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The Campeonato Espana de Poker (CEP) will once again bring one of its biggest crowds to Casino Barcelona this summer, as the festival celebrates its 20th anniversary. The series runs from August 3-17, 2026, with a string of satellite events held from July 27-31 to help players qualify ahead of the main festivities.
Among the many tournaments on the schedule, the €500 buy-in CEP Barcelona Main Event remains the standout attraction. Three years ago, the event drew 1,960 entries, a record at the time for the Spanish tour.
That mark was shattered last year when the Main Event attracted 2,182 entries, becoming the first CEP Main Event ever to surpass the 2,000-entry threshold and cementing its status as the largest in tour history.
The 2025 edition concluded with a three-way deal at the final table. Spain’s Arnau Pradas finished third for €60,225, while compatriot Marc Casamacchi took second for €72,900 after falling short in heads-up play. Argentina’s Matias Arroyo claimed the title and a career-best €86,875 payday, remarkable returns for a modest €500 buy-in.
Players heading to Barcelona this year can expect later-than-usual start times, giving them extra time to explore the city before diving into the tables.
The CEP Barcelona festival wraps up just before the PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Barcelona begins on August 16, running through August 29. Last year’s EPT Main Event drew 2,045 entries and produced a prize pool of €9,918,250, with Thomas Eychenne winning €1,217,175 after a heads-up deal with Sebastian Ionita, who earned €1,117,175.
