K Poker Cup & King Poker Cup Return to Jeju This Summer for Massive 17-Day Festival

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May 18, 2026 8 min read

World-class poker is set to return to South Korea this summer as the K Poker Cup Series and King Poker Cup return to Les A Casino at Jeju Shinhwa World for a combined 17-day festival, running July 25 to August 10, 2026.

Following a breakout start to the year, January’s festival drew thousands of entries and generated close to $14 million in combined prize pools, with this summer’s series expected to attract another strong international turnout and further build on the collaboration between the two tours.

K Poker Cup runs from July 25 to August 4 before transitioning into the King Poker Cup schedule, which continues through August 10. Together, the two series create a continuous festival designed to cater to every level of player, from large-field mid-stakes events through to elite high roller competition.

Hosted once again at the iconic Les A Casino inside Jeju Shinhwa World, the series combines a KRW 2 billion guaranteed K Poker Cup festival with the return of the USD $15,000 King Poker Cup Main Event, which headlines the high-stakes portion of the schedule.

The full schedule, alongside everything you need to know about the July K Poker Cup x King Poker Cup Series, can be found below:

July K Poker Cup x King Poker Cup Series Full Schedule 2026

K Poker Cup & King Poker Cup Look to Build on January Success

Organizers will be looking to build on a hugely successful January edition of both festivals, which delivered massive fields and prize pools.

The K Poker Cup Main Event in January attracted a staggering 2,030 entries, generating a total prize pool of KRW 2,280,100,000, nearly three times the original guarantee, while across the full series 7,136 entries were recorded, contributing to combined prize pools approaching $14 million USD.

The Main Event title went to Zhang Lante from China, who collected KRW 296,250,000 along with a $15,000 seat into the King Poker Cup Main Event, underlining the benefits available to players as a result of the direct link between the two tours.

Meanwhile, the inaugural King Poker Cup Main Event generated huge headlines of its own as Tony “Ren” Lin emerged victorious from a stacked field to collect $600,700 from a $2,681,700 prize pool – a victory that saw Lin rise to the top of the GPI Player of the Year rankings in a standout moment for the festival.

The inaugural King Poker Cup series shattered all expectations, drawing more than 800 entries across the festival and cementing its place as an instant success on the poker calendar.

Players battled for a massive combined prize pool exceeding USD 8 million, creating some of the biggest moments of the series.

The USD 5,000 King’s Debut attracted an impressive 362 entries, while the Crown Hunt saw 109 contenders take their shot at the title. Nearly 200 players entered the prestigious USD 15,000 King’s Main Event, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown at the felt.

Moreover, January’s series was notable not just for the huge fields it drew from the Asian poker community, but also for a distinctly international flavor across the schedule, reinforcing South Korea’s growing status as one of the fastest-rising destinations on the live poker circuit.

Packed K Poker Cup Schedule Builds Towards King Poker’s High-Stakes Finale

The K Poker Cup July schedule is built around the KRW 880 million GTD Main Event, which sits at the center of the K Poker Cup portion of the festival in Jeju.

With a buy-in of KRW 1.3 million and multiple opening flights, players are given flexibility across the Main Event schedule, with a series of Day 1s feeding into the later stages of the tournament. The format is designed to support large fields while still creating a deep, structured progression as play advances.

Satellites running from just KRW 60,000 also provide an accessible entry point, offering players a low-cost route into the headline event and helping drive the scale of the overall field.

Away from the Main Event, the K Poker Cup schedule includes a strong mix of support events and high-value tournaments across the opening stretch of the series.

K Poker Cup Highlights

• KPC Main Event – KRW 880m GTD
• Jeju Opening – KRW 180m GTD
• Mystery Bounty – KRW 300m GTD
• 7m High Roller – KRW 300m GTD
• Mega Stack – KRW 200m GTD
• Single-day High Rollers (KRW 2.5m–5m buy-ins)

As the K Poker Cup portion of the festival winds down, attention shifts into the second half of the schedule and the arrival of the King Poker Cup, running from August 1 to August 10.

The King Poker Cup is headlined by its USD $15,000 Main Event, which is set to attract a high-quality international field for the closing stretch of the July festival.
A full slate of high roller events sits alongside it, offering players all the action they could want from one stop between both series.

K Poker Cup & King Poker Cup Early Bird Packages Available Now

A range of exclusive package deals is still available for the festival, combining tournament entries and accommodation for players looking to lock in a full festival experience on Jeju Island.

Each option is strictly capped, with limited availability across all tiers, and early bird pricing currently available.

Readers should note that there might be no on-site booking available for hotel accommodation, and with limited availability expected, it is strongly encouraged that players secure their spot sooner rather than later.

For more detailed and up-to-date information, readers should refer directly to the official K Poker Cup and King Poker Cup website: KPC website.

Eliot Thomas is an Editor at PokerNews, specializing in casino and poker coverage. He has reported on major events around the world, including the World Series of Poker, European Poker Tour, and Triton Super High Roller Series.

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