PokerStars has confirmed that its European Poker Tour (EPT) will return for its 18th season and, after surpassing expectations this year, players can expect more innovations in 2024.
Although EPT regulars are waiting with bated breath for the tour’s year-ending showdown in Prague next month, thoughts are already turning to EPT Season 18.
The successful introduction of stops in Paris and Cyprus made this season one of the most successful yet, which is why the team at PokerStars HQ have grand plans for next year.
EPT Season 18 to feature returning classics and new favorites
The recently confirmed EPT schedule is a heady mix of old favorites and recent innovations that have been refined based on player feedback. First of the recent innovations to return in 2024 with a slightly new look is EPT Paris.
The PokerStars LIVE team expected the inaugural EPT Paris festival to be popular, but even they were taken by surprise. Attendance figures across the series were high, but the main event shone brightest.
A total of 1,606 entries were collected, making it the sixth largest EPT main event in history. That level of interest caused issues with registration lines and seating players. The tournament organizers at PokerStars LIVE have taken this into account and promised better logistics and, importantly, more tables next year.
Here is an important communication about FPS Paris: #FPSParis #EPTParis @PokerStarsLIVE pic.twitter.com/5HXYN4JPaE
— Cedric B. (@CedricBillot) February 18, 2023
They’ll do this by moving EPT Paris from the Hyatt Regency Hotel to Le Palais des Congrès. The new venue can host up to 120 tables, which means February’s EPT Paris could be even bigger than before.
If that’s the case, the main event winner could bank even more than 2023’s champion, Razvan Belea, who won €1.17 million after qualifying online for just $530.
EPT season 18 schedule
| City | Date |
| EPT Paris | 14 to 25 February 2024 |
| EPT Monte Carlo | 24 April to 04 May 2024 |
| EPT Barcelona | 26 August to 08 September 2024 |
| EPT Cyprus | 09 to 20 October 2024 |
| EPT Prague | 04 to 15 December 2024 |
The EPT bandwagon will travel from Paris to nearby Monte Carlo in April. Monte Carlo has been a popular stop on the tour every year since 2005 (except 2020 due to COVID restrictions). Salle des Etoiles, part of the Monte Carlo Bay Resort & Hotel, will play host to the event before everyone heads to Barcelona where yet more records could be broken.
EPT Barcelona has long been home to some of the biggest EPT main events in history and, in 2024, there are no reasons it couldn’t set new records. PokerStars has been visiting the Spanish capital since 2004 so, to mark its 20th year, the team of PokerStars LIVE will be rolling out a ton of as yet to be announced promotions.
PokerStars to finish strong in 2024
October will see the tour return to Cyprus for a second time. This year’s inaugural EPT Cyprus proved popular for a variety of reasons. As well as a packed schedule of low, medium, and high stakes events, EPT Cyprus was a chance for poker players to enjoy some October sun in the all-inclusive Merit Royal Diamond Hotel.
Mark those calendars…here’s where the EPT is heading in 2024.
EPT Paris: Feb 14-25
EPT Monte-Carlo: Apr 24-May 4
EPT Barcelona: Aug 26-Sept 8
EPT Cyprus: Oct 9-20
EPT Prague: Dec 4-15https://t.co/JakTKzfCx7
Which stop would you most like to play? pic.twitter.com/drtK2Aiyft
— PokerStars LIVE (@PokerStarsLIVE) November 21, 2023
Rounding out the 2024 EPT season will be a stop in Prague. The Czech capital always brings the season to a glittering finish and, even before this year’s event, expectations for 2024 are already high. All of this action will be complemented by the Power Path qualification system introduced in 2023 to give as many players as possible the chance to enjoy EPT events next season.
