2026 PokerStars Open Philadelphia Schedule Released
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PokerStars has unveiled the full schedule for PokerStars Open Philadelphia, an eight-day live poker festival set to run March 16–23, 2026, at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia. The series will be headlined by the $1,100 Main Event carrying a $500,000 guaranteed prize pool.
Following the runaway success of last year’s stop, which more than doubled its guarantee, PokerStars Open Philadelphia 2026 will feature seven trophy events, exclusive merchandise giveaways, and appearances from PokerStars ambassadors Joe Stapleton, Arlie Shaban, and Jen Shahade.
$500K GTD Main Event Returns
The centerpiece of the festival is the $1,100 Main Event, which will offer four starting flights and run March 18–22, giving players multiple chances to build a stack and chase one of the largest prize pools in the region this spring.
The 2025 edition attracted 1,154 entries and generated a massive $1,107,840 prize pool, firmly establishing Philadelphia as a must-stop destination on the PokerStars Open calendar.
“PokerStars Open Philadelphia has quickly established itself as one of the most exciting live stops on our North American calendar,” said RJ Peterson, Senior Director of Marketing at PokerStars.
“After seeing the Main Event more than double its guarantee last year, we’re proud to return to Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia with bigger momentum and multiple ways for players to qualify and compete. Philly has proven it’s a fantastic poker city, and we’re excited to bring the Open back in March.”
The 2025 edition attracted 1,154 entries and generated a massive $1,107,840 prize pool, firmly establishing Philadelphia as a must-stop destination on the PokerStars Open calendar. In last pears PokerStars opened, Edward Leonard was named champion, taking home $147,806 after a three-way deal was made after play lasted nearly 18 hours on the final day.
$1,100 PokerStars Open Main Event Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edward Leonard | United States | $147,806* |
| 2 | Guan Huang | United States | $126,507* |
| 3 | Frank Funaro | United States | $125,708* |
| 4 | William Beer | United States | $62,760 |
| 5 | Adam Agaev | United States | $47,415 |
| 6 | Norman Rogers | United States | $38,330 |
| 7 | Dan McGinnis | United States | $31,660 |
| 8 | Michael Bohmerwald | United States | $25,095 |
| 9 | Norman Rodriguez | Dominican Republic | $18,625 |
*Denotes Three-Way Deal
Online Satellites, Key Events & Special Satellite
Players will be able to qualify online via PokerStars starting January 20, with buy-ins beginning at just $10, offering pathways into the $1,100 Main Event and other headline tournaments. Online satellites will be available to eligible players in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Michigan, and Ontario.
The PokerStars Open Philadelphia schedule will include seven trophy events in total, highlighted by the$1,100 Main Event running March 18–22 with a $500,000 guarantee and four starting flights, the $300 Women’s Event on March 20 with a $10,000 guarantee, and the $400 PokerStars Cup on March 22 with a $40,000 guarantee.
In addition to the core festival, PokerStars and Live! Poker sister brands in Philadelphia and Maryland will team up to host a special edition satellite on Monday, March 23, at Live! Philadelphia. PokerStars is adding twenty seats, valued at $22,000, to the $220 buy-in satellite tournament, sending players to the $1,100 Live! Poker Classic Main Event in Maryland, which runs March 26–30, strengthening the growing partnership between PokerStars and Live! Poker brands while giving players a unique opportunity to qualify for a major event in Maryland from Philadelphia.
Live! Casino Welcomes PokerStars Back
“Live! Casino and Hotel is excited to reconnect with PokerStars and create unforgettable memories with our players as this unique tournament returns to the vibrant atmosphere of the Live! Poker Room,” said Anne Tran, Director of Poker Operations at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia.
“The cards are ready, the tables are set, and the excitement is palpable. Welcome back to where the real magic happens!”
A Standout Spring Stop
With major guarantees, a proven track record of smashing expectations, and a packed schedule both on and off the felt, PokerStars Open Philadelphia 2026 is shaping up to be one of the standout live poker events of the spring.
The full PokerStars Open Philadelphia schedule is now available.
Full 2026 PokerStars Open Schedule
