SpadePoker and The Festival have a long-standing collaboration, during which we've brought our readers news, interviews, live broadcasts, and results from various stops. This favorite player's series continues its packed European schedule without much of a break. While the weekend event in Riga, Latvia, was dominated by the Swedish player known as “Mark Twin,” attention is now turning to St. Julian’s, where The Festival Malta 2026 officially kicks off today.
Mark Twin Converts Lead into Title in Riga
The Festival Weekend Riga took place from September 10th to 13th at the Olympic Voodoo Casino, with the €555 Mystery Bounty Main Event as the main attraction, drawing 153 entries across three starting flights.
Nineteen players advanced to the final day, with Mark Twin in the best position, carrying over the lead from Day 1A with a stack of 658,000. The Swedish player maintained his lead and ultimately defeated Finnish representative Mikko Heikkala in heads-up, taking home €9,850.
Final Table Results:
| # | Name | Country | Prize |
| 1. | Mark Twin | Sweden | €9,850 + bounty |
| 2. | Mikko Heikkala | Finland | €6,555 + bounty |
| 3. | Dmitri Dudakov | Estonia | €4,740 + bounty |
| 4. | Juris Bonders | Latvia | €3,700 + bounty |
| 5. | Vladislavs Petrovs | Latvia | €2,880 + bounty |
| 6. | Viktors Čaikins | Latvia | €2,250 + bounty |
| 7. | Kristaps Renga | Latvia | €1,760 + bounty |
| 8. | Nikita Zharovs | Latvia | €1,430 + bounty |
| 9. | Juris Liepiņš | Latvia | €1,150 + bounty |
From Riga Straight to Sunny Malta
After the Baltic weekend comes a significantly larger, week-long stop. The Festival Malta 2026 takes place from September 14th to 20th at Portomaso Casino in St. Julian’s. Malta is hosting The Festival for the fourth consecutive year. The combination of a quality tournament schedule, warm weather, sea, dining, and nightlife has made it one of the most popular destinations of the series.
Players can look forward to over 45 events and a wide range of disciplines. Alongside classic No-Limit Hold’em, a lot of focus will be on Pot-Limit Omaha, mixed games, Sviten Special, Open Face Chinese, blackjack, roulette, and unique formats characteristic of The Festival.
The highlight of the week will be the €550 NLH Main Event. The first flight starts on Tuesday, September 15th, and players will have five opportunities to qualify over the next four days. The advancing players will meet on Saturday’s Day 2, with the final 16 players returning to the tables on Sunday to compete for the title. The defending champion is Portugal's Nuno Morais, who claimed €61,001 in 2025.
Complete Schedule for The Festival Malta 2026:
| Date | Time | Tournament | Buy-in |
| Each day | Mon – Sat, 21:00 | Stand ’n Goes – Franke’s Flips Flops | Varies |
| Friday, September 11 | 14:00 | Satellite to NLH or T.O.R.S.E.S Main Event | €70 |
| Friday, September 11 | 18:00 | Satellite to The Hendon Mob Championship | €35 |
| Saturday, September 12 | 14:00 | Satellite to NLH or T.O.R.S.E.S Main Event | €70 |
| Saturday, September 12 | 18:00 | Satellite to The Hendon Mob Championship | €5 |
| Sunday, September 13 | 13:00 | The Hendon Mob Championship – Day 1A | €250 |
| Sunday, September 13 | 14:00 | T.O.R.S.E.S Mixed Games Main Event – Day 1A | €550 |
| Sunday, September 13 | 18:00 | Satellite to The Hendon Mob Championship Day 1B | €35 |
| Monday, September 14 | 14:00 | The Hendon Mob Championship – Day 1B | €250 |
| Monday, September 14 | 14:30 | T.O.R.S.E.S Mixed Games Main Event – Day 1B | €550 |
| Monday, September 14 | 18:00 | Satellite to Main Event Day 1A | €70 |
| Monday, September 14 | 20:00 | Cash Game Challenge €2/€2 NLH | €250 |
| Monday, September 14 | 20:30 | Sviten Mix | €125 |
| Monday, September 14 | 20:30 | NLH 7-2 Special with INES Rule | €125 |
| Monday, September 14 | 22:30 | Cash Game Challenge €2/€2 PLO | €250 |
| Tuesday, September 15 | 12:00 | NLH Main Event – Day 1A | €550 |
| Tuesday, September 15 | 12:30 | T.O.R.S.E.S Mixed Games Main Event – Day 2 | Closed |
| Tuesday, September 15 | 15:00 | Sviten Special | €350 |
