WSOP 2026 Highlights & Updates – What to Expect?

The anticipated World Series of Poker (WSOP) series kicks off May 26 at Horseshoe and Paris Casino & Hotel Las Vegas. It’ll keep grinders worldwide glued to the action till the $10K Main Event (NL Hold’em) on July 2. Players from around the world will compete for 100 bracelets with buy-ins fitting more shallow wallets and high-rollers alike. WSOP promises this summer will be packed with nonstop action and unforgettable moments – even better than before.

2026 WSOP Schedule of Key Events

The full 100-event schedule is already announced on the official website of the World Series of Poker. $550 Mini Mystery Millions will be the opener this year – who’s in?

All tourneys of the series will be divided into categories based on buy-in amounts:

• Low stakes (under $1,000): 5 events 
• Mid stakes ($1,000 - $4,999): 54 events
• High stakes ($4,999 - $9,999): 5 events
• Championships ($10K): 18 events
• High roller ($25K - $250K): 13 events

Below are the tournaments that are expected to drive the biggest attention this year:

What’s New in the 2026 World Series of Poker?

$550 Mini Mystery Millions, the opener event was changed a little. Its buy-in was reduced by half, but the $1 million top prize remains. Participants should expect a few more fresh and updated formats this year, namely:

• $10K GGMillion$ High Roller;
• $1,7K U.S. Circuit Championship;
• $1,5K Pick Your PLO;
• $1,5K Five-Card PLO.

WSOP Main Event 2026: Return to November Nine

Just recently, Michael Mizrachi shook the poker scene with his performance and $10M first prize on the 2025 WSOP Main Event. And the tournament is about to excite the players once again. Ten years have passed since the November Nine scheme was cancelled. But we all waited to see it once again – and it finally happened!

Surprisingly, in 2026, we may see its modernised turn – officials teased. The specific details are kept secret, but the poker community anticipates the Main Event final table delay this year and live streams on WSOP’s YouTube channel. The latter surprised many personalities in the poker community. Capone, Holtz, and Ludlow expressed their excitement with this update.

Satellites & Qualifiers to Pave Your Way to the Main Event

Traditionally, grinders can participate in daily satellites to win their way to different WSOP events, such as Mini Mystery Millions, Colossus, Gladiators of Poker, or the high stakes ones, e.g. $50K High Roller No-Limit Hold'em, etc.

With WSOP Express, launched by GGPoker, online players can make their way to the Main Event at just $0.50. It’s a 4-staged tournament granting a winner a Bracelet Pass – a guaranteed seat at the 2026 final table.

Have you already won the entrance to a WSOP 2026 event? Pre-register with the WSOP+ app, buy into the events and skip the huge lines at the registration desk. This year seems to be exciting and full of surprises.

Daniel Negreanu, owner of 7 WSOP bracelets, plans to participate in the 57th WSOP edition. KidPoker even shared his own schedule on the X page. Are you going to join him?)