Top 10 poker tournaments to play in 2026
Whether you are looking to play in some small buy-in local events or enter major tournament series like the WSOP, WPT, or Triton Poker Series, 2026 will bring plenty of options.
Just a few days into the year, we take a look into the future in the search for the top 10 poker tournaments you should mark on your calendars in 2026.
10. European Poker Tour Prague
EPT Prague is typically one of the last major poker tournaments of the year, and its December dates usually come just ahead of the two major series in the Bahamas and Las Vegas.
This year, players will have the opportunity to visit Prague earlier for the WSOPE, and if that series is as successful as expected, the EPT could benefit as well.
The Prague stop of the EPT is usually one of the year's most-visited tournaments, as players come to enjoy the poker action and the appeal of the Czech capital, decked out in Christmas decorations.
If you want to get the best of both worlds and fully immerse yourself in a week of fun activities on and off the felt, EPT Prague is a poker event you don’t want to miss.
9. WSOP Online Main Event (GGPoker)
The WSOP brand has expanded significantly in recent years, and alongside several major live stops, the WSOP Online festival on GGPoker in late summer is another key event for poker grinders worldwide.
The one issue with WSOP Online is that it’s not accessible to American players, but many of them choose to travel to another country exclusively to grind the WSOP Online schedule.
The 2025 edition of the WSOP Online Main Event featured a $5,000 buyin and a $25,000,000 prize pool, which was shattered, indicating the massive interest of the international poker community.
In 2026, this event will once again threaten to shatter the online tournament prize pool record, and players will have numerous opportunities to qualify via a variety of GGPoker online satellites ahead of the start date.
8. Super High Roller Bowl
If you are a high roller, PokerGO’s Super High Roller Bowl is the one event you will not want to miss out on in 2026.
The 2025 Super High Roller Bowl featured a buyin of $100,000, which was a significant decrease from previous years, but was still one of the more competitive events of the year.
In 2026, we expect the same event to air in the final weeks of the year, with some of the most successful players in the world joining the field.
The tournament is a great opportunity for players who had the most success in tournaments throughout the year to try their skills one last time and compete for a multimillion-dollar prize, with only a few tables stacked with top players to beat.
7. WCOOP Main Event
The World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) is the world’s most prestigious online poker festival, and its Main Event is widely considered the best online poker tournament of the year.
Typically played in October, the WCOOP attracts thousands of players, and the three WCOOP Main Events create massive prize pools and great storylines.
The 2026 WCOOP Main Event is expected to offer the same three versions, with $10,300, $1,050, and $109 buyins, giving everyone a chance to compete for the prestigious title.
The best part about WCOOP, compared to the various live events on this list, is the fact that you can qualify for any event at just a fraction of the buy-in by playing qualifier tournaments on the platforms in the weeks ahead.
6. The Irish Poker Open
Poker tournaments are often portrayed negatively because many professional players who frequent them take them too seriously, which can undermine the enjoyment for recreational players.
If you want to play poker in an atmosphere that’s anything but dull, the Irish Poker Open could be the perfect solution for you.
Organized in cooperation with PokerStars and PaddyPower, the Irish Open is a true poker fiesta, bringing together hundreds of poker players from across the U.K. and beyond.
The tournament starts on March 26 and is guaranteed to be one of the most entertaining and engaging poker events of 2026.
Mark the date on your calendar if you fancy a trip to Dublin, a pint of beer at your poker table, and lots of soft action across the 10-day festival.
5. EPT Barcelona
Among all the European Poker Tour (EPT) stops in a year, Barcelona usually attracts the most press and the most interested parties.
In 2026, the EPT will visit Barcelona in the usual summer slot, and the €5,300 buyin will once again be in place.
The 2025 Main Event drew 2,045 runners, making it a true poker spectacle, and those numbers may go even higher in 2026, as live poker continues to be on a major uptick.
The warm weather, sandy beaches, and cultural variety of Barcelona are only a few of the reasons to visit EPT Barcelona in August, while the non-stop action at the felt in itself should be enough for the most hardcore poker fans.
4. WSOP Europe Main Event
After several years of being held at the Kings Casino in Rozvadov, WSOP Europe (WSOPE) is moving to Prague in 2026.
The WSOPE is also moving its time slot from the usual fall schedule to a new spring schedule, running from March 31 to April 12, giving players a chance to enjoy the Czech capital in milder weather.
The WSOPE Main Event will feature the usual €5,300 buyin and a €10,000,000 guarantee, creating strong incentives for players to travel to the Czech Republic and enter what could be the biggest poker tournament in Europe in 2026.
The WSOPE is typically attended by both professionals and recreational players from across Europe, but this year’s edition could draw more international players, including Americans, given that it is being held in a more exciting urban setting than Rozvadov.
???? WSOP Europe heads to Prague in 2026.
— WSOP - World Series of Poker (@WSOP) December 16, 2025
The season kicks off March 31– April 12 with 15 bracelets, headlined by a €5,300 Main Event with a massive €10M guarantee. Plus, a new €1.5M GTD €1,500 buy-in European Circuit Championship joins the lineup.
?? Next stop: Las Vegas.… pic.twitter.com/bJxt4vOUAc
3. WPT World Championship
Likely the greatest poker tournament away from the WSOP, the WPT World Championship is a unique event played every December in Las Vegas.
In recent years, the dates of the WPT World Championship have overlapped with those of the WSOP Paradise festival, often splitting the poker community's attention.
In 2026, the situation will likely remain the same, and most players will have to choose between playing in the Bahamas and Las Vegas.
The 2026 WPT World Championship aims to improve on the 2025 numbers, as the festival saw a slight dip compared to previous years, despite numerous fun promotions and exciting events for players organized at the Wynn by the WPT.
2. WSOP Paradise Super Main Event
For several years now, the WSOP Paradise Super Main Event has been one of the biggest and most rewarding tournaments for the players lucky enough to make a deep run in it.
The $25k buyin makes the Super Main Event hard to enter for an average poker player, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to strike it rich playing poker.
The WSOP Paradise festival will play out in December 2026 in the Bahamas, as it has in recent years, and the Super Main Event will be its flagship tournament.
The 2025 edition of the Super Main Event was a massive success, and attendance is expected to increase further in 2026.
1. WSOP Main Event
Without a doubt, the WSOP Main Event is the biggest poker event of the year, and one that every poker player should play at least once in their lifetime.
The exact dates for the 2026 edition of the world’s biggest poker show have not yet been released, but we know the festival will run from 26 May to 15 July, and the Main Event is typically scheduled near the tail end of the schedule.
This means the $10k poker extravaganza will likely start in late June and play out through the early weeks of July in 2026.
The WSOP Main Event is the one tournament that everyone dreams of winning, so whether you are a professional or an amateur, look out for the dates for this one, and try the online qualifiers as a potential way of getting in on the action.