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For the first time since 2020, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event is returning to ESPN.
The WSOP today confirmed a historic multi-year agreement with the network, which broadcast poker's most prestigious tournament from 1988-2020.
The announcement puts an end to weeks of speculation following the release of the 2026 WSOP schedule, which hinted at a major shake-up to the tournament structure.
“The World Series of Poker is a global phenomenon that transcends the gaming category, and our goal is to bring it to the widest possible audience,” said WSOP CEO Ty Stewart.
“Returning to ESPN - the home of our most iconic moments since 1978 - allows us to showcase the human drama of the Main Event like never before. With our new ownership’s commitment to growth, this is the perfect time to bring the 'World Championship' back to the biggest stage in sports.”
Mark Your Calendars: August 3
While the poker community debated whether we would see a return of the full 'November Nine' format, the WSOP has settled on a middle ground: a 20-day "cliffhanger" break.
Once the final table is set on July 13, play will pause. During this 20-day gap, ESPN will air what it's calling "specially curated prime-time episodes" to build momentum ahead of the final table.
While it's unclear how many episodes this will entail, the three-week break will undoubtedly build the profiles of the final nine players and increase anticipation among the poker community.
The finale will then broadcast live over three nights from August 3-5 (9 p.m.–12 a.m. EST). This is one day longer than the 2025 WSOP Main Event final table, which played out over two days and was won by Michael Mizrachi for $10,000,000.
2026 WSOP Main Event Schedule
| Date | Time (PT) | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, July 2, 2026 | 11 a.m. | Day 1A |
| Fri, July 3, 2026 | 11 a.m. | Day 1B |
| Sat, July 4, 2026 | 11 a.m. | Day 1C |
| Sun, July 5, 2026 | 11 a.m. | Day 1D |
| Mon, July 6, 2026 | 11 a.m. | Day 2ABC |
| Tue, July 7, 2026 | 11 a.m. | Day 2D |
| Wed, July 8, 2026 | 11 a.m. | Day 3 |
| Thu, July 9, 2026 | 11 a.m. | Day 4 |
| Fri, July 10, 2026 | 11 a.m. | Day 5 |
| Sat, July 11, 2026 | 11 a.m. | Day 6 |
| Sun, July 12, 2026 | 11 a.m. | Day 7 |
| Mon, July 13, 2026 | 11 a.m. | Day 8 |
| Mon, August 3, 2026 | 6 p.m. | Final Table Day 1 |
| Tuesday, August 4, 2026 | 6 p.m. | Final Table Day 2 |
| Wednesday, August 5, 2026 | 6 p.m. | Final Table Day 3 |
Fans can expect "wall-to-wall" coverage starting on Day 1a, July 2. The agreement guarantees a minimum of six hours of programming for every tournament day, totalling approximately 100 hours of original content per year across ESPN platforms.
The Spiritual Home of Poker
The World Series of Poker first appeared on ESPN in 1987, with coverage initially limited to documentary-style highlights that aired months after the event.
In 2003, ESPN integrated revolutionary hole-card camera technology (pocket cams) that allowed viewers to see the players' hidden cards for the first time.
This, coupled with Chris Moneymaker parlaying an $86 online poker satellite into a $2.5 million Main Event victory, kicked off the "Moneymaker Effect", with ESPN moving into edited episodes coupled with iconic commentary of Lon McEachern and Norman Chad.
Over the following decades, ESPN expanded its coverage of the WSOP, introducing the "November Nine" delayed final table format, which ran from 2008 to 2016.
While coverage of the WSOP moved to CBS in 2021, many see ESPN as the Series' spiritual home, and longtime fans will welcome its return.
