) G/90;d10
TBD
2:15pm – 3:15pm
Scholastic Meeting
TBD
2:30pm – 4:30pm
F&F Tournament – Round 3
TBD
3:30pm – 4:30pm
Chess in Education Discussion
TBD
3:30pm – 5:30pm
Guest GM – “All Comers” Blitz
TBD
4:30pm – 6:30pm
F&F Tournament – Round 4
TBD
5:45pm – 6:00pm
Presentation of Bughouse Team Winners
TBD
6:00pm – 9:30pm
Round 5 (Champ, U1900, U1600) G/90;d10
TBD
6:00pm – 9:30pm
Round 6 (U1200, U800, Unrated) G/90;d10
TBD
- Sunday, March 29
-
Time
Event
Location
8:45am – 9:00am
Presentation of Scholar-Chessplayer Awards
TBD
9:00am – 12:30pm
Round 6 (Champ, U1900, U1600) G/90;d10
TBD
9:00am – 12:30pm
Round 7 (U1200, U800, Unrated) G/90;d10
TBD
11:00am – 12:00pm
Guest GM Lecture
TBD
1:30pm – 5:00pm
Round 7 (Champ, U1900, U1600) G/90;d10
TBD
Time TBD
Awards Ceremony (U1200, U800, Unrated)
TBD
2:00pm – 4:00pm
Guest GM – “All Comers” Blitz
TBD
6:00pm onwards
Awards Ceremony (Champ, U1900, U1600)
TBD
Hotel and Venue Information
Hotel
Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk
301 E. North Water St., Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 464-1000
HR: $179 single/double/triple/quad
BOOK HERE
Venue
Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk Meeting Space. Click here for more detailed floor plans.
Food
Click here for several on-site dining options available at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk.
2026 National High School (K-12) Championship, March 27-29
Sheraton Grand Chicago
301 E. North Water St., Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 464-1000
HR: $179 single/double/triple/quad
All US Chess National Events Calendar Listings:
https://new.uschess.org/national-events-calendar