The gaming industry’s spotlight will be on the Republic of Ireland when the prestigious 2026 Irish Poker Open returns to the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) from March 26 to April 6.
Players from around the world will gather under one roof to compete in what promises to be a thrilling edition of Ireland’s most popular poker festival.
Organisers have confirmed there will be 86 poker events this year. Online satellites offer poker players an affordable route to the Irish Poker Open.
Many players who visit the best casino sites in Ireland will be eager to earn a seat, particularly for the €2.5 million guaranteed Main Event.
2026 Irish Open Overview
The Irish Open started in 1980, but has since become the richest poker festival in Ireland, and one of the most respected events anywhere in the world.
The 2026 edition will be held at the Royal Dublin Society (RDS), one of the city’s most iconic venues. It will be transformed into a sea of poker tables, bright lights and giant LED screens.
The Main Event, the €1m Mini Irish Open and the €1m guaranteed Luxon Pay Mystery Bounty are among the tournaments which players will be clamouring to win.
The 2025 Main Event attracted 4,562 entries and created a prize pool of €4,447,950, smashing its guarantee by nearly €2m.
More than 25,000 entries generated over €14.5m in prize money last year. These are numbers that would have seemed impossible only a decade ago.
Careful planning and strategic partnerships have helped to elevate the event. Flutter Entertainment has played a massive role in the rapid growth of the Irish Open.
Now entering the fourth year of their lucrative partnership with the Irish Open, they have helped to bring the festival to a truly global audience.
Twelve Days of Non-Stop Action
The 2026 Irish Open starts on March 26 with the Luxon Mystery Bounty and will run until April 6 with the Spin n’ Go – On Demand tournament. Here are the top events from the 2026 Irish Open.
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- Day 1 (March 26): Luxon Mystery Bounty – Single Re Entry per Flight – €1,000,000 GTD Day 1/A – €485 + €515 + €150.
Day 2 (March 27): Cuatro PLO High Roller 8-Max – Unlimited Re-Entry Day 1 – €2750 + €250
Day 3 (March 28): Cuatro PLO High Roller 8-Max – Unlimited Re-Entry Final – €2750 + €250.
Day 4 (March 29): Cuatro NLH High Roller 8-Max – Unlimited Re-Entry Day 1 – €2750 + €250.
Day 5 (March 30): PLO High Roller 8-Max – Unlimited Re-Entry Day 1 – €4750 + €250.
Day 6 (March 31): PLO High Roller 8-Max – Unlimited Re-Entry Final – €4750 + €250.
Day 7 (April 1): NLH Super High Roller 8-Max – Unlimited Re-Entry Day 1 – €9750 + €250.
Day 8 (April 2): NLH Super High Roller 8-Max – Unlimited Re-Entry Final – €9750 + €250.
Day 9 (April 3): Irish Open Main Event – Single Re Entry per Flight – €2,500,000 GTD Day 1/D – €1000 + €150.
Day 10 (April 4): High Roller 8-Max – Unlimited Re-Entry Day 1 – €2750 + €250.
Day 11 (April 5): High Roller 8-Max – Unlimited Re-Entry Final – €2750 + €250.
Day 12 (April 6): NLH Mystery Bounty – Unlimited Re-Entry Final – €509.25 + €540.75 + €100
Behind the Scenes at the Irish Open
Plenty of work goes into preparing the RDS venue ahead of the event. Hundreds of pallets loaded with equipment will be moved into the venue in just three days.
Around 280 tables are positioned and thousands of chairs are arranged. Millions of chips are sorted and counted. A secure cashier area is built from scratch.
More than 320 square metres of screens are installed, including a 20-metre-long LED wall that dominates the hall. All the power and internet cables are carefully laid and tested.
Organisers have to ensure everything is perfect, as there can be no room for error when thousands of players are set to arrive from across the globe. Organising the staff is just as demanding, with around 320 dealers and 150 floor staff hired and trained.
Tournament directors, cashiers, media teams and camera crews are also brought in. Hotel rooms are booked well in advance, and schedules are planned and constantly adjusted.
The Irish Open has bagged several awards, including Best Stand-Alone Festival at the Global Poker Awards in February. It also won the SiGMA award for Best Live Poker Event last September.
