PokerStars Announces the Return of European Poker Tour Paris in 2026
The European Poker Tour (EPT) is set to make a grand comeback in 2026, with PokerStars announcing the return of several iconic events to the live poker circuit. Among the confirmed stops is the much-anticipated EPT Paris, scheduled for February 18 to March 1, 2026, at Le Palais des Congrès in Paris.
EPT Paris will mark a return after being cancelled in 2025 due to French licensing issues. The venue, Le Palais des Congrès, hosted successful editions in 2023 and 2024, attracting over 1,600 players in the Main Event previously, generating prize pools exceeding €8 million.
The 2026 EPT Paris schedule will feature several major events, including the €5000 Main Event, a Women’s Tournament, a High Roller event, and a PokerStars Open Main Event.
Other confirmed stops for 2026 include:
- EPT Monte Carlo, scheduled from April 30 to May 10, 2026.
- The PokerStars Open events in Campione (January) and Namur (May).
- The Irish Poker Open in March.
In 2025, 4,562 players turned out for the Irish Open, creating a €4,447,950 prize pool when the guarantee was €2,500,000. PokerStars took its EPT to Paris for the first time in 2023, and Aleksandr Shevliakov won EPT Monte Carlo in 2025, taking home €1,000,000.
Here's a summary of key events and locations for EPT 2026:
| Event | Dates | Location | Notable Events | |----------------------|----------------------|------------------------|--------------------------------------------| | EPT Paris | Feb 18 – Mar 1, 2026 | Le Palais des Congrès, Paris | €5000 Main Event, Women’s Event, High Roller, PokerStars Open Main Event | | PokerStars Open (Campione) | January 2026 | Campione | Main Event and other tournaments | | Irish Poker Open | March 2026 | Ireland (specific location TBD) | Main Event and events | | EPT Monte Carlo | Apr 30 – May 10, 2026| Monte Carlo | Main Event and other tournaments | | PokerStars Open (Namur) | May 2026 | Namur | Main Event and other tournaments |
PokerStars will announce more legs to its 2026 live events calendar in due course. The full detailed tournament schedule is pending, but the highlight events are confirmed. The return of EPT Paris is expected to be a major attraction as it previously set participation records and features a variety of popular tournament formats.
- The European Poker Tour (EPT) is set to return in 2026 with several key events, such as the casino-and-gambling brand PokerStars' confirmation of the comeback of iconic events, like the EPT Paris.
- The gambling trends for 2026 are promising, with the casino-games industry seeing a resurgence, like the upcoming EPT Paris at Le Palais des Congrès in Paris, scheduled from February 18 to March 1.
- Apart from EPT Paris, other confirmed stops for the EPT in 2026 include EPT Monte Carlo, the PokerStars Open events in Campione and Namur, and the Irish Poker Open.
- The city of Las Vegas, known for its casinos and lotteries, might be interested in these developments, as the return of the EPT Paris is expected to set new participation records, featuring popular tournament formats in casino-games.
