Irish Open 2026: The Ultimate Player Guide
Last updated: October 21, 2026
The Irish Open 2027 returns to Dublin from March 18 to 29, 2027, bringing one of Europe’s most celebrated live poker festivals back to the Royal Dublin Society (RDS). The 12-day festival begins immediately after St. Patrick’s Day, giving players an opportunity to experience Dublin’s famous celebrations before the poker action gets underway.
Also known as the Irish Poker Open, the event is the longest-running No-Limit Texas Hold’em tournament outside Las Vegas. The 2027 edition marks its 48th year, continuing a tradition that combines major poker tournaments with Irish hospitality, entertainment, and an international field of players.
The 2027 Irish Open Main Event features a €1,150 buy-in and a guaranteed prize pool of €2,500,000. Two other headline tournaments, the Mini Irish Open and Luxon Pay Mystery Bounty, each carry €1,000,000 guarantees.
Following a record-breaking 2026 festival that attracted more than 32,000 tournament entries and generated over €15.5 million in prize pools, the Irish Open is preparing for another major edition. Online qualification opportunities through PokerStars, Paddy Power, and the iPoker network will once again help players secure seats in Dublin.
Irish Open 2027 Overview
The Irish Poker Open 2027 takes place at the Royal Dublin Society in Dublin, Ireland, from March 18 to 29. The festival starts one day after the city’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations on March 17.
The event is organized by Irish Open owners Paul O’Reilly and JP McCann in collaboration with PokerStars and Paddy Power.
|_. Detail|_. Irish Open 2027| |Festival Dates|March 18–29, 2027| |Location|Dublin, Ireland| |Venue|Royal Dublin Society (RDS)| |Festival Duration|12 days| |Main Event Buy-in|€1,150| |Main Event Guarantee|€2,500,000| |Mini Irish Open Guarantee|€1,000,000| |Luxon Pay Mystery Bounty Guarantee|€1,000,000| |Online Qualification|PokerStars, Paddy Power, iPoker network| |Official Website|Irish Poker Open
The Irish Open is known for combining accessible tournaments with major championship events. Its schedule traditionally features a wide range of buy-ins, poker variants, and tournament formats, giving recreational players and experienced professionals plenty of opportunities to compete.
The 2027 festival also offers a particularly attractive travel opportunity. Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade takes place on March 17, immediately before the tournament series begins.
Irish Open 2027 Schedule & Major Events
The Irish Open 2027 tournament schedule includes three headline events with combined guaranteed prize pools of €4.5 million.
The €2.5 million guaranteed Main Event returns alongside the €1 million guaranteed Mini Irish Open and €1 million guaranteed Luxon Pay Mystery Bounty. All three tournaments were also major attractions at the record-breaking 2026 festival.
| Tournament | Buy-in | Guaranteed Prize Pool |
|---|---|---|
| Irish Open 2027 Main Event | €1,150 | €2,500,000 |
| Mini Irish Open | To be confirmed | €1,000,000 |
| Luxon Pay Mystery Bounty | To be confirmed | €1,000,000 |
The guarantees represent minimum advertised prize pools, not final payouts. Actual prize pools can be larger depending on tournament participation.
The festival’s full schedule includes additional tournaments and side events. Players should consult the official Irish Open website for individual event dates, structures, starting flights, and registration details.
Irish Open 2027 Main Event
The €1,150 Irish Open Main Event is the centerpiece of the Dublin festival, featuring a €2,500,000 guaranteed prize pool.
The tournament enters 2027 following a record-breaking edition in which 5,003 entries generated a prize pool of €4,852,910, comfortably exceeding the advertised guarantee.
The Main Event has become one of Europe’s most recognizable annual poker tournaments, attracting players from Ireland, the United Kingdom, continental Europe, and beyond.
Mini Irish Open 2027
The Mini Irish Open returns in 2027 with a €1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool.
The tournament has established itself as one of the festival’s most popular events, offering a lower-cost alternative to the Main Event while still attracting thousands of entries.
In 2026, the €250 Mini Irish Open recorded 7,309 entries and awarded €1,532,634 in prize money. The 2027 buy-in and individual starting-flight details should be checked against the official schedule.
Luxon Pay Mystery Bounty 2027
The Luxon Pay Mystery Bounty also returns with a €1,000,000 guarantee.
Introduced at the Irish Open 2025, the tournament quickly became a major part of the festival. Its format combines a conventional tournament prize pool with mystery bounty prizes awarded for eliminating opponents during the designated bounty stage.
The event attracted 1,175 entries in 2026. Its return in 2027 gives players another opportunity to compete in one of the Irish Open’s largest tournaments outside the Main Event.
Other Irish Open Tournaments
Beyond the three headline events, the Irish Open traditionally features an extensive selection of side tournaments.
Previous editions have included Pot Limit Omaha, mixed games, high rollers, ladies championships, seniors events, heads-up tournaments, and a variety of No-Limit Hold’em formats.
The 2026 festival featured 89 tournaments in total. Players planning to attend in 2027 should check the official schedule for the complete event lineup and confirmed buy-ins.
