Irish Open 2026: The Poker Festival Comes to Marrakech for the First Time

Irish Open will be held in Marrakech for the first time from November 10 to 15, 2026: 36 tournaments, buy-ins starting from €140, and a Main Event with a €500,000 guarantee.

From November 10 to 15, 2026, the iconic Irish Open poker series will, for the first time ever, stage an event in North Africa—at Casino de Marrakech, Morocco. The festival schedule features 36 tournaments with buy-ins ranging from approximately €140 to €3,000. The centerpiece will be the Main Event, boasting a €500,000 guarantee and four starting flights. For the first time in its 46-year history, the Irish Open will be held outside Dublin, continuing the international expansion that began in 2026. Irish Open: International Expansion and New Horizons The Irish Open is one of Europe’s oldest poker festivals, traditionally held in Dublin. In April 2026, organizers announced the launch of an international tour to mark the series’ 50th anniversary, which will be celebrated in 2030. The first overseas stop took place in Sydney in September, and in 2027, the series is set to debut in the United States. According to Irish Open co-owner JP McCann, the idea of taking the festival global had been in the works for over a decade, and now it is coming to fruition to strengthen the Irish Open brand on the world stage. IO Marrakech Schedule: 36 Tournaments in Six Days The Marrakech festival will be the second stop on the Irish Open international tour and will offer players a packed schedule. Over six days, from November 10 to 15, Casino de Marrakech will host 36 tournaments. Buy-ins range from approximately €140 to €3,000, making the series accessible to both amateurs and professionals. The festival kicks off on November 10 with the €350 Hendon Mob Championship , being held in North Africa for the first time. Previously, this tournament has been hosted in cities such as Cape Town and Johannesburg in South Africa. High-stakes players can look forward to two marquee events: the €2,200 NLH High Roller begins on November 10, while the €3,000 Super High Roller starts on November 14. Both tournaments are scheduled for two days of play. The schedule also features: €350 Mini Irish Open (starts November 14); €350 Africa's Cup ; €550 Marrakech Cup ; €250 Ladies Championship — women’s championship; €350 Seniors Championship — tournament for players above a certain age. Omaha fans will find dedicated events: a 4/5/6 Card tournament, a two-day PLO event, and a 6-Max Turbo. No-Limit Hold’em enthusiasts can choose from a variety of formats: mystery bounty (secret prizes for knockouts), progressive knockout, freezeout (no re-entry), and fast-paced turbo tournaments. A special highlight is the debut of the NLH DeepStack Supersonic —players start with 50,000 chips and levels last just 15 minutes, promising dynamic and aggressive poker action. Main Event of Irish Open Marrakech: Structure and Qualification Opportunities The festival’s flagship tournament—the €1,155 Irish Open Main Event —kicks off at noon on November 11. Players will have four starting flights: Day 1A — November 11 (12:00), 40-minute levels; Day 1B — November 12 (12:00), 40-minute levels; Day 1C — November 13 (12:00), 40-minute levels; Day 1D — November 13 (19:00), turbo structure for accelerated qualification. Each participant begins with 50,000 chips. The turbo structure of the final flight gives those who didn’t advance on previous days another quick shot at making Day 2. All players who survive the starting flights will combine at the tables on November 14 at 13:00. The winner will be crowned on November 15. For those looking to enter the Main Event at a lower cost, there are 10 satellites with buy-ins starting from approximately €140. This is a great opportunity to qualify for the Main Event for a modest sum and compete for a share of the guaranteed €500,000 prize pool. PokerNews Coverage: Live Updates from the Festival The entire Irish Open Marrakech Main Event will be covered live by PokerNews. Reporters will provide up-to-date chip counts, key hands, bustout information, and other news from the tournament floor. This will allow fans and participants to follow the action and stay informed about every twist and turn in the race for the championship title. The official tournament schedule and additional information are available on the Irish Open website. Key Irish Open Marrakech Tournaments: At-a-Glance Schedule Date Tournament Buy-in Features November 10 Hendon Mob Championship €350 First time in North Africa November 10 NLH High Roller €2,200 Two days November 11-13 Main Event, Days 1A-1D €1,155 Four starting flights, €500,000 guarantee November 13 Main Event, Turbo Flight 1D €1,155 Accelerated qualification November 14 Mini Irish Open €350 Popular format November 14 Super High Roller €3,000 Two days November 14-15 Main Event Final Days — Champion determined November 14-15 NLH DeepStack Supersonic — 50,000 stack, 15-minute levels Tournament Formats and Features: Player Guide Freezeout — a tournament with no re-entry after elimination. Turbo — a fast-paced format with short levels (usually 15–20 minutes), increasing the game’s tempo. Mystery Bounty — for knocking out an opponent, a player receives a random prize, the amount of which is revealed only when a special envelope is opened. Progressive Knockout (PKO) — part of the buy-in goes to the bounty pool, and part to the main prize pool. When a player is eliminated, a portion of their bounty is added to the winner’s own bounty. DeepStack — increased starting stack compared to standard tournaments, giving players more room for strategy. PLO (Pot-Limit Omaha) — a poker variant where players are dealt 4, 5, or 6 cards, and only two can be used to make a hand. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players Bringing the Irish Open to Marrakech is a significant development for all poker enthusiasts, including PPPoker club members. First, the expansion of major live series into new regions opens up more opportunities to qualify via online satellites and take part in international events. Many PPPoker clubs can organize their own qualifiers, giving their players a chance to attend such prestigious festivals. Second, the variety of formats in the Irish Open Marrakech schedule—from classic NLH and PLO to unique progressive knockout and mystery bounty tournaments—can serve as a great example for club organizers. Introducing similar formats into PPPoker club series can attract new participants and boost interest among regular players. Finally, the increased media attention and live coverage from PokerNews highlight the growing significance of tournaments outside the traditional poker capitals. For PPPoker club players, this is a reason to consider their own development, keep up with global poker news, and perhaps plan to participate in future international events, starting with online qualifiers in their home clubs.