WSOP 2026

Just as last year, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) will be jointly hosted by two venues, after the success of Horseshoe Las Vegas and Paris casinos over the past four years. The Horseshoe underwent something of a makeover in 2023 after being known previously as Bally’s.

The infamous Thunderdome is on the move this year, having now “outgrown” the Horseshoe according to WSOP anchor Jeff Platt. The ESPN TV cameras will descend on both venues, with highlights and final table coverage screened on ESPN directly from the Horseshoe and Paris. Once again, Paris will host the majority of the Day 1’s but there is a much more even split in 2026, inspiring players of all levels inside two of the best poker rooms in the world.

With over 150,000 square feet available between Paris and the Horseshoe Las Vegas, over 600 poker tables will play host to the action, with organizers expecting a record attendance in 2025 to build on the incredible player fields seen 12 months ago.

HORSESHOE LAS VEGAS HOTEL

Changing its name from the MGM Grand Hotel to Bally’s in 1986, the building initially built in 1973 has been part of the Caesars’ Entertainment empire for half a century and has changed look too, with the iconic ‘Horseshoe’ branding prevalent throughout the new grounds, along with Poker Hall of Fame displays.

PARIS LAS VEGAS

Paris Las Vegas opened on September 1, 1999 as part of the growth of Bally’s Las Vegas. There were originally plans for a full-scale replica of the Eiffel Tower, though this was soon scrapped after discovering that it would interfere with the nearby Harry Reid Airport. So instead, they settled on a 1:2 scale model to go alongside their 3:2 scale L’Arc de Triomphe. Even with the scaled-down models, Paris Las Vegas is a must-see for any visitors to Sin City.

World Series of Poker (WSOP)

2026 SCHEDULE

This year’s WSOP schedule will have 100 live bracelet events to match last year and an online series that will run simultaneously. However, if you’re planning on playing the online series, it can only be accessed on WSOP.com if you’re in Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania or Michigan. This represents a growth of four states from just one in 2022.

WIN YOUR WAY INTO THE MAIN EVENT

The 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) is going a very special year of events, as there is a unique prize on offer. Last year’s WSOP Main Event, which cost $10,000 to play, saw Michael ‘Grinder’ Mizrachi win a top prize of $10 million as he took the title of world champion and the Poker Players Championship, before being inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame after an emergency meeting between the living HoF members.

“As we saw in 2025, thousands of incredible stories are waiting to be told at the World Series of Poker,” said Ty Stewart, CEO of the World Series of Poker. “We’re more committed than ever to being poker’s unquestioned biggest stage and to shining a brighter spotlight on our favorite game.”

World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2026 MAIN EVENT DATES

This year’s World Championship costs $10,000 to enter, and begins on July 2 with Day 1a, the first of four Day 1 starting flights. Last year, the tournament attendance was just less than the five-figure field of 2024, as 9,735 players put up the buy-in in the world’s biggest freezeout. After the WSOP banned technological help on the rail from 2025 onwards, 2026 may see a crackdown on headphones and sponsor patches. Nevertheless, this year’s attendance might break new ground, and the record may fall once more. The 2026 WSOP Main Event runs from July 2-15 before the final nine return to play down to a winner from August 3-5 inclusive.

The Main Event will begin as the series itself starts to near its end, with Day 1a taking place on beginning on Wednesday July 2 and the final day of the Final Table playing down to a new world champion on Wednesday August 5 inside the new Thunderdome.

There are four starting Day 1 flights, each of which will be played over the first four consecutive days of the Main Event, starting at 12 pm, with five 2-hour levels comprising each Day 1. Each player starts with 60,000 chips, and the blinds start at 100/200 with a 200 chip BB ante.

Players who reach Day 2 from flights 1a, 1b and 1c will play on the fifth day of action, Day 2abc on Monday July 6. Players who progress from Day 1d will play on Day 2d before all the remaining players converge on Day 3, which takes place on Wednesday, July 8. There is only one day off scheduled for the day preceding the final table of nine players.

Players have the opportunity to register for the tournament until the end of the second level on either Day 2abc or Day 2d and the WSOP Main Event final table will be played over three days between August 3 and 5, with the winner being crowned on August 5.

2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) MAIN EVENT:

Check out our 2026 WSOP Main Event page for more information on poker’s most-famous tournament.

