World Series of Poker reveals expansive 2026 summer schedule and innovations

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is heading back to the Las Vegas Strip next summer with what organizers describe as its most ambitious slate yet. On Monday (February 16), the series rolled out the complete schedule for its 57th annual run, promising a packed calendar at Horseshoe Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas from May 26 through July 25.

In total, players will be chasing 100 gold bracelets over two months of action. Organizers are billing the 2026 edition as “unparalleled,” pointing to an expanded lineup, daily live coverage, and a new Circuit series that will keep the tables full deep into July.

Cards go in the air on Tuesday, May 26, and the early days are designed to draw big crowds right away. One of the headline openers is the new Mini Mystery Millions, which carries a $550 buy-in and a guaranteed $1 million bounty pool. The lower price point is expected to bring in massive fields similar to last summer’s record-setting turnouts.

The centerpiece remains the $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em World Championship, better known as the Main Event. Play begins Thursday, July 2, with the eventual champion crowned later in the month. Specific broadcast plans and final table dates will be announced separately, but the Main Event will once again anchor the poker world’s attention.

The WSOP says it will also stream tournament action free every day from opening day through the start of the Main Event on its official YouTube channel. A newly built broadcast set inside Paris Las Vegas will serve as the backdrop, with familiar voices from the poker world handling commentary.

Beyond the headline tournaments, the 2026 schedule stretches across nearly every format. Players will find the Heads Up No-Limit Hold’em Championship, the Monster Stack, a slate of high rollers, and mixed-game events including Dealer’s Choice tournaments.

“We’re more committed than ever to being poker’s unquestioned biggest stage,” said Ty Stewart, CEO of the WSOP. “From the first ‘Shuffle Up and Deal!’ to the crowning of the Main Event champion, this summer’s series promises more action and more opportunities than ever before.”

WSOP 2026 schedule Event #Event NameFormatDurationStart DateBuy-InNotes7Heads Up No-Limit Holdem ChampionshipNo-Limit Holdem3-day eventMay 29$25,00064 players max per flight18MONSTER STACKNo-Limit Holdem5-day eventJune 3$1,50034COLOSSUSNo-Limit Holdem3-day eventJune 10$50041Super High RollerNo-Limit Holdem3-day eventJune 13$250,00047High RollerPot-Limit Omaha4-day eventJune 15$25,00050MILLIONAIRE MAKERNo-Limit Holdem5-day eventJune 17$1,50060Poker Players ChampionshipMixed Games5-day eventJune 21$50,00063Mystery MillionsNo-Limit Hold’em3-day eventJune 23$1,000 A summer that stretches even longer

New for 2026 is the Summer Circuit, an overlapping series that runs July 14 through July 25. Instead of packing up when bracelet events wind down, players who are still in Las Vegas can slide directly into WSOP Circuit tournaments without leaving town. Organizers say the move is meant to keep momentum high and give traveling players more value for extended stays.

The Circuit expansion also ties into a wider international push. Recent announcements detailed additional stops across Europe, Latin America, and Asia, underscoring the WSOP’s effort to keep the brand active year-round rather than concentrated solely in Nevada.

The Player of the Year race is getting a boost as well. For 2026, the competition will feature a $1 million total award pool, including a $100,000 package for the overall winner. The race begins months before Las Vegas, kicking off at WSOP Europe in Prague from March 31 to April 12, giving the season a global starting point.

The announcement follows another major moment for the brand, after Michael Mizrachi officially won the 2025 WSOP Main Event.

Registration details for the 2026 summer series are expected soon. Players will be able to browse the full schedule through the WSOP+ mobile app, and Caesars properties on the Strip will again offer discounted room rates for participants using a dedicated promotional code.

Featured image: WSOP

The post World Series of Poker reveals expansive 2026 summer schedule and innovations appeared first on ReadWrite.