button in SafariGet Ready for the $800 Summer Celebration; Day 1a Starts at 10:00 a.m. Local Time
The 2026 World Series of Poker continues with Event #81: $800 Summer Celebration, a low-buy-in No-Limit Hold’em tournament designed to attract a broad mix of amateurs and pros.
The action kicks off at 10:00 a.m. local time on Thursday, July 2 for Flight A and Friday, July 3 for Flight B at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. Each flight allows one re-entry, and payouts begin on Day 1, giving players a shot at a quick payout.
With a starting stack of 40,000 chips and 30-minute levels, the structure moves briskly, while late registration is available for the first 12 levels. After the flights conclude, the combined field returns on Saturday, July 4, allowing the tournament to crown a champion on Independence Day during America’s 250th anniversary celebration.
📌 Event Snapshot
- Event: #81 – $800 Summer Celebration
- Date(s): July 2–4, 2026
- Time: 10:00 a.m. (Flights A & B)
- Buy-In: $800
- Format: No-Limit Hold’em, Flights A & B
- Starting Stack: 40,000 chips
- Levels: 30 minutes
- Late Registration: 12 levels (≈ 5:00 p.m.)
- 2025 Winner: Giuseppe Zarbo ($504,180)
- 2025 Field Size: 7,078
- 2025 Prize Pool: $3,698,201
Structure and Schedule
Flight A begins Thursday, July 2, at 10:00 a.m., and Flight B starts Friday, July 3, also at 10:00 a.m. Each flight plays 22 levels with 20-minute breaks every four levels and a 75-minute break after Level 16 (≈ 7:00 p.m.).
The combined field returns Saturday, July 4, at 11:00 a.m. to play down to a winner. Breaks are 15 minutes every four levels, with a 60-minute break prior to the final table.
Why This Event Matters
This Summer Celebration event is a favorite for players looking for a manageable buy-in with deep starting stacks and the chance to face a diverse field. With early payouts, it offers immediate incentives while still building to a Saturday finale that can launch a summer story for an up-and-coming champion, capped off on Independence Day for a truly memorable finish.
Past Champions & History
Giuseppe Zarbo, a recreational player from Italy, took down last year's Summer Celebration, winning over half a million dollars and his first WSOP bracelet. Following his victory, Zarbo told PokerNews "“It’s incredible, I played well, but I was very lucky. I win coin flip, coin flip, coin flip, then 20/80 percent, 30/70 percent, and on and on.”
This is the third edition of the $800 Summer Celebration. In 2024, the championship stayed in America as Francis Anderson became the inaugural champion.
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