Last updated: January 1, 2026
The European Poker Tour (EPT) is one of the biggest, best-known, and longest-standing live poker tours in existence. Originally established in 2004, EPT has been going strong for over two decades, changing and growing along the way.
The tour was originally envisioned and established by John Duthie, a UK TV director and an avid poker player. His idea came at the right time, right at the start of the poker boom ignited by Moneymaker’s surprising victory in the 2003 WSOP Main Event.
The European Poker Tour kicked off in September 2004 with a festival in Barcelona, Spain. In 2011, PokerStars became the sole sponsor and the owner of the EPT, and it would become their main brand for live festivals.
On this page, we bring you all the details for EPT 2026, ways you can qualify for live EPT tournaments via online satellites, and some historical information about the largest poker tour on European soil.
EPT 2026 Live Schedule
So far, PokerStars has revealed two stops for its 2026 European Poker Tour. The festival will kick off in Paris, taking place in February — March, followed by a stop in Monte Carlo during May.
It is safe to assume we’ll see at least a couple of more events for the 2026 European Poker Tour season, with Barcelona and Prague being staple stops for the tour. The first one usually takes place during summer (August), while the 2026 EPT Prague is likely to play out in December, closing out the season.
| Dates | Event | ME Number of Players | Prize Pool | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 18 – Mar 1 | EPT Paris | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Apr 30 – May 10 | EPT Monte Carlo | TBA | TBA | TBA |
EPT Paris 2026
- Dates: Feb 18 — Mar 1, 2026
- Venue: Le Palais des Congrès
- Highlight events: €5,300 Main Event, Spin & Go Championship LIVE
The first stop on the 2026 EPT schedule is the French capital, coming back after the 2025 unexpected cancelation. With a total of 52 events taking place during the second half of February, there will be plenty of action, with a few tournaments really standing out.
The €5,300 Main Event is always the one to look out for, as this is the one that attracts all the biggest names, chasing the prestigious EPT trophy. Alongside the Main, there will be a few high roller and super high roller events for those with deeper pockets.
Spin & Go Championship LIVE at EPT Paris
There will be another event stealing attention during the 2026 EPT Paris proceedings — the 2026 Spin & Go Championship LIVE. Taking place February 23 — 24, the tournament will see 81 online qualifiers come together to battle it out in this fresh format.
There is no direct buy-in. Players must win their spot in the final showdown through online play. Those who made it will be battling out for a prize pool of €300,000. The qualifying period ran from October 20 to December 1, 2025.
EPT Monte Carlo 2025
- Dates: Apr 30 — May 10, 2026
- Venue: Sporting Monte-Carlo
- Highlight events: €5,300 Main Event, €100,000 Super High Roller
The European Poker Tour is coming back to Monte Carlo to continue a cooperation that has lasted for over two decades. In fact, the 2026 festival will mark the 21st anniversary of EPT Monte Carlo.
At this moment in time, the full schedule is not out, but we expect to see at least 50 events on the docket (not counting various satellites), with the €5,300 Main Event as the highlight of the festival. However, the spot does attract wealthy high rollers as well, so this one could see a fair bit of action in those higher buy-in events.
EPT 2026 Online Qualifiers
With the European Poker Tour being the largest live festival hosted by PokerStars, the operator offers a myriad of ways for players to win tournament entries and full-scale travel packages online.
To see what satellites are running at any given time, simply open your PokerStars client, navigate to the ‘Events’ tab, and check out the list. Here, you’ll find all the different qualifiers giving you access to 2026 EPT events, with many satellite paths starting as low as $1.
Another way to qualify for different PokerStars Live events is via Power Path. This is a four-step qualifying path that begins with just $0.50 and can lead to Gold Power Passes, which you can use to enter various 2026 EPT events.
Where to Watch EPT 2026
PokerStars provides full coverage of every EPT Main Event on its official YouTube channel, which usually starts on day two or three. There is also coverage of other big events, such as super high rollers, and all of the content is available completely free.
These streams feature commentary from well-known voices, such as Joe Stapleton, James Hartigan, and Nick Walsh, with many top pros stopping by the booth to provide expert commentary for a few hours at a time.
European Poker Tour Quick History
The European Poker Tour was created by John Duthie in 2004. Duthie saw an opportunity with online poker booming after the events of 2003 and decided to go with his idea. The first-ever EPT took place in Barcelona, attracting a modest number of 229 entries (by today’s standards), but it was a sign of things to come.
Players loved the idea right from the start, and the festival started to grow rapidly, expanding to London, Dublin, Vienna, Monte Carlo, Warsaw, and many other places around the continent over the first few seasons.
The growth of EPT was largely helped by PokerStars, the tour’s official sponsor, which hosted online satellites, boosting player numbers and increasing player pools. With the tour growing, it started to attract many big-name players as well.
In 2011, PokerStars became the exclusive sponsor of the EPT and made it its staple live festival. This helped further establish the brand and make the European Poker Tour what it is today — one of the largest and most influential live poker tours around.
FAQ
What is the European Poker Tour?
The European Poker Tour is the main live tour by PokerStars, taking place several times a year in numerous European cities, like Barcelona, Prague, Monte Carlo, Paris, London, and more.
What stops are there on the 2026 EPT schedule?
So far, PokerStars has confirmed events in Pairs and Monte Carlo for the 2026 EPT season, but there will be more stops added soon.
How can I qualify online for EPT 2026 events?
You can qualify for the 2026 European Poker Tour on PokerStars. There are regular qualifiers for individual stops, as well as Power Path, a multi-step system that can get you entries into EPT tournaments.
Can I play in the PokerStars Spin & Go Championship LIVE at EPT Paris?
Only players who qualified for the event online can play in this tournament, as there is no way to buy into the Championship directly. The qualification period ended on December 1, 2025.
Is EPT coming back to Barcelona in 2026?
Although it hasn’t been confirmed officially just yet, it’s a safe guess that Barcelona will be one of the stops on the 2026 European Poker Tour schedule.