2026 Irish Poker Open Looks to Smash All Records

The universe is infinite, they say. Some even claim it keeps expanding, implying that everything can – and will – happen in a world filled with endless opportunities.

This theory is the only explanation for the growth of the Irish Poker Open. Somehow, it manages to get bigger and better every year. The 2026 Irish Poker Open schedule was released a couple of days ago, and boy, is it a massive one. Undoubtedly, the event will be one of the highlights on the 2026 live poker calendar.

Bigger than The Beatles

The Irish Poker Open is one of the most legendary live poker events of all time. The first edition was held in 1980, making it one of the oldest of its kind. Like a fine wine, the event has only become better by the year. JP McCann and Paul O’Reilly form the duo that has been steering the ship since 2016, and when they partnered with PokerStars and Paddy Power in 2023, they got an additional boost as more players could now qualify for the event. There’s really no surprise that the Irish Poker Open received the GPI Award for “Best Stand-Alone Festival” earlier this year.

• Read more: 2025 Irish Poker Open Sets to Break All Records

The 2026 Irish Poker Open will be played March 26-April 6 at the Royal Dublin Society, Dublin. While the dates have been official for some time, the schedule is more or less fresh off the printers. It’s a very intriguing and diversified schedule that truly deserves to be analyzed, so let’s start with the one tournament that, naturally, is the cherry on top. The €1,150 Main Event shattered all guarantees this year, when local prodigy Simon Wilson navigated his way through the field that consisted of 4,562 entries. The celebration when Wilson won can’t be described in words, and there’s no doubt that he’ll commit some of the €600,000 he got from winning to next year’s edition. Just like this year, the €2,500,000 for 2026 is destined to be smashed, as the prize pool reached a flabbergasting €4,447,950 this year.

• Read more: Local Hero Simon Wilson Wins Record-Breaking 2025 Irish Open Main Event (€600,000)

In terms of entries, though, the Main Event wasn’t the biggest tournament. The €250 Mini Main Event attracted 6,411 entries, and of course, this massive beast of a will make its return in 2026. With 12 starting-day flights, one can at least begin to grasp the magnitude of this event. This year’s winner, Tyler Gordon, walked away with €116,000 after a three-way deal; quite the decent paycheck for a €250 buy-in tournament.

The Irish Poker Open didn’t become the behemoth of a live poker festival that it is by not having Mixed Games on the schedule. All the classics from this year – the €350 Deuce-to-Seven Championship, the €350 H.O.R.S.E., the €550 PLO4/5/6, and more – are still there, waiting for all the Mixed Games enthusiasts out there in the world to throw their name into the competition.

There’s also a swarm of new tournaments on the schedule. Let’s stay in the Mixed Games sphere a little longer; as a Swede, this journalist’s heart is filled to the brim with joy to see the €350 Sviten Special Championship on the schedule. The one who hasn’t played this game before is in for an absolute treat; it’s a hybrid of five-card draw and PLO that is in a league of its own when it comes to action. There’s never a dull moment playing Sviten, and time will tell whether the inaugural title goes to a Scandinavian or not.

• Read more: First Ever Sviten Ring Event at the 2025 WSOP Circuit Tallinn

Browsing through the tournament schedule, you’ll feel like a kid in a candy store. Every piece, whether it’s sour or sweet, looks delicious, and were poker.pro to break down every single tournament, this article would turn into a book. Other highlights include the €1,150 Luxon Mystery Bounty, the €350 NLH Heads-up Championship, and the €350 Hendon Mob Championship. What’s more, it’s nice to see not only that the €200 Deaf Main Event Championship, but that it now also has company in the form of a couple more tournaments that are exclusive to the deaf.

2026 Irish Poker Open – Full Tournament Schedule

A Venue Fit for Kings and Queens

This reporter feels very honored to have worked on-site in Dublin for the last two years, covering the event’s media coverage. Everyone who’s been at the Irish Poker Open can confirm it’s not all about the poker. The legendary Craic Den offers unparalleled fun, as the legendary Phil Baker hosts beer pong tournaments, karaoke nights, corn hole competitions, and much more. Also, poker icons such as Benjamin “Spraggy” Spragg, Parker “Tonkaaaap” Talbot, and Fintan “EasyWithAces” Hand usually engage in some kind of shenanigans for the people’s pleasure. On the more scenic side, there are many beautiful parks and landmarks within walking distance from the Irish Dublin Society; those who seek some fresh air between poker sessions will not be disappointed.

Speaking of the Irish Dublin Society, one can’t help but wonder how long it will fit the Irish Poker Open. Don’t get it twisted; it’s an utterly amazing venue in all ways possible, and it’s beyond massive. That being said, the Irish Poker Open doesn’t seem to stop growing. No need to get concerned, though; McCann and O’Reilly know what they’re doing, and they have a great team of people working with them to create one of the most amazing live poker events in the world. Whatever challenges they may face in the future, they’ll find the best solution.

Many players would agree that the Irish Poker Open is one of the best things you can experience in terms of live poker. The noble history of the event lives through every year as the festival keeps getting bigger and better. The 2026 edition will most likely smash the records once again, and the whole team behind the Irish Poker Open deserves every ounce of cred they receive.