27. five different tournaments and a special performance held by a renowned Deaf comedian in the Players Lounge. “We believe this is a world first at a mainstream poker festival,” JP told us. This year’s festival will follow the record-breaking 2025 Main Event, which was the richest poker tournament ever held in the country. 4,562 entries generated a €4,447,950 prize pool, coming to almost €2 million more than the initial guarantee. The event was held in partnership with PokerStars, Paddy Power, and the iPoker network, which further expanded the event and enabled over 1,300 players to win their way into the flagship tournament via online satellites. The Irish Poker Open has long been a prestigious event but, under the strong leadership of Paul O’Reilly and JP McCann, the festival has transformed into a cultural phenomenon. From its record-breaking tournaments and professional management to its genuine Irish hospitality and unwavering commitment to the craic, the Irish Poker Open has truly cemented itself in the hearts of poker players around the world. It is for this very reason that this beloved event has been recognised as the Competitive Entertainment Event of the Year 2026. Looking to the future, Co-Owners Paul and JP announced: “One thing is for certain for 2026 – we will break records once again.”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUyMDQwMA==