If you are the type of person who likes to plan your live poker events well in advance, you will be delighted to learn that the 2026 Irish Open schedule is in the public domain. The 46th edition of Ireland’s largest and richest poker event takes place at the Royal Dublin Society between March 26 and April 6, 2026.
Once again, the Irish Open is joining forces with online poker sites PokerStars, Paddy Power Poker, and some select sites on the iPoker Network. The collaboration resulted in more than 1,300 players winning their 2025 Irish Open Main Event seats online, ultimately resulting in a record-breaking 4,562-strong crowd, €4,447,950 prize pool, and a €600,000 prize for the eventual champion, Simon Wilson.
Cedric Billot, the Associate Director of Live Events at PokerStars, is thrilled to continue the collaboration with the Irish Open.
“We are delighted to continue our highly successful collaboration with the Irish Open for the fourth year running. The Irish Open exemplifies the very best of live poker and offers an unforgettable experience. Nothing beats the community spirit at this multi-award-winning festival, and we are looking forward to keeping the buzz going for 2026 and welcoming our numerous online qualifiers and next year’s event.”
Three Seven Figure Guaranteed Events
The 2026 Irish Open Main Event should be equally, if not more, spectacular than this year’s edition. It comes with a massive €2.5 million guarantee on its prize pool for a €1,150 buy-in. Day 1a of the Irish Open Main Event shuffles up and deals at noon on March 29, with a turbo-structured Day 1e wrapping up the flights on April 3. Play then heads into Day 2 on April 4 and Day 3 on April 5 before crowning its champion on April 6.
The Irish Open’s Paul O’Reilly cannot wait to welcome players from far and wide to the 2026 Irish Open festival.
“The Irish Open has always been about more than just cards and chips – it’s a tradition, a gathering, and a massive annual celebration of the game we all love. From the very first hand dealt back in 1980, the Irish Open has always carried the spirit of Irish hospitality, competition, and community. We’ve been breaking records every year, and the 2025 festival was just incredible – thousands of entries and some truly amazing nights in The Craic Den. We’ve got lots of plans for 2026 and aim to make next year’s festival even bigger and better than before.”
Two other events have seven-figure guarantees on their prize pools: the €1,150 buy-in Luxon Mystery Bounty and the value-packed €250 buy-in Mini Irish Open. Both guarantee that at least €1 million will be awarded. The 2025 editions of these events paid out €1,191,450 and €1,309,447, respectively.
The bustling 2026 Irish Open schedule has something for everyone. Buy-ins range from €120 to €5,000, while formats and variants include No-Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha, Sviten Special, 8-Game Mix, and a unique Old Dogs and Young Pups similar to the recent Battle of the Ages event at the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP).
Massive tournaments aside, the Irish Open is famed for its busy and vibrant cash games. A dedicated cash game area boasting up to 50 tables will be open around the clock, meaning you will always find action regardless of the time of day.
Book Your Accomodation Early to Avoid Disappointment
Those planning to attend the 2026 Irish Open are encouraged to book accommodation early because of the festival’s popularity. The Irish Open’s organizers suggest the Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge (€207 per night for bed and breakfast), the Herbert Park Hotel (€215), the Intercontinental Hotel (€330), the Sandymount Hotel (€175), or visiting their travel partner MainEventTravel.com.
The 2026 Irish Open may be six months away, but there is already a significant buzz building up around the festival.
Senior Editor
