PokerStars Open
Last Updated on October 3, 2026 by Bala Kumar
The PokerStars Open is PokerStars’ live tournament series built around accessible Main Events, large guarantees and regional festivals across Europe and the United States. Several standalone European stops feature €1,100 Main Events with €1 million guarantees, and the tour also runs €1,650 PokerStars Open Main Events inside European Poker Tour (EPT) festivals. In 2026 it has already visited Italy, France, the United States, Monaco, Belgium and Spain, with Aix-en-Provence and Prague still to come.
Quick facts: PokerStars Open in 2026
| 🃏 Operator | PokerStars (PokerStars LIVE) |
| 📅 Season | January–December 2026 |
| 💶 Standard Main Event | €1,100 buy-in, €1,000,000 guarantee |
| 🏆 EPT-hosted Main Events | €1,650 buy-in (Paris, Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Prague) |
| 👥 2026 Main Event entries so far | 14,762 across seven PokerStars Open Main Events |
| 💰 Biggest 2026 first prize | €731,000, Jason Wheeler, EPT Barcelona |
| 📈 Biggest standalone field | 1,753 entries, PokerStars Open Málaga (a record for that stop) |
| 🎮 Main game | No-Limit Hold’em, plus PLO and bounty side events |
| 🎟️ Qualifying | Online satellites on PokerStars, plus live satellites at each stop |
| 🔜 Next PokerStars Open stop | Aix-en-Provence, France, 2–8 November 2026 |
What is the PokerStars Open?
PokerStars launched the PokerStars Open in 2025 to bring its regional tours under one name. It replaced four long-running tours: the UK and Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT), the Eureka Poker Tour, the Estrellas Poker Tour (ESPT) and the France Poker Series (FPS).
Each festival is built around a Main Event with a relatively low buy-in compared with the EPT, backed by a large guarantee. A typical PokerStars Open festival runs for about a week and includes:
• A €1,100 Main Event with several Day 1 flights and a €1M guarantee.
• A High Roller and Super High Roller.
• A Mystery Bounty Cup, Second Chance and Warm Up events.
• Satellites and qualifiers throughout the week.
The tour appears in two ways. Standalone stops (Campione, Philadelphia, Namur, Málaga, Aix-en-Provence) are full festivals in their own right. EPT-hosted Main Events (Paris, Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Prague) run as a €1,650 PokerStars Open Main Event inside a European Poker Tour festival, often drawing some of the biggest fields of the year.
The first season was a huge success. Romania’s Adrian State became the first-ever PokerStars Open champion in Campione in March 2025, winning €363,000 from 2,423 entries.
PokerStars Open 2026 schedule
| Stop | Dates | Venue | Main Event | Guarantee | Status |
| 🇮🇹 Campione | 23 Jan–1 Feb | Casinò di Campione | €1,100 | €1M | ✅ Completed |
| 🇫🇷 Paris (at EPT) | 18 Feb–1 Mar | Palais des Congrès | €1,650 | — | ✅ Completed |
| 🇺🇸 Philadelphia | 16–23 Mar | Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia | $1,100 | $500K | ✅ Completed |
| 🇲🇨 Monte Carlo (at EPT) | 30 Apr–10 May | Monte Carlo | €1,650 | — | ✅ Completed |
| 🇧🇪 Namur | 27 May–7 Jun | Circus Casino Resort Namur | €1,100 | €1M | ✅ Completed |
| 🇪🇸 Málaga | 22–28 Jun | Gran Madrid Casino Torrequebrada | €1,100 | €1M | ✅ Completed |
| 🇪🇸 Barcelona (at EPT) | 16–29 Aug | Casino Barcelona | €1,650 | — | ✅ Completed |
| 🇫🇷 Aix-en-Provence | 2–8 Nov | Pasino GRAND Partouche Aix-en-Provence | €1,100 | €1M | 🔜 Upcoming |
| 🇨🇿 Prague (at EPT) | 2–7 Dec | Hilton Prague | €1,650 | — | 🔜 Upcoming |
More stops may be announced. Always confirm dates on the official PokerStars LIVE website before booking travel.
Related PokerStars LIVE events: The Irish Poker Open (26 March–6 April, Dublin) is sponsored by PokerStars but is a separate event, not a PokerStars Open stop, so it is not included in this page’s PokerStars Open figures.
Happening now: PokerStars is also running the Sunday Million Live at Casino di Campione from 2 to 12 October 2026, a €250 buy-in event with a €1 million guarantee to mark PokerStars’ 25th anniversary. It is a separate PokerStars LIVE event, not a PokerStars Open Main Event.
