
Few poker festivals in Europe capture the imagination quite like the Battle of Malta. Set against the backdrop of a stunning Mediterranean island, the event blends big prize pools, a fun community atmosphere, and a unique theme that turns every table into a battlefield. All of it unfolds under the Maltese sun, beside the sparkling sea, and, last but certainly not least, in the pursuit of serious poker.
Over the years, the Battle of Malta has grown into one of the largest and most beloved poker festivals in Europe, for recreational players and seasoned pros alike. Last year, the festival shattered its own attendance record, drawing a staggering 6,039 entries, making it the biggest edition in its rich history. Italy’s Candido Gabriele Cappiello won the Main Event, taking home €225,700 after topping the record-breaking field. And that record-breaking momentum is exactly why the 2026 Summer Edition is going one step further.
€1,000,000 Guaranteed for the 2026 Summer Edition

The 2026 Battle of Malta will run from May 27 to June 3, and while previous editions already featured a generous €500,000 guaranteed prize pool across the festival, organizers are now doubling down. This year, the total guaranteed prize pool has been increased to a massive €1,000,000.
At the heart of it all stands the €600 buy-in Main Event, which once again promises to attract a huge and diverse field. The Main Event has always been known for its fantastic structure, welcoming atmosphere, and unique mix of players from all parts of the world.
The preliminary schedule has now been released, giving players the perfect opportunity to start organizing travel plans and mapping out their tournament grind. And with three months still to go, this is also the perfect time to try to qualify for a fraction of the buy-in.
Qualify from Just €0.01, Exclusively on bwin

We’re excited to announce that bwin is now a new partner of poker.pro, and there’s no better way to celebrate than by giving our community a shot at the Battle of Malta for cents. Thanks to bwin, you can qualify for the 2026 Battle of Malta from just €0.01, exclusively online.
And that’s not all, to celebrate this new partnership, every player who signs up to bwin through poker.pro and qualifies for the Battle of Malta will receive an exclusive poker.pro hoodie.
The Satellite Path From €0.01 to a €1,200 Package
The stakes are truly high this year, with the €700,000 Guaranteed Main Event headlining the schedule. And your path to Malta can begin for just one cent. Players are competing for a €1,200 Battle of Malta package, which includes:
- €460 accommodation expenses: 4 nights at Holiday Inn Express Malta (IHG), St Julian’s STJ 3310, double room with breakfast (up to 2 people)
- €600 direct tournament buy-in
- €140 cash for other expenses
Winners must contact bwin Support to arrange package redemption and logistics.
Satellite Schedule:
- Centroll €0.01 – Daily at 17:00
Awards 7 tickets to the €1.10 Feeder
Extra Centrolls run on the last Sunday of each month and on May 17 (13:00 and 16:00) - Feeder €1.10 – Daily at 17:45
Awards 3 tickets to €11 Phase 1
Extra Feeders run on the last Sunday of each month and on May 17 (13:45 and 16:45) - Phase 1 €11 – Daily at 19:00
Awards 1 ticket to the €109 Final Phase
Extra Phase 1 satellites run on the last Sunday of each month and on May 17 (15:00 and 18:00) - Final Phase €109 – Runs on the last Sunday of each month and on May 17
2 packages guaranteed
Players can enter at any level. You can start with a €0.01 Centroll and climb the ladder, or buy directly into the €109 Final Phase for a shot at the full package. All times are in CET.