2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit & Exciting Events

Some of the other highlights of the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) include the $1,500-entry ‘MILLIONAIRE MAKER’ (June 17), $50,000 buy-in Poker Players Championship (June 21) and $10,000 buy-in Pot-Limit Omaha Championship (June 26). Others unmissable events include the kick-off event of the $1,000-entry Mystery Millions, which takes place from May 26 with a guaranteed $1,000,000 first place and guaranteed $1,000,000 top bounty. Players who eliminate another player will draw tickets for up to $1 million from Day 2 onwards.

World Series of Poker (WSOP) Satellite Tournaments

Satellite tournaments are organized into various tiers, each offering distinct opportunities for players. In Tier 1 satellites, winning a single tournament grants entry into the desired target tournament, such as the prestigious Main Event. Tier 2, provides a chance to win a seat in a Tier 1 satellite. This tiered structure can extend further, with multiple tiers leading up to participation in the main tournament.

The presence of additional tiers offers players a cost-effective path to the target tournament, although it requires winning multiple tournaments along the way. It’s worth noting that Tier 4 and Tier 5 satellites often have entry fees below $1, enabling players to enter multiple times without incurring significant expenses, increasing the chances of a fortunate streak.

At present, WSOP.com and GGPoker host the only online satellite tournaments for this year’s Main Event. However, as the summer approaches, it is highly likely that numerous U.S.-facing platforms will also offer opportunities for players to satellite their way into the Main Event and live casinos are putting league winners into the World Championship all year round locally.

See the full list of tournaments you can register for and earn your way to the Main Event at our WSOP Satellites page

World Series of Poker (WSOP) Registration for 2026

If you’re interested in playing an event at this year’s World Series of Poker (WSOP), you can register for events either in-person or online. US players will just need to bring their ID, whereas non-US players will need to bring their ID and a formal proof of address (such as a bank statement or utility bill).

The main registration area is located in the Champagne Ballroom, near the front end of the Paris Convention Center. Opening from Tuesday, May 26 at 9:00am, it will remain open 24 hours a day, non-stop through July 15 as players can register for events at any time of the day or night.

Guests are required to present valid picture identification, along with their Caesars Rewards card and payment to enter events. Loyalty Card: All players are required to have a Caesars Rewards loyalty card to enter World Series of Poker (WSOP) events. To obtain a card for new players, or to request a reprint of your card if you have previously signed up for one, players can visit the Player Services area in the Champagne Ballroom or visit one of the card reprint kiosks. A valid picture identification such as a state-issued driver license or a country-issued passport is required for a Caesars Rewards card.

It is important to note, players who lost or forgot to bring their physical Caesars Rewards card with them to the World Series of Poker (WSOP), should request a re-print of their card and not a new card. Caesars Rewards re-print kiosks will also be available in the Champagne Ballroom, allowing those a quick way to get a physical card when that’s the only need they have.

ONLINE REGISTRATION FOR 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP)

This year, online registration is once again handled by WSOP vendor Bravo Poker Live. Beating the queues by registering online, you’ll need to play attention to the deadlines that apply for bracelet events. These are easy to follow and make sense for each tournament, with three easy ways you can pay for your event entry online:

• Wire Transfer – This method can be used for all buy-in levels, but you must register at least 14 days before the start of the tournament to be eligible to use it.
• Credit Card – This option is only available for buy-ins of $10,000 and under. The accepted card types are Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and Diners Club. Your card will need verification before it can be used, but you can use it until the end of the series once you’ve done so.
• ACH – This method can only be used for buy-ins of under $10,000.
  Pre-registration is already available, so if you’re looking to head down to the WSOP this year, why not save yourself the headache and register online.

THE 2026 WORLD SERIES OF POKER EUROPE (WSOPE)

The World Series of Poker moved to the Prague Hilton from King’s Casino in Rozvadov in 2026, where 15 bracelet events took place. The capital city saw a record attendance in the WSOPE Main Event, where Lithuania’s Marius Kudzmanas won the top prize of €2,000,000.

The Stakes Are Set. The Stage Is Yours.

From the neon glow of the Paris Ballroom to the electrifying roar of the Horseshoe, the 2026 World Series of Poker is more than a tournament series — it’s a pilgrimage for poker lovers, dreamers, and champions in the making. Whether you’re grinding satellites with $1 entries or eyeing the glory of a Main Event bracelet, there’s a seat waiting with your name on it.

Las Vegas is ready. The cameras are rolling. The cards are about to fly.

Want more details on how to get there, what to play, and how to win your seat? Check out our dedicated pages for the WSOP Schedule, WSOP Main Event, and WSOP Satellites to plan your 2026 summer at the felt.