| Tuesday, September 15 | 15:30 | Roulette Championship | €125 |
| Tuesday, September 15 | 18:00 | Satellite to Main Event Day 1B | €70 |
| Tuesday, September 15 | 19:30 | The Hendon Mob Championship – Day 1C Turbo | €250 |
| Tuesday, September 15 | 20:00 | Cash Game Challenge €2/€2 NLH | €250 |
| Tuesday, September 15 | 20:00 | Pot-Limit 2-7 Double Draw | €125 |
| Tuesday, September 15 | 22:30 | Cash Game Challenge €2/€2 PLO | €250 |
| Wednesday, September 16 | 12:00 | NLH Main Event – Day 1B | €550 |
| Wednesday, September 16 | 12:00 | The Hendon Mob Championship – Day 2 | Closed |
| Wednesday, September 16 | 12:30 | 8-Game | €350 |
| Wednesday, September 16 | 16:00 | Blackjack Championship | €125 |
| Wednesday, September 16 | 17:00 | PLO High Roller | €1,100 |
| Wednesday, September 16 | 18:00 | Satellite to Main Event Day 1C | €70 |
| Wednesday, September 16 | 20:00 | Cash Game Challenge €2/€2 NLH | €250 |
| Wednesday, September 16 | 20:30 | NLH Pineapple PKO | €125 |
| Wednesday, September 16 | 22:30 | Cash Game Challenge €2/€2 PLO | €250 |
| Thursday, September 17 | 12:00 | NLH Main Event – Day 1C | €550 |
| Thursday, September 17 | 13:00 | Razzdugi | €250 |
| Thursday, September 17 | 17:00 | NLH Mystery Bounty – Day 1A | €350 |
| Thursday, September 17 | 17:00 | NLH High Roller | €1,100 |
| Thursday, September 17 | 19:00 | Super Satellite to Main Event Day 1D | €70 |
| Thursday, September 17 | 20:00 | Cash Game Challenge €2/€2 NLH | €250 |
| Thursday, September 17 | 20:30 | NLH KO with Live Straddle | €125 |
| Thursday, September 17 | 21:00 | PLO 4/5/6 Cards – 7-Max | €125 |
| Thursday, September 17 | 22:30 | Cash Game Challenge €2/€2 PLO | €250 |
| Friday, September 18 | 12:00 | NLH Main Event – Day 1D | €550 |
| Friday, September 18 | 12:30 | OFC Pineapple | €250 |
| Friday, September 18 | 16:00 | The Festival Queens | €125 |
| Friday, September 18 | 17:00 | NLH Mystery Bounty – Day 1B | €350 |
| Friday, September 18 | 20:00 | Cash Game Challenge €2/€2 NLH | €500 |
| Friday, September 18 | 20:00 | NLH Main Event – Day 1E Turbo | €550 |
| Friday, September 18 | 21:00 | BigO | €125 |
| Friday, September 18 | 22:30 | Cash Game Challenge €2/€2 PLO | €500 |
| Saturday, September 19 | 12:00 | NLH Main Event – Day 2 | Closed |
| Saturday, September 19 | 12:30 | Baby T.O.R.S.E.S Supreme | €250 |
| Saturday, September 19 | 13:00 | Sportsbook Championship | €125 |
| Saturday, September 19 | 17:00 | NLH Mystery Bounty – Day 1C | €350 |
| Saturday, September 19 | 18:30 | The Festival 10-Game Mix – Day 1 | €1,100 |
| Saturday, September 19 | 20:00 | Cash Game Challenge €2/€2 NLH | €500 |
| Saturday, September 19 | 20:30 | Bomb Pot ROE Madness – Hold’em/PLO | €125 |
| Saturday, September 19 | 21:00 | Slots Championship | €125 |
| Saturday, September 19 | 22:30 | Cash Game Challenge €2/€2 PLO | €500 |
| Sunday, September 20 | 11:00 | NLH Mystery Bounty – Day 1D Turbo | €350 |
| Sunday, September 20 | 12:00 | Seniors 50+ Championship | €250 |
| Sunday, September 20 | 12:00 | The Festival 10-Game Mix – Day 2 | Closed |
| Sunday, September 20 | 13:30 | NLH Mini Main Event | €125 |
| Sunday, September 20 | 14:00 | NLH Main Event – Day 3, Final 16 Players | Closed |
| Sunday, September 20 | 15:00 | OFC Pineapple High Roller | €1,100 |
| Sunday, September 20 | 16:30 | NLH Mystery Bounty – Day 2 | Closed |
The Festival again proves that it can be more than just another stop on the crowded poker calendar. Classic Hold’em, mixed games, unique formats, and a social program combine to create an event that is both a tournament festival and a gathering of the international poker community. After a successful weekend in Riga, the focus shifts to one of the series’ most beloved destinations – Malta.
Current results, photos, interviews, and table action will be available on the official live blog of The Festival Malta 2026. We will, of course, also bring you the most exciting results and stories from Portomaso Casino throughout the entire festival week.
Sources: The Festival Series, Poker.pro
Photo: Mairo Toom / The Festival Series