Which professional snooker events are being played in February 2026? A list of tournaments and information
February is shaping up to be a very busy month on the World Snooker Tour professional circuit with action from six different events.
In total, four titles will be won, two of which will be the first two legs of this season’s three-pronged Players Series. Here is our summary of what fans can look forward to on the green baize in the coming weeks...
World Grand Prix (February 3-8)
Following the final of the German Masters on Sunday 1st February, it’s a very quick turnaround for the snooker circuit as it heads to the Far East for the first leg of this season’s Players Series - the 2026 World Grand Prix.
This world ranking event moved to Hong Kong for the first time last year and was won by Neil Robertson. Action returns to the impressive Kai Tak Arena with a £700,000 prize fund on offer, from which £180,000 will go to the eventual champion.
Only the top 32 ranked players from this season’s one-year list are invited to the competition, with the draw bracket going according to seeding with 1 v 32, 2 v 31, 3 v 30 etc.
There is a format change this year with matches in the opening two rounds now lengthened to the best of nine frames.
All of the world’s top 16 from the overall rankings have qualified for the event, and there will be added pressure for some with this being the final counting event to get into the Players Championship later in the month. Masters champion Kyren Wilson and world champion Zhao Xintong are both currently outside those qualification places.
Championship League Invitational Winners’ Group (February 10 & 11)
Following 14 days of action, 168 matches, and five maximum breaks during the seven ‘regular’ groups completed in January, the seven-man line-up for the tournament-concluding Winners’ Group awaits, where the overall main title will be won.
The format is the same as the regular groups, with a round robin of all seven players facing each other before the top four in final standings qualify for the knockout semi-finals, and the winners of those ties meeting in the grand final. All matches are the best of five frames.
Held behind-closed-doors at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester, it will be a strictly English-Chinese affair with Tom Ford, Elliot Slessor, Matthew Selt, Si Jiahui, Mark Selby, Wu Yize and Zhang Anda all there for the party.
The reigning and defending champion is Selby, who is aiming the complete a three-peat having won this crown in 2024 and 2025.
World Open Qualifiers (February 10-12)
For a couple of days there will be dual action on the professional tour with World Open qualifiers taking place at the Barnsley Metrodome.
This tournament uses a flat draw format, meaning all 128 players (unless there are more and a preliminary round is required) start off in the opening round. Because of that, the majority of first round matches will be played as qualifiers in England, with the main venue, televised stages set for Yushan in China in March.
Opening round matches involving some of the sport’s biggest names will be held over to the venue in the Far East, therefore they will not need to go to these preliminaries.
For a plethora of lower ranked players on the tour, this will be their final engagement until the World Championship qualifiers in April.
Players Championship (February 17-22)
The Telford International Centre has played host to several top tier snooker events down the years, and for the third consecutive season it will stage the Players Championship, the second Players Series stop of the term.
Only the top 16 players from the one-year ranking list will get the nod, although should anyone decline their entry or withdraw, organisers will go down the list, inviting the next highest-ranked cueist.
Like the World Grand Prix, the drawsheet will be as per the seedings. All matches up to and including the semi-finals will be the best of 11 frames, with the two session final being the best of 19.
There is a total prize fund of £500,000, and £150,000 is reserved for the winner. All those that participate are guaranteed at least £15,000.
This is set to be the first professional event with Channel 5 in the United Kingdom being the host broadcaster.
Welsh Open (February 23-March 1)
Held every year since its inaugural edition in 1992, the Welsh Open is one of the oldest-running tournaments on snooker’s top flight.
A total of 64 players are set for Venue Cymru in Llandudno, all aiming to collect the £100,000 winner’s purse and lift The Ray Reardon Trophy.
The opening two rounds of the competition - featuring those outside the top 32 seeding places for the event - were played as qualifiers in Sheffield in January. Those 32 qualifiers will come up against the top 32 seeds at the main venue in North Wales when the live television cameras start rolling.
With this being the fourth and final Home Nations Series leg of the season, as well as the title, the order of merit race will be decided, with that storyline carrying a prize of £150,000. Going into the final lap, English Open champion Mark Allen is in pole position to scoop that bonus, although five other players can swoop in for it.
Like all Home Nations events at the moment, it’s best of seven frames up to and including the last 16, best of nine in the quarters, best of 11 in the semis, and best of 17 in the two-session final.