PokerStars and Paddy Power Poker return to co-organize the 46th edition of Ireland's largest and richest poker festival, running March 26 through April 6 at the Royal Dublin Society in Ballsbridge, Dublin.
The 12-day schedule packs in 86 tournaments, 50-plus cash game tables running around the clock, and a headline Main Event backed by a €2,500,000 guarantee.
Festival at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Dates | March 26 – April 6, 2026 |
| Venue | Royal Dublin Society (RDS), Merrion Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin |
| Tournaments | 86 events |
| Cash Games | 50+ tables, 24/7 |
| Registration Opens | 11 a.m., March 26 |
| Craic Den Hours | Daily, 12 p.m. – 2 a.m. |
Main Event
The €1,150 buy-in Main Event opens Day 1/A on March 29 and plays down to a final table on April 6. Five starting flights are available, each permitting a single re-entry, with late registration open through the first ten levels.
The final stages will be broadcast live, with James Hartigan and Joe Stapleton on commentary and analyst Nick Walsh joined by 2017 Irish Open champion Griffin Benger. The stream goes out across four platforms:
- PokerStars YouTube
- PokerStars Twitch
- PokerStars LIVE Facebook
- Irish Open YouTube
Tournament Highlights
| Event | Buy-In | Guarantee | Start Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish Open Main Event | €1,150 | €2,500,000 | March 29 |
| Luxon Mystery Bounty | €1,150 | €1,000,000 | March 26 |
| Mini Irish Open | €250 | €1,000,000 | March 26 |
| NLH Super High Roller 8-Max | €10,000 | — | April 1 |
| PLO High Roller 8-Max | €5,000 | — | March 30 |
| NLH High Roller 8-Max | €5,000 | — | March 31 |
| Cuarto PLO High Roller 8-Max | €3,000 | — | March 27 |
| Cuatro NLH High Roller 8-Max | €3,000 | — | March 29 |
| High Roller 8-Max | €3,000 | — | April 4 |
New Events for 2026
Several formats make their Irish Open debut this year:
- PLO and NLH Deaf Championships
- Kings and Queens
- Old Dogs and Young Pups
- Ladies High Roller Championship
- Triathlon Championship
- Shoot-Out Championship (capped at 300 entries)
- Flip and Go (multiple Day 1 flights)
- Cuarto PLO High Roller 8-Max
- Cuatro NLH High Roller 8-Max
- Mixed 8-Game Championship High Roller
How to Qualify
Players can earn their way to Dublin through PokerStars' four-step Power Path promotion. Finishing the path awards a Bronze, Silver, or Gold Power Pass, each redeemable for a live package covering tournament entries, travel, and expenses. Step 1 tickets are available at no cost through the PokerStars Rewards program.
Silver Pass winners this month choose between two packages:
Irish Open Emerald Edition
- 1x €1,150 Main Event entry
- 1x €350 side event entry
- 1x €250 Mini Irish Open ticket
- Remaining value credited for expenses
- Limited-edition merchandise and exclusive Irish Open activities
Spraggy's Emerald Edition
- 1x €1,150 Main Event entry
- 1x €550 Mystery Bounty entry
- 1x €250 Mini Irish Open ticket
- Meet-and-greet with Ben "Spraggy" Spragg
- Entry to Spraggy's Quid Games on April 1 in the Craic Den
- Remaining value credited for expenses
- Limited-edition merchandise and exclusive Irish Open activities
Traditional satellites also run on-site throughout the festival at multiple buy-in levels, awarding seats to both the Main Event and selected High Roller events.
At the Venue
The RDS registration desk opens at 11 a.m. on March 26. Online pre-registration via Luxon Pay or PokerStars is strongly recommended. The Craic Den entertainment area runs daily from noon to 2 a.m., featuring live music, games, and contests. On-site food and drink options include a coffee station, sandwich bar, and drinks bar, with food trucks outside the venue.
The complete 2026 Irish Open player guide is free to download via PokerStars and Paddy Power Poker.
