PokerStars announces 2027 EPT calendar: main event at 5,000 euros

PokerStars has announced the full calendar for the 2027 European Poker Tour (EPT) season. The schedule includes five major festival hubs alongside regional stops. The season will begin in France, and EPT Malta, which was not on the 2026 schedule, returns to the calendar.

The most notable change in the announcement is the buy-in for the EPT Main Event. The fee, which had long been 5,300 euros, is being lowered to 5,000 euros for the first time in more than 15 years. PokerStars said the move is intended to simplify the registration process and align the fee with the tour's other changes.

The company also announced that it will sponsor two PokerStars Open stops and the 2027 Irish Open. Three other major festivals are planned for the first half of the year. PokerStars said the changes to the fee structure are part of a multi-year effort to improve the table experience, broadcast quality and tournament organization.

A single, consistent entry level will apply to PokerStars Open tournaments. For EPT stops, this amount has been set at 1,250 euros. Cedric Billot, the head of the company's live events division, said player feedback played a role in the decision. Players who qualify for four PokerStars Opens through Power Path will be able to exchange those seats for one EPT Main Event entry. The company said rake rates have not yet been announced, but that all fees will be published in detail with each festival schedule.