The Festival Bratislava 2026
The first stop of the biggest year in The Festival Series' history will see Martin 'Franke' von Zweigbergk and the team return to Bratislava, Slovakia, from February 23 – March 1, 2026. This event will take place at Banco Bratislava, where it all began for us back in 2021, and marks our sixth collaboration with the casino. Our second home is well-known for its friendly atmosphere, professional staff, and year-round great poker action. It’s the perfect place to begin another exciting year of The Festival Series. It is going to be massive!
1. Event Overview
The Festival Bratislava will return for another seven-day stint from February 23 to March 1, 2026, and is the first stop since November last year at this very venue. The event was a successful stop for the team and Banco Bratislava, and there is no doubt this stop will be a hit with the players. As always, the Festival Series staples return, and a certain someone will be returning to become an unprecedented triple champion of the €550 Main Event.
- €550 Main Event: Sebastian Kotowicz will be looking to become a triple Main Event winner at the first stop, having become the first dual-winner by winning the Main Event in 2024 and 2025 at Banco Bratislava.
- €250 The Hendon Mob Championship: The world-famous The Hendon Mob Championship will return and is sure to attract a big field because of its solid structure and accessible price point. Get involved, and if you get your first cash, you'll be a part of poker's largest player database. If you are already on thehendonmob.com, come to The Festival and add to those cashes!
- €550 T.O.R.S.E.S Main Event: The mixed game scene in Europe has gone from blooming to booming, evidenced by the massive 102-runner T.O.R.S.E.S Main Event last time out at The Festival Bratislava. This set a new personal best for The Festival, and the change from H.O.R.S.E.S to T.O.R.S.E.S has proven to be a popular choice.
There will be plenty of juicy side events for players to sink their teeth into across a wide variety of formats. There will also be the Player of the Series leaderboard, where the player with the deepest runs, most cashes and participation points wins a package worth €1,800 to the next Festival Series stop. The current reigning POS is Ville Hakala, who finally found the number one spot after back-to-back seconds in Malta and Rozvadov.
There will also be a massive online qualifying campaign across the iPoker network, where players can win their way to a package from as little as 25 cents!
Click here to learn more about the online qualifying campaign.
2. Venue Details
Banco Bratislava is situated slap-bang in the heart of the city and is a short walk from the historic and picturesque Old Town in Slovakia's capital. The casino is spacious and comfortable, and offers a premium feel for players at the tables. The dealers, floor and service staff are friendly and professional. There are multiple bars across the venue across two floors. Upstairs is the Crowne Plaza Bratislava, a four-star hotel. This venue offers players a short commute from their chamber to the cardroom for a day's play, all without going outside and embracing the Bratislavan cold. Key features include, but are not limited to:
- Spacious and comfortable playing environment
- Top-class staff in all departments
- Multiple onside bars and food facilities
- Luxurious hotel upstairs, great location in the centre of Bratislava
Getting to Bratislava:
Bratislava is accessible via two international airports, as well as continental train and bus connections from a variety of major cities.
- Fly to Bratislava Airport (BTS) or Vienna International Airport (VIE). From Vienna, it’s only an hour’s journey to the casino by taxi, car, or public transport. From Bratislava airport, it's a fifteen-minute journey.
- We recommend taking a shuttle bus from both airports. It is easy to book and offers very affordable access to the city. The shuttle services transfer travellers several times per hour at each airport.
3. Registration Information
Registration at Banco Casino is quick and straightforward:
- Bring your National ID, Passport, or Driver’s License to sign up.
- Registered players will receive a membership card for future visits, as well as a wristband, so you do not need to show your membership card when entering the casino throughout the day. This makes entering and exiting quick and easy for the players and is hassle-free for all involved.
For more information, check out the Banco Casino website or reach out to their team, as they are always happy to help with any inquiries.
4. Tournament Schedule
The tournament schedule is yet to be finalised, but here is a look at what is expected to be on the menu come February.
- Key Events: €550 NLH Main Event, €250 Mystery Bounty, and €250 The Hendon Mob Championship.
- Mixed Games: T.O.R.S.E.S. Main Event, 2-7 Double Draw, PL Razz Bounty, Sviten Special, Chicago European Championships, Bomb Pot NLH/PLO, and others.
- Special Formats: Crazy Pineapple, Seniors Tournament, The Festival Queens, Heads-Up Tournament.
- Cash Games: Available around the clock for those who want continuous action, including the Cash Game Challenge.
- Side Events/Activities: Casino Games tournaments, Hospitality events, Franke's Flip Flops, and more!
Buy-ins will range from €50 to €1,100, making it accessible for players of all levels. There will also be satellites to the Main Event, THMC, as well as the high roller action in the €1,100 PLO and the €1,100 No Limit Hold'em. Stay tuned for the official tournament schedule!
5. Coverage and Media
We’ll provide full coverage of the event, ensuring you don’t miss any of the action. Here’s what to look out for:
- Live Blog: Real-time updates, hand histories, and player stories.
- Photos and Videos: Professional images and videos capturing the best moments of the entire event.
- Social Media Updates: Follow us on Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch for highlights and announcements.
Our team and external media partners will be on-site to make sure every key moment is documented. For press materials, visit the press area on our website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the easiest way to get to Banco Casino Bratislava?
Fly to Bratislava Airport (BTS) or Vienna International Airport (VIE). From there, it’s a short trip to the venue by taxi, car, or public transport.
When will the tournament schedule be available?
The Tournament Schedule has yet to be released, but there will be 40+ tournaments to choose from across a wide range of variants and formats.
What can I do in Bratislava outside of poker?
Bratislava has plenty to offer, from its historic old town and iconic Bratislava Castle to great food and nightlife. The Festival Series will also offer hospitality packages with extra activities for online qualifiers eligible to participate in these additional and epic events.
Will there be new tournament formats in Bratislava?
We always aim to bring fresh and exciting formats to our events. Last year in Bratislava, we introduced the first-ever Chicago European Championships, which proved to be a smash hit with players from across Europe.
What other stops are on The Festival Series 2026 schedule?
The Festival Series is in for a marquee year, with seven total live stops. Below is the schedule of live stops for the year.
| Dates | Event Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| February 23 – March 1, 2026 | The Festival Series | Bratislava, Slovakia |
| May 28 – 31, 2026 | The Festival Weekend | Vilnius, Lithuania |
| June 9 – 15, 2026 | The Festival Series | Rozvadov, Czech Republic |
| July 1 – 5, 2026 | The Festival Weekend | Tallinn, Estonia |
| September 3 – 6, 2026 | The Festival Weekend | Riga, Latvia |
| September 14 – 20, 2026 | The Festival Series | St. Julians, Malta |
| November 20 – 29, 2026 | The Festival Series | Tallinn, Estonia |
