The Irish Open is going global for the first time, with Sydney set to host the festival’s international debut from August 31 to September 14 at Poker Palace. The move marks a major milestone for one of poker’s most recognizable brands, and the first stop outside Ireland comes with a schedule that looks every bit as ambitious as the name suggests.
A big step beyond Dublin
For decades, the Irish Open has been tied to Dublin, where its mix of strong fields, big guarantees, and festival atmosphere built one of poker’s most durable brands. Taking that formula to Sydney is a significant leap, but the 2026 schedule shows the organizers are treating it like a true flagship festival rather than a side project.
The debut edition in Australia will feature more than 40 events and close to A$2,000,000 in guaranteed prize pools. The lineup includes the Mini Irish Open, Lucky 8’s, The Hendon Mob Championship, mixed games, PLO, high rollers, ladies and seniors events, plus the Sydney Poker Open.
Sydney also gives the event a useful local angle. Greater Sydney has a meaningful Irish-born population and a broader Irish-Australian community, which gives the festival a built-in audience that already knows the brand and should appreciate what the Irish Open is bringing to town.
“As someone who grew up in Ireland and now calls Australia home, it’s incredibly special to help bring the Irish Open to Sydney for the very first time. The Irish Open has such a rich history and holds a unique place in the hearts of Irish poker players, so to see it expand to my second home is something I’m immensely proud of. Sydney has a fantastic poker community, and I can’t wait to welcome players from Australia, Ireland and around the world to what promises to be a truly memorable inaugural event.”
Full Sydney schedule
The schedule is headlined by the A$1,000,000 guaranteed A$2,000 Main Event, which begins on September 6 and runs through September 14. Plenty of other events boast generous guarantees including the festival’s kickoff in the A$500,000 guaranteed A$360 Mini Main Event.
| Date | Time | Event | Buy-In ($A) | Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon, Aug. 31 | 5:00 PM | Mini Irish Open Day 1A | $360 | $500,000 GTD |
| Tue, Sep. 1 | 5:00 PM | Mini Irish Open Day 1B | $360 | $500,000 GTD |
| Wed, Sep. 2 | 2:00 PM | Lucky 8’s Day 1A | $880 | $250,000 GTD |
| Wed, Sep. 2 | 5:00 PM | Mini Irish Open Day 1C | $360 | $500,000 GTD |
| Thu, Sep. 3 | 2:00 PM | Lucky 8’s Day 1B | $880 | $250,000 GTD |
| Thu, Sep. 3 | 5:00 PM | Mini Irish Open Day 1D | $360 | $500,000 GTD |
| Fri, Sep. 4 | 2:00 PM | Lucky 8’s Day 1C | $880 | $250,000 GTD |
| Fri, Sep. 4 | 5:00 PM | Mini Irish Open Day 1E | $360 | $500,000 GTD |
| Sat, Sep. 5 | 12:00 PM | Lucky 8’s Day 1D | $880 | $250,000 GTD |
| Sat, Sep. 5 | 2:00 PM | Deaf Championship Main Event | $360 | — |
| Sat, Sep. 5 | 5:00 PM | Mini Irish Open Day 1F | $360 | $500,000 GTD |
| Sat, Sep. 5 | 7:00 PM | Lucky 8’s Turbo Day 1E | $880 | $250,000 GTD |
| Sun, Sep. 6 | 12:00 PM | Lucky 8’s Final Day | Closed | $250,000 GTD |
| Sun, Sep. 6 | 12:00 PM | Irish Open Main Event Day 1A | $2,000 | $1,000,000 GTD |
| Sun, Sep. 6 | 1:00 PM | Mixed 8-Game Championship | $600 | — |
| Sun, Sep. 6 | 5:00 PM | Mini Irish Open Day 1G | $360 | $500,000 GTD |
| Mon, Sep. 7 | 2:00 PM | NLH 6-Max Championship | $600 | — |
| Mon, Sep. 7 | 2:00 PM | Big O Championship | $600 | — |
| Mon, Sep. 7 | 2:00 PM | $5,000 High Roller 8-Max Day 1 | $5,000 | — |
| Mon, Sep. 7 | 5:00 PM | Mini Irish Open Day 1H | $360 | $500,000 GTD |
| Tue, Sep. 8 | 2:00 PM | $5,000 High Roller 8-Max Final Day | Closed | — |
