The World Series of Poker has officially released the full schedule for the 2026 summer series, and it is shaping up to be the biggest WSOP in history. The series will feature 95 gold bracelet events running from May 27 through July 16 at the Las Vegas Strip venue, spanning 51 action-packed days that promise to draw players from every corner of the globe.
WSOP Vice President Jack Effel confirmed the news during a press conference held at the Horseshoe Las Vegas, calling the 2026 series a landmark year for the organization. “We listened to the players, studied the data from 2025, and built a schedule that reflects where poker is headed,” Effel said. “This is a schedule designed for everyone, from the first-time bracelet hopeful to the seasoned high roller.”
Schedule Breakdown by Buy-In
One of the most notable aspects of the 2026 schedule is the thoughtful distribution of buy-in levels, ensuring accessibility across bankroll sizes while still catering to the high-stakes crowd.
At the lower end, there are 22 events priced at $1,500 or below, including eight events at the popular $400 and $600 price points. These affordable options are a direct response to player feedback following the 2025 series, where many recreational players felt priced out of bracelet contention. The $400 Colossus returns for its twelfth iteration with a $5 million guarantee and unlimited Day 1 flights spread across four starting days.
The mid-range tier features 38 events with buy-ins between $1,500 and $5,000. This bracket includes staples like the $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em events scattered throughout the schedule, the $3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha, and the $2,500 Mixed Triple Draw Lowball. Compared to the 2025 schedule, which featured 33 events in this range, the expansion signals the WSOP’s commitment to the core competitive demographic.
For high rollers, 18 events carry buy-ins between $10,000 and $50,000, while an additional four events sit at the super high roller level, topped by the prestigious $250,000 Super High Roller Championship. The ultra-premium bracket also includes a new $100,000 PLO Championship, designed to appeal to the growing pot-limit Omaha community.
New Events for 2026
Several new formats and tournaments have been added to this year’s lineup, reflecting the evolving landscape of competitive poker. Among the most anticipated additions:
Short Deck Championship ($10,000) - After years of growing popularity in private games and international tours, Short Deck (Six Plus) Hold’em finally gets its own dedicated WSOP bracelet event. The format, which removes all cards below six from the deck, has developed a passionate following among action-oriented players. Look for big names like Phil Ivey and Tom Dwan to be among the favorites.
PLO Hi-Lo Championship ($5,000) - The split-pot variant of Pot-Limit Omaha has gained substantial traction at online tables, and the WSOP is answering the demand with a standalone championship event. Players can brush up on advanced concepts in our strategy guides before tackling this complex format.
Mystery Bounty $1,000 ($2M GTD) - Building on the massive success of mystery bounty formats across the tournament circuit, this affordable entry point gives recreational players a shot at life-changing bounty envelopes while competing for a bracelet.
Tag Team Championship ($1,000 per team) - A returning fan favorite, the tag team event allows two-player partnerships to swap in and out during play, creating a unique social and strategic dynamic.
Main Event Structure: Days 1A Through 1D
The crown jewel of the series, the WSOP Main Event, carries a record-breaking $50 million guaranteed prize pool at the traditional $10,000 buy-in. The guarantee represents a substantial increase over the 2025 Main Event, which generated a $42 million prize pool from 4,200 entries.
The 2026 Main Event will feature four Day 1 starting flights:
- Day 1A - July 2 (Wednesday), 11:00 AM
- Day 1B - July 3 (Thursday), 11:00 AM
- Day 1C - July 5 (Saturday), 11:00 AM
- Day 1D - July 6 (Sunday), 11:00 AM
Each starting flight will play 10 levels of 60-minute duration, with players receiving a 60,000 starting stack. The blind structure has been adjusted from 2025, with the first level now starting at 100/200 with a 200 big blind ante, giving players a true 300 big blind deep stack to work with.
Days 2 and 3 will combine all surviving players, with the money bubble expected to burst during Day 3 based on projected field sizes. The final table of nine players will be set on Day 7, with the championship heads-up match scheduled for July 16. Understanding bankroll management is crucial for any player considering a shot at the Main Event.
Satellite and Qualification Paths
The WSOP has expanded its satellite program significantly for 2026. Starting April 1, daily online satellites will run on WSOP.com in Nevada and New Jersey, with buy-ins starting as low as $50. Each week, at least 10 Main Event seats will be awarded through the online satellite system.
At the live venue, daily mega satellites will run throughout the series with buy-ins of $400 and $1,100. The WSOP estimates it will send over 400 players into the Main Event through its combined satellite programs, up from 310 in 2025. Partner sites and live poker rooms across the United States and internationally will also offer their own qualification paths.
Venue and Hotel Logistics
The series returns to Paris Las Vegas and Horseshoe Las Vegas, utilizing the combined convention and ballroom space that has served as the WSOP’s home since the move from the Rio in 2022. The WSOP has negotiated room blocks at several nearby properties, with rates starting at $129 per night for players who register for at least one bracelet event.
Accommodation demand is expected to be intense. The WSOP advises players to book rooms no later than April 15 to secure preferred rates. Properties within walking distance of the venue include Bally’s, The Cromwell, The LINQ, and Flamingo. The WSOP shuttle service, which debuted in 2025, will return with expanded routes covering additional Strip properties and select off-Strip hotels.
The tournament area will feature over 500 poker tables, with a dedicated streaming stage equipped for broadcast production. ESPN and PokerGO have confirmed expanded coverage plans for 2026, including live streaming of 15 final tables throughout the series and full Main Event coverage beginning on Day 3.
Key Dates to Remember
- April 1 - Online satellite program begins on WSOP.com
- April 15 - Hotel block booking deadline for preferred rates
- May 1 - Early event registration opens
- May 27 - Series begins, Event #1 Casino Employees Championship
- May 29 - First open bracelet event ($500 No-Limit Hold’em)
- June 15 - $250,000 Super High Roller Championship
- July 2-6 - Main Event Day 1 flights
- July 16 - Main Event Champion crowned
Expert Predictions
Tournament circuit veteran and poker commentator Nick Schulman offered his perspective on the schedule. “Ninety-five events is a huge undertaking, but looking at the 2025 numbers, the demand is clearly there,” Schulman said. “I think the $50 million guarantee on the Main Event is aggressive but achievable if the satellite machine runs the way it should.”
Poker analytics firm Hendon Mob projects total entries across all 95 events to surpass 135,000, which would represent a 12% increase over 2025 figures. The firm’s models suggest the Main Event will attract between 5,000 and 5,500 entries, comfortably clearing the guarantee.
For players looking to prepare for the summer, our comprehensive strategy guides cover everything from tournament fundamentals to advanced concepts. The 2026 WSOP promises to be a historic series, and the time to start preparing is now.