Irish Open 2027 Online Satellites & Partnerships
Players will once again have opportunities to qualify online for the Irish Open 2027 through PokerStars, Paddy Power Poker, and sites on the iPoker network.
These partnerships have played an important role in growing the festival’s international attendance, allowing players to compete for seats in major Irish Open tournaments without paying the full live-event buy-in directly.
The 2027 qualification program includes opportunities targeting both the Irish Open Main Event and the Mini Irish Open.
The scale of the online qualification program is significant. More than 1,600 players qualified for the 2026 Irish Open Main Event through online satellites, according to the organizers.
PokerStars Irish Open Satellites
PokerStars is one of the Irish Open’s principal partners and has supported online qualification for the Dublin festival across previous editions.
Players interested in qualifying for the 2027 Main Event or Mini Irish Open should check the PokerStars tournament lobby for available satellites, entry requirements, and package details.
Paddy Power Poker and iPoker Satellites
Paddy Power Poker and the wider iPoker network will also continue their involvement with the Irish Open in 2027.
Players can check participating poker rooms for satellite schedules and qualification opportunities. Availability, tournament buy-ins, and package contents can vary between operators and jurisdictions.
For the latest information, visit the Irish Open official website and its online qualification resources.
Irish Open 2026 Results & Records
The Irish Open 2026 took place from March 26 to April 6 at the Royal Dublin Society and became the largest edition in the festival’s history.
The 47th edition featured 89 tournaments, attracted more than 32,000 entries, and generated combined prize pools exceeding €15.5 million.
The Main Event established another attendance record, while the Mini Irish Open and Luxon Pay Mystery Bounty helped make the festival one of Europe’s biggest live poker gatherings.
| 2026 Festival Statistic | Result |
|---|---|
| Number of Tournaments | 89 |
| Total Tournament Entries | Over 32,000 |
| Combined Prize Pools | Over €15.5 million |
| Main Event Entries | 5,003 |
| Main Event Prize Pool | €4,852,910 |
| Main Event Champion | Narcis Nedelcu |
Main Event: Record-Breaking Attendance
The €2.5 million guaranteed Main Event was the centerpiece of the 2026 Irish Open, attracting a record 5,003 entries and generating a final prize pool of €4,852,910.
Romania’s Narcis Nedelcu claimed the title after defeating Danilo Donnini heads-up, earning €336,798 according to the previously published tournament results.
2026 Irish Open Main Event Summary
| Detail | Result |
|---|---|
| Buy-in | €1,150 |
| Number of Entries | 5,003 |
| Guarantee | €2,500,000 |
| Final Prize Pool | €4,852,910 |
| Winner | Narcis Nedelcu (€336,798) |
The result continued the Main Event’s growth, following a then-record 4,562 entries in 2025.
Mini Irish Open: €1,000,000 Guarantee Broken
The Mini Irish Open has become one of the festival’s most accessible major tournaments, combining a relatively modest buy-in with a substantial guaranteed prize pool.
In 2026, the €250 tournament attracted 7,309 entries, generating a final prize pool of €1,532,634 and comfortably surpassing its €1 million guarantee.
Sami Agel won the tournament and collected €150,855.
2026 Mini Irish Open Summary
| Detail | Result |
|---|---|
| Buy-in | €250 |
| Number of Entries | 7,309 |
| Guarantee | €1,000,000 |
| Final Prize Pool | €1,532,634 |
| Winner | Sami Agel (€150,855) |
Luxon Pay Mystery Bounty: €1,000,000 Guaranteed
Introduced at the Irish Open 2025, the Luxon Pay Mystery Bounty quickly established itself as one of the festival’s headline tournaments.
The event returned in 2026 with a €1 million guarantee and a €1,150 buy-in, attracting 1,175 entries.
Romania’s Tudor Lazar emerged victorious, collecting €96,700 according to the previously published results.
Ladies Events
Three ladies-focused events were featured in the 2026 schedule: the €250 Ladies Championship, the €1,150 Ladies High Roller, and the €250 Kings & Queens tournament.
| Event | Winner |
|---|---|
| €250 Ladies Championship | Jennifer Frankenstein (€6,923) |
| €1,150 Ladies High Roller | Karen Muir (€16,200) |
| €250 Kings & Queens | Mike Koch (€5,000) |
Side Events & Championships
The expanded 2026 festival included Pot Limit Omaha (PLO), high rollers, heads-up championships, seniors events, ladies events, and mixed games.
With 89 tournaments across the festival, players had opportunities to compete in a wide range of formats and buy-in levels.
The Craic Den
The Irish Open is about more than poker. Its entertainment hub, the Craic Den, has become a popular gathering place for players and fans, featuring live music, parties, and the social atmosphere for which the festival is known.
The combination of poker and entertainment remains an important part of the event’s appeal, particularly for international visitors planning a longer trip to Dublin.
Irish Open Goes Global
The Irish Open has expanded beyond its traditional Dublin home with new international festivals planned for 2026 and 2027.
The expansion brings the Irish Open brand to additional poker destinations while the annual Dublin festival remains its flagship event.
