EPT Paris Returns: The City of Lights Shines on Europe's Poker Scene Again

The most prestigious poker tour in Europe regularly visits its traditional stops, with the occasional addition of a new location. In 2023, the return to Paris after many years turned out to be an excellent move—massive fields, electrifying atmosphere, a Main Event with 1,606 entries, and a finale where Romanian Razvan Belea transformed his run into a life-changing title and €1,170,000.

A year later, Paris delivered an even bigger "festival blockbuster." In 2024, the Main Event became a true European mega-tournament—1,747 entries created an €8,385,600 prizepool. The winner was Barny Boatman, a legend of the British scene, who deserved a standing ovation in Paris and picked up his largest career cash of €1,287,800.

The Unfortunate Year 2025 - When Laws Broke the Tournament Clock

Just as it seemed EPT Paris had firmly established itself among the top stops of the year, came a chilling setback. The festival planned for February 2025 was canceled in December 2024—not for the poker, nor the players, but due to regulation. The critical issue was that a temporary legal framework allowing Parisian gaming clubs to operate was set to expire on December 31, 2024, and amidst political uncertainty, it was unclear if (and when) it would be extended.

PokerStars and Club Barrière wisely "hit the brakes" to prevent the festival from collapsing mid-event. And so, Paris went quiet for a year. The calendar had a noticeable gap, as this stop had quickly gained a status as a place to not only play but enjoy great poker.

EPT Paris 2026: A Comeback with Everything

Now, however, EPT Paris is back and kicks off today, February 18th, running until March 1st. Once again, the venue is Le Palais des Congrès, a large and logistically robust arena, fitting for a festival expecting thousands of players and a constant buzz from the first to the last day. Most importantly: the schedule is crafted so that everyone can find their path—from ambitious mid-stakes players to the high-roller elite.

Paris 2026 begins with a "double offering"—running alongside EPT is the PokerStars Open, which opens the festival with more accessible buy-ins and traditionally creates huge fields. Then comes the main course: the €5,300 EPT Main Event, a tournament that in recent years has grown to European record proportions in Paris.

In the meantime, players will compete for prestige in the €100,000 EPT Super High Roller, experience emotional highs in the €3,250 Mystery Bounty, and vie for a huge number of iconic spade trophies. This stop will feature a total of 52 events, ensuring a mix that will thrill every poker enthusiast.

Key Events of EPT Paris 2026:

Sources – Pslive, Flickr, X