PokerStars Open 2026 results
| Stop | Main Event winner | Entries | Prize pool | First prize |
| Campione | Elvir Nuhiu (Switzerland) | 1,582 | €1,518,720 | €200,640 (deal) |
| Paris (EPT) | Patrik Demus (Hungary) | 2,992 | €4,308,480 | €551,090 |
| Philadelphia | Michael Linster (USA) | 896 | $860,160 | $126,705 |
| Monte Carlo (EPT) | Joris Ruijs (Netherlands) | 1,634 | €2,352,960 | €317,398 (deal) |
| Namur | Koen De Visscher (Belgium) | 1,572 | €1,491,828 | €220,800 |
| Málaga | Oskar Bilstad (Norway) | 1,753 | €1,682,880 | €178,840 |
| Barcelona (EPT) | Jason Wheeler (USA) | 4,333 | €6,239,520 | €731,000 |
| Aix-en-Provence | Upcoming | — | — | — |
| Prague (EPT) | Upcoming | — | — | — |
PokerStars Open Campione 2026 results
Winner: Elvir Nuhiu (Switzerland) · Entries: 1,582 · Prize pool: €1,518,720 · First prize: €200,640 (three-way deal)
Nuhiu opened the season with the biggest score of his career. His previous best was a fifth-place finish in a side event at EPT Prague just weeks earlier.
Read the full PokerStars Open Campione 2026 results.
PokerStars Open Paris 2026 results
Winner: Patrik Demus (Hungary) · Entries: 2,992 · Prize pool: €4,308,480 · First prize: €551,090
Demus won the €1,650 Main Event at EPT Paris after a marathon finish, in one of the biggest fields of the season.
PokerStars Open Philadelphia 2026 results
Winner: Michael Linster (USA) · Entries: 896 · Prize pool: $860,160 · First prize: $126,705
Linster, a single father, took down the Main Event at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia for a life-changing payday.
Read the full PokerStars Open Philadelphia 2026 results.
PokerStars Open Monte Carlo 2026 results
Winner: Joris Ruijs (Netherlands) · Entries: 1,634 · Prize pool: €2,352,960 · First prize: €317,398 (heads-up deal)
Ruijs lifted the trophy at EPT Monte Carlo’s €1,650 PokerStars Open Main Event.
PokerStars Open Namur 2026 results
Winner: Koen De Visscher (Belgium) · Entries: 1,572 · Prize pool: €1,491,828 · First prize: €220,800
De Visscher kept the trophy at home with a career-best score, beating Henrik Veldhoen heads-up after a final table lasting more than 11 hours.
Read the full PokerStars Open Namur 2026 results.
PokerStars Open Málaga 2026 results
Winner: Oskar Bilstad (Norway) · Entries: 1,753 · Prize pool: €1,682,880 · First prize: €178,840
Bilstad won a record-breaking Málaga Main Event, with the field up from 1,636 entries in 2025.
Read the full PokerStars Open Málaga 2026 results.
PokerStars Open Barcelona 2026 results
Winner: Jason Wheeler (USA) · Entries: 4,333 · Prize pool: €6,239,520 · First prize: €731,000
Wheeler’s win at EPT Barcelona was the biggest PokerStars Open first prize of 2026. He said it ranks alongside his WSOP bracelet.
Read the full PokerStars Open Barcelona 2026 results.
PokerStars Open Main Event: how it works
| Feature | Typical format |
| Buy-in | €1,100 (standalone); €1,650 (EPT-hosted); $1,100 (US stops) |
| Guarantee | €1,000,000 at standalone European stops; $500,000 in Philadelphia |
| Day 1 flights | Usually two to four (Philadelphia had four; Campione offered 60-minute and 30-minute level flights) |
| Starting stack | Around 30,000 chips at recent stops |
| Re-entry | Varies by stop, from unlimited re-entry to one re-entry per flight |
| Length | Usually five days, from Day 1 to the final table |
| Game | No-Limit Hold’em |
Some stops offer faster flights with shorter levels for players short on time, and slower flights with longer levels for those who want more play. Always check the official structure sheet for each stop, as re-entry rules and level lengths change.
PokerStars Open side events
Formats seen on 2026 PokerStars Open schedules include:
• Warm Up: for example, €275 with unlimited re-entry in Campione.
• High Roller: €2,200 in Campione; $2,200 in Philadelphia.
• Super High Roller: €4,975 in Campione.
• Mystery Bounty Cup: €400 in Campione.
• Second Chance: €550 in Campione.
• PokerStars Cup: $400 with a $40,000 guarantee in Philadelphia.
• Women’s Event: $300 with a $10,000 guarantee in Philadelphia.
• Bounty events: such as Philadelphia’s $400 Ambassador Bounty.
• Flip Out qualifiers and satellites: from €30 in Campione.
PokerStars Open buy-ins (2026)
| Event | Confirmed 2026 buy-ins |
| Main Event (standalone) | €1,100 / $1,100 |
| Main Event (EPT-hosted) | €1,650 |
| High Roller | €2,200 / $2,200 |
| Super High Roller | €4,975 |
| Second Chance | €550 |
| Mystery Bounty Cup | €400 |
| Warm Up | €275 |
| Women’s Event | $300 |
| Satellites and qualifiers | From €30 (live Flip Outs) and $160 (Philadelphia Main Event satellites) |
How to qualify for the PokerStars Open
1. Buy in directly at the venue during registration.
2. Win an online satellite on PokerStars. In the US, Philadelphia satellites ran on PokerStars PA, MI and NJ from 20 January.
3. Play live satellites at the festival, such as $160 Main Event satellites in Philadelphia or €30 Flip Outs in Campione.
