About The
The Irish Open is the longest-running poker tournament in the world outside of Vegas. 2026 will mark the 46th year of the Irish Open with another unforgettable festival running from March 26 to April 6 at the Royal Dublin Society.
The expanded schedule for 2026 features 86 events with a total of €4.5 million in prize pool guarantees including the €2.5m guaranteed Main Event and €1m guaranteed Mini Irish Open. The €1m guaranteed Luxon Pay Mystery Bounty made its debut in 2025 and instantly became the biggest Mystery Bounty ever held in Ireland.
Run by Paul O’Reilly and JP McCann in collaboration with global poker sites PokerStars and Paddy Power, the Irish Poker Open has won three awards: Best Stand-Alone Festival at the prestigious Global Poker Awards in Las Vegas in February 2025 and the SiGMA award for Best Live Poker Event in September. In 2026, the Irish Open won Competitive Entertainment Event of the Year in the Irish Enterprise Awards.
Always more than just a poker tournament, the Irish Open has a unique atmosphere combining world-class poker tournaments with an annual celebration of fun and festivities that attract thousands of players from all over the globe.
The record-breaking 2025 Main Event was the richest poker tournament ever held in Ireland, with 4,562 entries generating a €4,447,950 prize pool – nearly €2 million more than the guarantee. The partnership with PokerStars, Paddy Power and the iPoker network enabled more than 1,300 players to win their way into the flagship tournament via online satellites. There were over 30,000 entries across the whole event and an astonishing €14.5 million was awarded in prize money.
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or an enthusiastic amateur, the Irish Open offers a unique blend of world-class competition, unforgettable moments, and the “craic” – Ireland’s legendary hospitality. The beating heart of the Irish Open is the Craic Den with a hectic roster of games, competitions and live music keep the party going into the small hours.
The Irish Open also offers a lively cash game scene with a dedicated cash game area and some 50+ tables running 24/7.
The Irish Poker Open has always been more than just a poker tournament. The vibrant atmosphere makes the Irish Open wholly unique.
As we like to say: “Come for the poker, stay for the craic.”
