Alongside the rich live schedule (with 50+ events promised), there is one key strategy for players: online qualifiers are currently the cheapest and most strategic way to get to Bratislava — particularly thanks to a robust campaign on the iPoker Network, complemented by “Wednesday Finals,” Unibet, WPT Global, and KKPoker.
Why The Festival Series is a Strong Brand in Europe
The Festival Series was launched around the idea that a poker festival should be about more than grinding; it should mix formats, offer accessible buy-ins, and provide a community experience. From its inception in 2021, the series was communicated as a week-long festival combining tournament poker with additional activities to appeal to a broader spectrum of players.
The DNA of The Festival Series is built on a wide array of mixed games, and it has long positioned itself as a meeting point for communities around formats like T.O.R.S.E.S, Sviten Special, OFC, and 8-Game, while also nurturing a “festival” social vibe away from the tables. The brand was founded by Martin “Franke” von Zweigbergk, who describes The Festival as an experiential event, where social interaction and atmosphere play just as vital a role as the game itself.
Part of the “prestigious package” includes a long-standing collaboration with The Hendon Mob Championship (THMC). In 2026, THMC will be a part of all four full-fledged Festival stops (Bratislava, Rozvadov, Malta, Tallinn), which boosts international visibility and motivates players to collect results for the largest live cash database.
Season 2026: The Biggest Year Yet
2026 marks the “biggest year ever” for The Festival, with Bratislava as its opening chapter: February 23 – March 1, 2026. The year will feature nine events: 4 full-fledged live festivals, 3 Festival Weekends, and 2 online festivals.
2026 Season Overview:
-
Bratislava (Feb 23 – Mar 1)
-
Festival Online Spring (April)
-
Festival Weekend Vilnius (May 28 – May 31)
-
Rozvadov (Jun 9 – Jun 15)
-
Festival Weekend Tallinn (Jul 1 – Jul 5)
-
Festival Weekend Riga (Sep 3 – Sep 6)
-
Malta (Sep 14 – Sep 20)
-
Festival Online Autumn (October)
-
Tallinn (Nov 20 – Nov 29)
Banco Bratislava: The Perfect Poker-Only Environment
Bratislava is repeatedly referred to as the “home game” of the entire tour. In 2025, Banco transformed into a dedicated poker club with no traditional casino games, increasing the focus on tournaments/cash games and enhancing the “festival flow.” This marks the sixth edition in Bratislava and the first “Winter Edition – Special.”
The official tournament schedule for Bratislava features more than 40 tournaments throughout the week, highlighting a mix of NLH, PLO, OFC, mixed games, and creative formats (like Bomb Pot / Madness variations). The series' main attractions include:
-
€250 The Hendon Mob Championship
-
€550 The Festival Main Event
-
€550 The Festival TORSES Mixed Games Main Event
-
€250 NLH Heads-Up, €250 Sviten Special
-
€125 Bomb Pot Madness NLH/PLO, €125 Baby TORSES
-
Trio of €1,100 High Rollers (NLH / PLO / OFC)
Find the complete tournament schedule here
iPoker Network: The Best Qualifying Path to Bratislava
If there is one platform defining the best qualifiers to Bratislava in 2026, it's the iPoker Network. The campaign is structured so that satellites run across 25+ operators, allowing players to choose their preferred site within the network. The campaign runs until February 16, with a total guarantee of over €38,000. To join the qualifiers today, register via Champion Poker and secure your spot!
The campaign is designed as a “step system”—players advance from micro buy-ins to Day 1 and then to the finals. Crucially, there is no direct buy-in to the final satellites, so the field consists only of players who earned their place through satellites and steps. Throughout the campaign, 16 full packages worth €1,850 are guaranteed. In addition to the packages, there are also 12× €550 Main Event seats, with tickets being flexible for use in either the NLH Main Event or TORSES Mixed Main Event.
The €1,850 packages are set up to cover basic logistics (hotel, entry, bonuses). The package includes:
-
6 nights accommodation (Feb 23 – Mar 1), including breakfast (Crowne Plaza or similar standard),
-
€550 Main Event ticket (usable for NLH or TORSES),
-
festival merch (cap),
-
hospitality package,
-
and €250 travel expenses credited to the player's account.
Play Now!
iPoker isn’t the only network where you can enter Bratislava with minimal investment. Let's briefly introduce other networks:
Unibet and Play for Just 1 Cent
If you're looking for the lowest possible entry point, you'll find it on Unibet, where qualifying paths start from €0.01. Games are held every Thursday, and the program looks like this:
-
16:05 €0.01 Centroll (top 5 = €50 tickets, 6-10 = €10 tickets)
-
18:05 €50 Super Feeder (GTD 4× €250 tickets)
-
20:00 €250 Package Qualifier (GTD 1× €1,500 Festival Package)
-
20:15 €50 Seat Only (GTD 1× €550 Main Event seat)
WPT Global: €100,000 Bonus for the Champion
WPT Global is gearing up for Bratislava with a straightforward rhythm and strong marketing bonus. The game day is always Tuesday, alternating between two final tournaments:
-
$33 Seat-Only Final: 2× €550 Main Event tickets (Dec 23 / Jan 6 / Jan 20)
-
$66 Package Final: 2× €1,600 Festival Packages (Dec 30 / Jan 13 / Jan 27)
These finals are reached through regular low buy-in satellites — such as $3.30 satellites to the $33 final and $6.60 satellites to the $66 final. The strongest distinctive feature of this series is the “champion bonus” — if a player qualifies through WPT Global and subsequently wins the €550 NLH Main Event, WPT Global adds an extra $100,000 to their winnings!
Take Your Shot at the $100k Bonus Today!
KKPoker: Seat-Only Bonanza
KKPoker focuses primarily on players who want directly a “seat-only” rather than a tournament package. KKPoker offers a total of 15 guaranteed €550 tickets to the Main Event, with the entire path built on:
-
freeroll start (e.g., free $405 added event)
-
$5 Step 1 (Wednesday and Sunday 17:30 CET)
-
$30 seat-only qualifier (Wednesday and Sunday 19:00 CET)
Register at KKPoker Here
