Save The Dates: The 2026 Irish Open Runs March 26 to April 6
Summary
The 46th Irish Open will take place at the Royal Dublin Society from 26 March to 6 April 2026. The festival again teams with PokerStars, Paddy Power Poker and select iPoker sites after a record 2025 festival (4,562 entries, €4,447,950 prize pool). The 2026 Main Event carries a €2.5 million guarantee (€1,150 buy-in), and two other events — the Luxon Mystery Bounty (€1,150) and the Mini Irish Open (€250) — each guarantee at least €1 million.
Key Points
- Dates: 26 March–6 April 2026; venue: Royal Dublin Society (RDS).
- Main Event: €1,150 buy-in with a €2.5 million guaranteed prize pool; Day 1a starts noon on 29 March, finale on 6 April.
- Two other seven-figure guarantees: €1,150 Luxon Mystery Bounty and €250 Mini Irish Open (each €1M+ guarantees).
- Wide buy-in range (€120–€5,000) and multiple formats: NLHE, PLO, 8-Game Mix, Sviten Special and novelty events like Old Dogs vs Young Pups.
- Big cash-game offering: dedicated area with up to 50 tables running around the clock.
- Organisers advise booking accommodation early; suggested hotels include Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge, Herbert Park, Intercontinental, and Sandymount.
- PDF schedule available: https://irishpokeropen.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/98888-IPF-ENTERTAINMENT-Schedule-2026-v2.pdf
Content Summary
The article announces the official 2026 Irish Open dates and highlights the scale of the festival following a record-breaking 2025. It outlines the major tournament guarantees (Main Event €2.5M; two further €1M+ events), the range of buy-ins and game formats, and the 24/7 cash game provision. Organisers and partners (notably PokerStars) are quoted expressing enthusiasm for continuing the collaboration and building on recent success. Practical travel advice — book hotels early — is also given with suggested properties and a travel partner.
Context and Relevance
This is one of Europe’s biggest live poker festivals and a key date for players who travel for live events, qualifiers and satellite winners. The large guarantees and diverse schedule reflect ongoing growth in live poker attendance post-pandemic and strong operator partnerships. If you follow live tournaments, travel for events, or play satellites online, these dates and the schedule will be important for planning.
Why should I read this?
Quick heads-up: if you play live tournaments or want a shot at huge guarantees, you need these dates in your calendar now. Hotels get booked fast, satellites kick off months earlier, and the Main Event guarantee makes this a prime target for qualifiers. Save your spot — or at least read the PDF.
Author (Punchy)
By Matthew Pitt — Senior Editor. Short and sharp: this is a major live festival with huge guarantees and a busy schedule. If you travel for poker or chase big live scores, dive into the details and sort your travel now.
