The Festival Malta 2026 Schedule Release!
The Festival Series is heading back to Malta in 2026, and once again the beautiful new setting of Portomaso Casino will play host yet another edition on the rock. Even though it's still far off, as the event takes places from 14-20 of September, we cannot wait any longer to reveal it, as we are super happy with the tournament schedule.
Following the previous three editions at the Portomaso Casino, still by far the best place to play live poker in Malta throughout the year, it is a great feeling to be able to go back to the sun, rooftop pool parties, and the refurbished venue of Portomaso. Our Malta stops bring a fesh tournament lineup, new formats, and a scheduled designed to keep the action flowing from start to finish.
It doesn't matter if you come to our event for Hold'em games, mixed games, chasing trophies or bounties, it's being promised to be yet another unforgettable week on the island.
A Schedule Built for Every Type of Player
The centerpiece of the series remains the always-popular NLH Main Event, featuring multiple starting flights and expected to draw players from across Europe and beyond. Alongside it, the Mixed Games Main Event returns after becoming one of the standout additions to last year’s festival.
This time around, however, several brand-new events are set to grab attention from the moment the cards are in the air. Last year, we had the NLH/PLO Bomb pot making its debut, for example.
Making its debut this year, is the Razzdugi Tournament, a brand-new format combining Razz and Badugi into a single mixed-game challenge. It is that kind of tournament that immediately catches the attention of mixed game players the moment it appears on the schedule.
Another event expected to create plenty of noise is the NLH 7-2 Special (Incl. INES rules). Anyone familiar with this game already knows what that means: looking down every hand and hoping you get the worst hand in poker!
And last but not least: The NLH Mini Main Event!!
Highlights of Malta 2026
This year’s schedule is packed from beginning to end, but a few events are already shaping up to be major attractions:
- NLH Main Event
- Mixed Games Main Event
- Razzdugi Tournament (NEW)
- NLH 7-2 Special (Incl. INES Rules) (NEW)
- Mystery Bounty
- NLH Mini Main Event
- The Hendon Mob Championship
- Slots Championship
- Blackjack Championship
- Sportsbook Championship
- Roulette Championship
Mixed Games Continue to Grow, While Hold'em Sets the Pace
Mixed games have become an increasingly important part of The Festival experience, and Malta 2026 takes that even further. But don't get us wrong here: Hold'em tournaments are still the most anticipated tournaments out there. And despite having loads of mixed games available, we have, on average, the most hold'em tournaments available compared to other events in the same buy-in range.
Mixed games just hit different, they bring the excitement, the passion, and the banter at the tables. This year in Malta it won't be any different. Games such as Big O, 2-7 Double Draw, Razzdugi, TORSES, Baby TORSES, and many more, will be part of the mayhem.
More Than Just Poker
With The Festival, we aim to offer a full poker holiday for our players. Online qualifiers are able to enjoy hospitaity events throughout the week. With events such as a rooftop pool party, bowling, outdoor games, wine tastings, beer brewery visits, you can be assured that you won't have much free time left outside the poker games.
Many online satellites already give you the opportunity to choose Malta as your preferred destionation as well. So make sure you check out our qualifier page, and get yourselves settled for the sunniest stop of the year!
Tournament Schedule of The Festival Malta 2026
Check out below the schedule for The Festival Malta 2026, which will be hosted by Portomaso Casino in St. Julians, and carried by the crew of Ludos Academy, captained by Danilo De Berardinis and Allesandra Cravero.
We hope to see many of you from September 14-20!