| Tue, Sep. 8 | 2:00 PM | The Hendon Mob Championship | $600 | — |
| Tue, Sep. 8 | 2:00 PM | Sviten Special Championship | $600 | — |
| Tue, Sep. 8 | 2:00 PM | NLH 8-Max Mystery Bounty | $2,000 | — |
| Tue, Sep. 8 | 5:00 PM | Mini Irish Open Day 1I | $360 | $500,000 GTD |
| Tue, Sep. 8 | 7:00 PM | PLO | $600 | — |
| Wed, Sep. 9 | 2:00 PM | Asia-Pacific Cup | $600 | — |
| Wed, Sep. 9 | 2:00 PM | 2-7 Triple Draw Championship | $600 | — |
| Wed, Sep. 9 | 2:00 PM | $10,000 Super High Roller 8-Max Day 1 | $10,000 | — |
| Wed, Sep. 9 | 5:00 PM | Mini Irish Open Day 1J | $360 | $500,000 GTD |
| Thu, Sep. 10 | 12:00 PM | Irish Open Main Event Day 1B | $2,000 | $1,000,000 GTD |
| Thu, Sep. 10 | 1:00 PM | $10,000 Super High Roller Final Day | Closed | — |
| Thu, Sep. 10 | 2:00 PM | Mixed 8-Game High Roller Championship | $2,000 | — |
| Thu, Sep. 10 | 5:00 PM | Mini Irish Open Day 1K | $360 | $500,000 GTD |
| Thu, Sep. 10 | 6:00 PM | Ladies Championship | $200 | — |
| Fri, Sep. 11 | 12:00 PM | Mini Irish Open Final Day | Closed | $500,000 GTD |
| Fri, Sep. 11 | 12:00 PM | Irish Open Main Event Day 1C | $2,000 | $1,000,000 GTD |
| Fri, Sep. 11 | 2:00 PM | PLO 4/5/6 | $600 | — |
| Fri, Sep. 11 | 8:00 PM | Irish Open Main Event Day 1D Turbo | $2,000 | $1,000,000 GTD |
| Sat, Sep. 12 | 11:00 AM | Irish Open Main Event Day 1E | $2,000 | $1,000,000 GTD |
| Sat, Sep. 12 | 7:00 PM | Irish Open Main Event Day 1F Turbo | $2,000 | $1,000,000 GTD |
| Sun, Sep. 13 | 12:00 PM | Sydney Poker Open Day 1A | $880 | $100,000 GTD |
| Sun, Sep. 13 | 1:00 PM | Irish Open Main Event Day 2 | Closed | $1,000,000 GTD |
| Sun, Sep. 13 | 2:00 PM | $3,000 High Roller 8-Max Day 1 | $3,000 | — |
| Sun, Sep. 13 | 7:00 PM | Sydney Poker Open Day 1B Turbo | $880 | $100,000 GTD |
| Mon, Sep. 14 | 12:00 PM | $3,000 High Roller 8-Max Final Day | Closed | — |
| Mon, Sep. 14 | 12:00 PM | Seniors 50+ Championship | $600 | — |
| Mon, Sep. 14 | 1:00 PM | Irish Open Main Event Final Day | Closed | $1,000,000 GTD |
| Mon, Sep. 14 | 1:00 PM | Sydney Poker Open Final Day | Closed | $100,000 GTD |
| Mon, Sep. 14 | 2:00 PM | PLO 6-Max | $600 | — |
| Mon, Sep. 14 | 4:00 PM | The Irish Goodbye | $460 | — |
Main Event centerpiece
The A$2,000 Main Event is spread across multiple starting flights, with Day 1A on September 6, Day 1B on September 10, Day 1C on September 11, and turbo flights on September 11 and 12 before Day 2 on September 13 and the final day on September 14.
That format gives the festival a clear anchor while still leaving room for plenty of side-event action. It is a smart balance for a first-time international stop, especially one that wants to preserve the Irish Open’s identity while adapting to a new market.
Why Sydney fits
Sydney gives the Irish Open a strong poker backdrop, easy international access, and a local community that should already feel some connection to the brand. That matters, because the festival is not just selling poker; it is selling atmosphere, and Sydney has enough Irish presence to make the debut feel familiar rather than foreign.
“We’ve always believed poker should be serious at the tables and great craic everywhere else, so bringing the Irish Open to Sydney felt like a natural fit. Plus I’ve never been to Australia and thought it would be nice to go there! Australians and Irish people have a lot in common. We both enjoy a good story, a good pint, and blaming bad beats on absolutely anything except our own decisions.”
If the turnout matches the ambition, this could become the first step in a longer international run. For now, though, the story is simple: the Irish Open has left Ireland for the first time, and Sydney gets to write the opening chapter.
