It's the pinnacle of the 2026 World Series of Poker festival, so get ready for the 2026 WSOP Main Event.
Kicking off July 2, 2026, with four starting flights, the prestigious event returns once more to the WSOP schedule, ready to crown poker's next world champion.
The $10,000 buy-in freezeout format is synonymous with this event, as is the chance of winning life-changing money and being immortalised among the poker greats.
Each Day 1 will kick off at 11 a.m. and will play five 120-minute levels. Players will then return to their respective Day 2s, with late registration in the Main Event open for seven levels (2 levels into July 6 & 7).
The fields will combine on July 8, with play continuing until a final table is reached on July 13.
2026 WSOP Main Event Schedule
| Date | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, July 2, 2026 | 11 a.m. | $10,000 WSOP Main Event Day 1A |
| Fri, July 3, 2026 | 11 a.m. | $10,000 WSOP Main Event Day 1B |
| Sat, July 4, 2026 | 11 a.m. | $10,000 WSOP Main Event Day 1C |
| Sun, July 5, 2026 | 11 a.m. | $10,000 WSOP Main Event Day 1D |
| Mon, July 6, 2026 | 11 a.m. | $10,000 WSOP Main Event Day 2ABC |
| Tue, July 7, 2026 | 11 a.m. | $10,000 WSOP Main Event Day 2D |
| Wed, July 8, 2026 | 11 a.m. | $10,000 WSOP Main Event Day 3 |
| Thu, July 9, 2026 | 11 a.m. | $10,000 WSOP Main Event Day 4 |
| Fri, July 10, 2026 | 11 a.m. | $10,000 WSOP Main Event Day 5 |
| Sat, July 11, 2026 | 11 a.m. | $10,000 WSOP Main Event Day 6 |
| Sun, July 12, 2026 | 11 a.m. | $10,000 WSOP Main Event Day 7 |
| Mon, July 13, 2026 | 11 a.m. | $10,000 WSOP Main Event Day 8 |
| TBD | TBD | $10,000 WSOP Main Event Final Table |
World Series of Poker Main Event History
The World Series of Poker Main Event traces its roots back to 1970, when Johnny Moss was voted the winner by his peers in a small gathering at Binion’s Horseshoe in downtown Las Vegas. Moss went on to win two more titles, in 1971 and 1974, making him one of only two players to win poker’s world championship three times. The other is Stu Ungar, who famously triumphed in 1980, 1981, and 1997.
The Main Event has long been poker’s proving ground. In 1989, a 24-year-old Phil Hellmuth ended Johnny Chan’s bid for a third straight title, defeating him heads-up to win $755,000 and his first bracelet. That victory kickstarted a career that has since produced a record 17 WSOP bracelets and earned Hellmuth a spot among the game’s most iconic and polarizing figures.
Back then, the field had just 178 players. It hovered around 200 through the late '80s before gradually rising again in the 1990s. By 1998, when Scotty Nguyen took the title, the field had grown to 350. From 1992 through the early 2000s, participation climbed steadily every year.
Then came 2003. Chris Moneymaker, a Tennessee accountant who qualified online, beat 839 others and won $2.5 million. His story lit the fuse for the poker boom and made the game's showpiece event feel truly accessible to anyone.
The very next year, Greg Raymer rode that momentum and beat a field of 2,576 to win $5 million, marking the biggest year-over-year jump in Main Event history. Joe Hachem followed with a win in 2005 over a field that had more than doubled again. Since then, the Main Event has consistently drawn over 6,000 players each year, with the exception of the pandemic-impacted 2020 edition.
In 2024, Jonathan Tamayo added his name to the record books by outlasting the largest field in WSOP Main Event history.
The following year, Michael Mizrachi dominated the 2025 WSOP Main Event to add to this Poker Players Championship title the same year, earning him a place in the WSOP Hall of Fame.
2026 WSOP Main Event FAQs
When does the 2026 WSOP Main Event begin?
The Main Event begins on Thursday, July 2, 2025 at 11 a.m.
How much does it cost to enter the WSOP Main Event?
Each year, the buy-in for the WSOP Main Event is $10,000.
Who can enter the WSOP Main Event?
Anyone who can come up with $10,000 is eligible to compete.
How can I follow the Main Event?
Follow along to the WSOP Main Event action with PokerNews
Who won the WSOP Main Event in 2025?
Michael Mizrachi won in 2025 and is the defending world champion.
Where does the WSOP Main Event take place?
The Main Event is hosted at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
How much money does the Main Event winner receive?
Last year's champion, Michael Mizrachi, won $10,000,000. The 2026 winner will likely take home an amount within that ballpark.
Who won the first World Series of Poker Main Event?
Johnny Moss was the first ever world champion in 1970.
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