Preliminary 2026 Battle of Malta Schedule Released
The official preliminary schedule for the 2026 Battle of Malta has now been unveiled, with even more events still to be added.
Main Event: “Let The Battle Begin”
The headline tournament boasts a €700,000 guaranteed prize pool, with the €600 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Main Event taking center stage. Players can choose from five starting flights running May 28–31, including a fast-paced Day 1E Turbo on the same day as Day 2. As always, the structure is deep and player-friendly, all building toward the Final Day on Wednesday, June 3.
Mystery Bounty: “Siege of Malta”
The ever-popular Mystery Bounty returns with a €100,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool, combining thrilling bounty draws with strong overall prize pool value. Multiple Day 1 flights provide maximum flexibility.
High Roller Event
For players seeking bigger stakes, the High Roller Event comes with a €200,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool for €1,100 buy-in, delivered through a structured multi-day format designed to attract serious competition.
Ladies Event
The Ladies Event remains a cornerstone of the festival, featuring a buy-in of €150 and providing a dedicated competitive stage for female players.
Beyond the headline tournaments, the Summer Edition includes numerous satellites into all major events, side events and turbo formats, mixed games and specialty formats. This diverse and dynamic schedule ensures non-stop action for players of all bankrolls and experience levels throughout the entire week.
2026 Battle of Malta Schedule
| Date | Time | Event | Buy-In | Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, May 27 | 18:00 | NLH Satellite for BOM (one time) | €60+€10 | – |
| 21:00 | NLH Satellite for BOM (accumulator) | €60+€10 | – | |
| Thursday, May 28 | 11:00 | NLH Sat For Day 1A (one time) | €60+€10 | – |
| 13:00 | Mystery Bounty “Siege of Malta” Day 1A | €160+€100+€40 | €100,000 | |
| 13:00 | NLH BOM “Let The Battle Begin” Day 1A | €530+€70 | €700,000 | |
| 15:00 | PLO4 | €220+€30 | – | |
| 17:00 | Dark Knight | €170+€30 | – | |
| 19:00 | Mystery Bounty “Siege of Malta” Day 1B | €160+€100+€40 | €100,000 | |
| 22:00 | NLH Sat for BOM (accumulator) | €60+€10 | – | |
| Friday, May 29 | 11:00 | NLH Sat for BOM (one time) | €60+€10 | – |
| 12:00 | Mystery Bounty “Siege of Malta” Day 1C | €160+€100+€40 | €100,000 | |
| 13:00 | NLH BOM “Let The Battle Begin” Day 1B | €530+€70 | €700,000 | |
| 15:00 | H.O.R.S.E. | €220+€30 | – | |
| 16:00 | NLH | €170+€30 | – | |
| 20:30 | Mystery Bounty “Siege of Malta” Day 2 | – | €100,000 | |
| 21:00 | Hyper Turbo | €130+€20 | – | |
| 22:00 | NLH Super Satellite for BOM (accumulator) every 5 | €120+€20 | – | |
| Saturday, May 30 | 11:00 | NLH Sat for BOM (one time) | €60+€10 | – |
| 13:00 | NLH BOM “Let The Battle Begin” Day 1C | €530+€70 | €700,000 | |
| 15:00 | PLO4 | €220+€30 | – | |
| 17:00 | NLH | €260+€40 | – | |
| 20:00 | NLH BOM “Let The Battle Begin” Day 1D | €530+€70 | €700,000 | |
| 21:00 | Hyper Turbo | €130+€20 | – | |
| 22:00 | NLH Super Satellite for BOM (accumulator) every 5 | €120+€20 | – | |
| Sunday, May 31 | 10:00 | NLH BOM “Let The Battle Begin” Day 1E Turbo | €530+€70 | €700,000 |
| 11:00 | NLH Satellite for High Roller (one time) | €110+€20 | – | |
| 14:00 | NLH ULTRADEEP | €220+€30 | – | |
| 15:00 | PLO 4/5 Round Each | €220+€30 | – | |
| 19:00 | NLH BOM “Let The Battle Begin” Day 2 | – | €700,000 | |
| 20:00 | High Roller Day 1 (12 level) | €1,000+€100 | €200,000 | |
| 21:00 | Hyper Turbo | €130+€20 | – | |
| 22:00 | NLH Super Satellite for High Roller (accumulator) | €120+€30 | – | |
| Monday, June 1 | 11:00 | NLH Turbo Satellite for High Roller (one time) | €110+€20 | – |
| 13:00 | High Roller Day 2 (start 10 level regressive) | €1,000+€100 | €200,000 | |
| 14:00 | NLH | €130+€20 | – | |
| 15:00 | Ladies Event Poker | €135+€15 | – | |
| 16:00 | NLH BOM “Let The Battle Begin” Day 3 | – | €700,000 | |
| 19:00 | NLH | €170+€30 | – | |
| 21:00 | Hyper Turbo | €130+€20 | – | |
| Tuesday, June 2 | 14:00 | NLH | €260+€40 | – |
| 15:00 | PLO 4card | €220+€30 | – | |
| 16:00 | NLH BOM “Let The Battle Begin” Day 4 (24 left) | – | €700,000 | |
| 17:00 | Side Event | TBA | – | |
| 18:00 | Dark Knight | €170+€30 | – | |
| 21:00 | Hyper Turbo | €130+€20 | – | |
| Wednesday, June 3 | 14:00 | NLH BOM “Let The Battle Begin” Final Day (8 left) | – | €700,000 |
| 15:00 | Side Event | TBA | – |