4. Use PokerStars promotions where available, such as freerolls or loyalty rewards.
5. Check before travelling: registration deadlines, which flight your ticket covers, whether travel is included, and local entry requirements.
PokerStars Open prize pools and guarantees (2026)
| Stop | Guarantee | Actual prize pool | Guarantee beaten? |
| Campione | €1,000,000 | €1,518,720 | ✅ Yes |
| Philadelphia | $500,000 | $860,160 | ✅ Yes |
| Namur | €1,000,000 | €1,491,828 | ✅ Yes |
| Málaga | €1,000,000 | €1,682,880 | ✅ Yes |
| Paris (EPT) | — | €4,308,480 | — |
| Monte Carlo (EPT) | — | €2,352,960 | — |
| Barcelona (EPT) | — | €6,239,520 | — |
Every standalone 2026 Main Event with a guarantee has beaten it so far.
PokerStars Open locations and venues
Casinò di Campione, Italy. An Italian enclave on Lake Lugano, close to the Swiss border. It hosted the first-ever PokerStars Open in 2025 and opened the 2026 season.
Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia, USA. PokerStars’ main US stop, with online satellites for players in Pennsylvania, Michigan and New Jersey.
Circus Casino Resort Namur, Belgium. Home of one of Belgium’s biggest annual poker festivals.
Gran Madrid Casino Torrequebrada, Málaga, Spain. A Costa del Sol venue that set a record field in 2026.
Pasino GRAND Partouche Aix-en-Provence, France. A new stop for 2026, north of Marseille, run in partnership with Texapoker.
EPT venues: Palais des Congrès (Paris), Monte Carlo, Casino Barcelona and Hilton Prague host the €1,650 PokerStars Open Main Events within EPT festivals.
PokerStars Open vs EPT
| Feature | PokerStars Open | European Poker Tour (EPT) |
| Position in PokerStars LIVE | Regional tournament series | PokerStars’ flagship tour |
| Main Event buy-in | €1,100 (€1,650 at EPT stops) | Much higher, typically several thousand euros |
| Typical festival length | About one week | Up to two weeks |
| Locations | Mostly smaller European cities, plus US stops | Major European destinations |
| Who it’s aimed at | Recreational players, qualifiers and regulars | Professionals, high rollers and qualifiers |
| Link between them | PokerStars Open Main Events also run inside EPT festivals | Hosts PokerStars Open Main Events |
Latest PokerStars Open news
• October 2026: Sunday Million Live runs at Casino di Campione (2–12 October). PokerStars Open Aix-en-Provence is next, 2–8 November.
• August 2026: Jason Wheeler wins the PokerStars Open Barcelona Main Event for €731,000 from 4,333 entries.
• July 2026: Oskar Bilstad wins the record-breaking PokerStars Open Málaga Main Event.
• June 2026: Koen De Visscher wins PokerStars Open Namur for €220,800.
• May 2026: PokerStars adds Aix-en-Provence and EPT Prague to the 2026 calendar.
Past PokerStars Open winners: 2025 inaugural season
| Stop | Winner | Entries | First prize |
| Campione | Adrian State (Romania) | 2,423 | €363,000 |
| Philadelphia | Edward Leonard (USA) | 1,154 | $147,805 (deal) |
| Monte Carlo (EPT) | Jon Kyte (Norway) | 2,387 | €340,000 |
| Namur | Jean-Vincent Lehut (France) | 1,572 | €238,000 |
| Málaga | Manuel Ferrari (Italy) | 1,636 | €206,300 |
| Barcelona (EPT) | Alexis Nicolai (France) | 5,036 | €772,000 |
| Malta (EPT) | Scott Margereson (England) | 1,845 | €423,700 |
| Maryland | Charles Furey (USA) | 599 | $111,976 |
| Manchester | Tuan Le (England) | 927 | £149,200 |
| Las Vegas (NAPT) | Nikolai Mamut | 947 | $158,700 |
| Prague (EPT) | Yulian Bogdanov (Bulgaria) | 3,024 | €398,135 |
| Cannes | Paul Tedeschi (France) | 1,202 | €195,700 |
FAQs
What is the PokerStars Open?
It is PokerStars’ live tournament series, launched in 2025, built around accessible Main Events, large guarantees and regional festivals across Europe and the United States.
When is the PokerStars Open 2026?
The 2026 season started in Campione in January and runs to EPT Prague in December. The next stop is Aix-en-Provence, 2–8 November 2026.
Where is the PokerStars Open 2026 held?
Stops in 2026 include Campione, Paris, Philadelphia, Monte Carlo, Namur, Málaga, Barcelona, Aix-en-Provence and Prague.
How much is the PokerStars Open Main Event buy-in?
€1,100 at standalone European stops, $1,100 in the US, and €1,650 at EPT-hosted Main Events.
What is the PokerStars Open Main Event guarantee?
Usually €1,000,000 at standalone European stops. Philadelphia’s guarantee was $500,000.
How can I qualify for the PokerStars Open?
Through online satellites on PokerStars, live satellites at the venue, promotions, or a direct buy-in.
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