The Irish Poker Open are opening a new chapter in their long history: for the first time, the tradition-rich festival will also be held outside of Ireland. The announcement was made during the current event at the Royal Dublin Society and is creating a spirit of optimism in the international poker scene.
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For over four decades, the Irish Open has been a fixture on the tournament calendar. In the meantime, the event has long since established itself beyond national borders – most recently with participants from more than 80 nations. This is exactly where the new strategy comes in: the brand is to have a physical global presence in the future.
Kick-off in Australia
The first international stop leads to Sydney in September 2026. A ten-day festival will be held at the Poker Palace, with a Main Event featuring a $1.000.000 guarantee and a $2.000 buy-in as its centerpiece. The goal is to make the well-known Irish Open feeling tangible “down under” for the first time.
On to Marrakech
In November of this year, the next stop follows in Morocco. The Casino de Marrakesch serves as the stage for a six-day event with a €1.150 Main Event and a €500.000 guaranteed prize pool. The tradition-rich location has been a magnet for international players for years and thus fits perfectly into the expansion plans.
USA as the next milestone
A debut in the United States is also planned for 2027. Specific details have not yet been released, but the organizers are already speaking of a high-profile location that should live up to the series’ standards.
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More than just tournaments
A crucial component of the success is to be maintained in the future: the special festival atmosphere. Especially formats like the “Craic Den“, which provides additional experiences with games, music, and entertainment, are to play a central role in the new events as well.
Behind the expansion is a clear vision. Organizers Paul O’Reilly and JP McCann have been working for years to further develop the Irish Open. Their long-term goal is ambitious: by the 50th anniversary in 2030, the festival is to become the largest poker tournament in the world.
International DNA from the start
It is no coincidence that this step is being taken now. Even the origins of the tournament are closely linked to the international poker world. Irishman Terry Rogers once brought No-Limit Hold’em to Europe after meeting Benny Binion in Las Vegas.
With the expansion to Australia, Africa, and North America, this international history is now being consistently continued – and the Irish Open is finally evolving from a traditional event into a global brand.
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