What Makes The Festival Unique?
The Festival Series is a unique event that blends the best of poker, casino games, and sports betting into one dynamic festival. It's not just about playing for big wins; it's also about building a community where players can reconnect with old friends and make new ones in a relaxed and fun atmosphere.
The series focuses on providing an unforgettable experience for players: alongside the tournaments, various side events and leisure activities add to the festivity, making The Festival feel more like a poker holiday. As the organizers describe it, The Festival is a "poker vacation filled with excitement, friendship, and unforgettable memories." This distinctive mix of poker and entertainment is winning over an ever-growing number of players and fans.
Last chance to qualify online!
Even though the regular online qualifiers for 1.850€ packages are now history, there’s still a last-minute shot to grab a Main Event seat at a discounted price. Tonight at 20:30 CEST, the iPoker series launches its final 50€ qualifier guaranteeing at least 8 tickets worth 550€ each. To jump in, we recommend trying Champion Poker, one of the biggest rooms on the iPoker network.
REGISTER NOW
A Brief History of the Series
The relatively young series, The Festival, began its journey in 2021 in Bratislava, where it introduced official roulette and blackjack tournaments alongside traditional poker events for the first time. This pioneering concept quickly spread across Europe, with The Festival visiting Tallinn, Nottingham, Rozvadov, and Malta in subsequent years.
The series frequently returns to Slovakia; Bratislava has hosted The Festival multiple times and is set to welcome the final stop of the 2025 season this November. Behind the series' creation and success is its founder, Martin “Franke” von Zweigbergk, and his team, who continuously push the boundaries and introduce fresh ideas for players. You can read our interview with Franke here:
What Awaits You in Malta?
The next stop, The Festival Malta, will take place from September 15-21, 2025, at the Portomaso Casino (St. Julian’s) in Malta. Expect a week full of thrilling poker in a coastal setting, enriched by a comprehensive schedule of side events for all types of players. The highlight will be the Main Event with a buy-in of €550, spanning five initial days and culminating in a final day showdown on Saturday, September 21, where a new champion of the Maltese festival will be crowned.
The Main Event winner's reward can reach tens of thousands of euros—illustratively, the June edition of The Festival in Rozvadov saw 1,053 entries, with winner Ondřej Már taking home €91,000. Last year in Malta, substantial participation resulted in impressive payouts, with Victor Gil-den Houting overcoming 566 players to secure €55,000 for first place.
In addition to the main event, Malta's festival promises a vibrant tournament schedule. Highlights include:
- The Hendon Mob Championship (THMC) – A favorite event in partnership with the Hendon Mob portal, boasting a €250 buy-in.
- Mixed Games – The Festival embraces less traditional poker disciplines. For the first time in Malta, the TORSES Mixed Game Championship (€550) will be held, a new mix of games inspired by the popular H.O.R.S.E. format (with 2-7 Triple Draw replacing Limit Hold’em, and 2-7 Single Draw added).
- The fun-packed tournament €125 Bomb Pot Madness will debut, featuring alternating No-Limit Hold’em and PLO rounds, where all players must ante into the pot before every hand—betting only begins after the flop.
- Mystery Bounty – Expect popular Mystery Bounty tournaments (with secret rewards for knocking out opponents) that always draw a crowd.
In short, Malta offers something for everyone—whether you prefer classic Texas Hold’em, Omaha, or unconventional poker disciplines, you'll find it here. Legendary hospitality events, such as leisure activities for participants, joint parties, and excursions to explore Malta, along with various fun competitions outside the casino, are also on the itinerary. Prepare for a week full of intense tournament battles, but also relaxation, fun, and community gatherings with like-minded players. If you love poker and want to experience a unique festival atmosphere under the Maltese sun, don’t hesitate to book your flights!