The announced international stops include:
- Irish Open Sydney, Australia – August 31 to September 14, 2026
- Irish Open Marrakech, Morocco – November 10–15, 2026
- Irish Open USA – Planned for 2027, with details to be announced
Irish Open Sydney 2026
The inaugural Irish Open Sydney took place from August 31 to September 14, 2026.
The announced schedule featured 23 events, including an AUD $1,000,000 guaranteed Main Event and a $500,000 guaranteed Mini Irish Open.
Buy-ins ranged from $200 for the Ladies Championship to $10,000 for the Super High Roller, with a variety of No-Limit Hold’em, Omaha, and mixed-game tournaments also on the schedule.
The Sydney stop marked an important milestone in the Irish Open’s international expansion.
Irish Open Marrakech 2026
The Irish Open Marrakech is scheduled for November 10–15, 2026, at Casino de Marrakech in Morocco.
The six-day festival features 36 events, with buy-ins ranging from approximately €140 to €3,000.
Its headline Main Event includes four starting flights, including a turbo flight, alongside numerous side tournaments and satellites.
|_. Detail|_. Irish Open Marrakech 2026| |Dates|November 10–15, 2026| |Venue|Casino de Marrakech| |Duration|6 days| |Number of Events|36| |Main Event Buy-in|10,525 + 1,975 MAD (approximately €1,156)| |Official Website|Irish Open Marrakech
The Marrakech festival represents another step in the Irish Open’s expansion beyond Europe, bringing its tournament format to an established international poker destination.
Irish Open USA 2027
The Irish Open has also announced plans for a United States stop in 2027.
Further information about the location, dates, tournament schedule, and qualifying opportunities has not yet been confirmed.
The History of the Irish Open
The Irish Open has a history dating back to 1980, when bookmaker Terry Rogers founded the tournament after drawing inspiration from the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.
It became one of Europe’s earliest major No-Limit Texas Hold’em tournaments and remains the longest-running tournament of its kind outside Las Vegas.
Over the decades, the Irish Open has welcomed international poker stars, including Doyle Brunson, Stu Ungar, and Phil Hellmuth, while developing a distinctive identity built around competitive poker and Irish hospitality.
Key moments in the event’s history include:
- 1980: The Irish Open is founded by Terry Rogers.
- International Recognition: The event develops into one of Europe’s most established poker festivals.
- 2025: The Main Event attracts 4,562 entries and generates a €4,447,950 prize pool.
- 2026: The festival celebrates its 47th year with 89 tournaments, more than 32,000 entries, and over €15.5 million in combined prize pools.
- 2027: The 48th edition is scheduled for March 18–29 at the Royal Dublin Society.
The Irish Open has also received major industry recognition, including Best Stand-Alone Festival at the Global Poker Awards, Best Live Poker Event at the SiGMA Awards, and Competitive Entertainment Event of the Year at the 2026 Irish Enterprise Awards.
Looking Back: The 2025 Irish Open
The 2025 festival established several records that were subsequently surpassed in 2026.
Highlights included:
- 69 tournaments
- More than 25,000 tournament entries
- Over €14.5 million in combined prize pools
- A then-record Main Event field of 4,562 entries
- A Main Event prize pool of €4,447,950
The introduction of the Luxon Pay Mystery Bounty and the festival’s continued growth helped set the stage for the record-breaking 2026 edition.
Irish Open 2027 FAQ
When is the Irish Open 2027?
The Irish Open 2027 takes place from March 18 to 29, 2027. The 12-day festival begins the day after St. Patrick’s Day.
Where will the Irish Open 2027 take place?
The Irish Open 2027 will be held at the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) in Dublin, Ireland, the festival’s established home.
What is the Irish Open 2027 Main Event buy-in?
The Irish Open 2027 Main Event has a confirmed buy-in of €1,150.
How much is guaranteed in the Irish Open 2027 Main Event?
The Main Event features a guaranteed prize pool of €2,500,000. The final prize pool could be higher depending on the number of entries.
What other major tournaments are scheduled for the Irish Open 2027?
The Mini Irish Open and Luxon Pay Mystery Bounty are both scheduled to return with €1,000,000 guaranteed prize pools. Additional side events will be included in the festival schedule.
Can I qualify online for the Irish Open 2027?
Yes. PokerStars, Paddy Power Poker, and sites on the iPoker network are continuing their partnerships with the Irish Open, with online qualification opportunities planned for the Main Event and Mini Irish Open. Availability and satellite details depend on the operator and jurisdiction.
Who won the Irish Open 2026 Main Event?
Romania’s Narcis Nedelcu won the 2026 Irish Open Main Event after outlasting a record field of 5,003 entries.
Is the Irish Open held during St. Patrick’s Day?
The 2027 Irish Open begins on March 18, one day after St. Patrick’s Day. Visitors arriving early can experience Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations on March 17 before the poker festival begins.
How many tournaments were held at the Irish Open 2026?
According to the organizers’ updated figures, the 2026 festival featured 89 tournaments, attracted more than 32,000 entries, and generated over €15.5 million in combined prize pools.
Is the Irish Open expanding outside Ireland?
Yes. The Irish Open announced international stops in Sydney, Australia, and Marrakech, Morocco, for 2026, with a United States stop also planned for 2027.