The Irish Open is preparing to extend its footprint beyond Dublin, with organizers confirming three international festival locations across 2026 and 2027. The planned stops include Sydney, Marrakech and a future series in the United States.
The announcement was made during the 2025 Irish Open festival at the Royal Dublin Society. A teaser presented early on Main Event Day 1d outlined the next phase of expansion, introducing a multi-continent rollout that begins in Australia, continues in Morocco later in 2026 and reaches the U.S. in 2027.
Sydney to Host First Overseas Festival
Sydney is set to stage the first international Irish Open festival from September 3 to 13, 2026, with Poker Palace at Club Marconi confirmed as the venue. The series will run across 11 days.
The schedule will be led by a Main Event with a $2,000 buy-in and a $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool. Poker Palace has previously hosted large-scale events, including the Australia Poker Open.
Marrakech Scheduled as Second Stop
The second international stop is planned for November 10 to 15, 2026, at Casino de Marrakech. The festival will span six days.
At the center of the schedule is a €1,150 Main Event featuring a €500,000 guarantee. Organizers indicated that Marrakech was selected as part of a broader strategy to bring the Irish Open into established poker destinations.
U.S. Event Planned for 2027
A U.S. stop is also on the roadmap for 2027, though further details, including the venue, have not yet been disclosed. Organizers stated that the event will be held at a prominent poker location in North America.
This will mark the first time the Irish Open hosts a festival in the United States.
Strong International Presence in Dublin
The expansion follows continued international participation in Dublin. According to organizers, the 2025 Irish Open welcomed players from over 80 countries, including more than 200 entrants from North America.
The international series are positioned as part of a longer-term plan leading toward the event's 50th anniversary in 2030. In addition to standalone festivals, organizers also referenced the potential for international starting flights that could feed into the Dublin Main Event in future editions.
Maintaining the Festival Experience
Beyond the tournament schedule, organizers emphasized that the Irish Open experience will continue to include elements such as the Craic Den player lounge, which features games, entertainment and live music during the Dublin series.
The Irish Open has been held in Dublin since 1980 and is regarded by organizers as Europe's longest-running No Limit Hold'em event. The 2026 Dublin edition is scheduled to take place from March 26 to April 6 at the Royal Dublin Society, with 86 events and €4.5 million in guaranteed prize money announced.
