DUBLIN — Eighty-six tournaments and more than 280 tables headline the 2026 Irish Open, which opens March 26 at the Royal Dublin Society in Ballsbridge and runs through April 6, with co-sponsors PokerStars and PaddyPower returning for another year. The RDS operates around the clock for the full run of the festival.
The Headline Numbers
The Main Event anchors the schedule with a €2.5 million guarantee, five starting flights and a single re-entry per flight. It gets underway March 29 and plays to a winner on April 6.
The Mini Irish Open runs the length of the festival with a €1 million guarantee, 14 starting flights and unlimited re-entries — more starting flights than any previous edition.
The Luxon Pay Mystery Bounty, coming off a strong 2025 debut, opens the festival at noon on March 26 with the first of four starting flights, also backed by a €1 million guarantee.
| Event | Guarantee | Dates | Flights | Re-entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Event | €2,500,000 | Mar 29 – Apr 6 | 5 | Single per flight |
| Mini Irish Open | €1,000,000 | Mar 26 – Apr 6 | 14 | Unlimited |
| Luxon Pay Mystery Bounty | €1,000,000 | Mar 26 – 31 | 4 | Single per flight |
| Super High Roller | €10,000 buy-in | Apr 1 – 2 | N/A | Unlimited |
| Ladies High Roller | €1,150 buy-in | Apr 5 – 6 | N/A | Single |
| Deaf Championship | €200 buy-in | Mar 26 – 28 | N/A | Single |
New Events and Fresh Formats
The 2026 schedule adds 17 tournaments over last year and introduces a range of formats that have never been played in Ireland before. Cuatro Knockouts, Sviten Special, Flip and Go, a Shoot-out Championship and a Triathlon Championship are among the new arrivals. Kings and Queens and Old Dogs and Young Pups also appear on the card.
First-time standalone events include a Mixed 8-Game Championship High Roller, a Ladies High Roller and a PLO Five Card tournament. The Deaf Championship expands into a dedicated "festival within a festival" for deaf players. The APAT Championship returns after a popular previous run.
Getting Into the Main Event
Online satellites on PokerStars, PaddyPower and the iPoker network feed directly into the Main Event. More than 1,300 players qualified through that route in 2025. At the RDS, 17 live satellites run from March 29 through April 4. All use a milestone format: a seat is awarded the moment a player reaches either 50,000 or 100,000 chips, depending on the buy-in. Live satellites for the Luxon Pay Mystery Bounty and all High Roller events are also on the schedule.
Cash Games
The dedicated cash game room runs 24 hours a day with 50-plus tables and its own bar and food station. An automated registration system handles table assignments. Any variant is available subject to demand, starting from €1/€2 NLH and PLO. Players can transfer funds to the cage via Luxon Pay. An ATM is on-site for those who need it.
Broadcast Details
Live streaming starts Friday, April 3 and concludes with the Main Event final table on April 6. James Hartigan and Joe Stapleton call the action alongside PokerStars Team Pro Nick Walsh and 2017 Irish Open champion Griffin Benger. The broadcast runs on the PokerStars YouTube channel, PokerStars Twitch, the PokerStars LIVE Facebook page and the Irish Open YouTube channel.
Venue, Travel and Accommodation
Tournaments run in the RDS Main Hall, with Hall 2 added from March 31. The registration desk opens at 11 a.m. on March 26. Photo ID is required. Late registration runs for the first eight levels for most events; the Main Event and Mini Irish Open allow late entry through the first ten levels.
The Aircoach Route 702/703 connects Dublin Airport to the RDS in 30 to 40 minutes for roughly €8 to €13 one way. Taxis run €30 to €40 and take about 20 to 30 minutes. On-site parking is €10 per day.
The Herbert Park Hotel and the Clayton Ballsbridge are the two closest hotels to the venue and are expected to fill up well ahead of the festival. A potential Republic of Ireland World Cup play-off fixture on March 31 adds further pressure on Dublin accommodation that week. Organizers are advising players to book early.
