If you're planning your poker year, 2026 looks like one of the best schedules in recent memory. From the summer madness in Las Vegas to regional circuits that offer real value, poker players in America have more quality options than ever before.
This guide covers the most important live poker tournaments scheduled across the United States in 2026.
No matter what you’re looking for, whether it’s chasing WSOP bracelets or your first live tournament experience, you'll find the right events to build your calendar.
Quick Answer: USA Poker Tournaments 2026
- World Series of Poker (WSOP) – Las Vegas, Nevada – May 26 to July 15, 2026
- WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open – Hollywood, Florida – January 6 to January 21, 2026
- Venetian DeepStack Championship Series – Las Vegas, Nevada – Multiple series throughout 2026
- WSOP Circuit (USA stops) – Multiple US locations – January to December 2026
- Beau Rivage Heater – Biloxi, Mississippi – January 7 to January 19, 2026
- Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) – Multiple US locations – Selected stops throughout 2026
How These USA Tournaments Were Selected
This list isn’t random. These poker tournaments were selected based on their long-term importance to the US poker scene, consistent player turnout, and relevance for both recreational and professional players.
- Prestige matters, obviously. A WSOP bracelet remains the benchmark.
- We also considered field sizes, prize pool reliability, and accessibility through buy-ins, satellites, and structure.
- Some series (like the MSPT) stand out for value and player-friendly formats.
- Others (like the Venetian DeepStack) appeal to players who want deeper stacks and longer levels without high-roller pricing.
2026 USA Poker Calendar (Month-by-Month)
January
January sets the tone for the entire poker year in the United States, with multiple major tournament series running simultaneously.
It is the busiest month of the first quarter and a popular choice for players planning an early-season trip.
WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open
January 6–21, 2026 — Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Florida
The WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open opens the US poker calendar with a full multi-week schedule. The series includes dozens of events across multiple buy-in levels, highlighted by the WPT Championship and several high-roller and mixed-game formats.
Beau Rivage Heater
January 7–19, 2026 — Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi
The Beau Rivage Heater is a compact January festival featuring a limited number of high-guarantee events. The series attracts players from across the Gulf Coast and southern United States, with a strong focus on bounty and multi-flight formats.
WSOP Circuit – January Stops
As the WSOP Circuit Championship Mystery Bounty begins today at WSOP Paradise 2025, the WSOP unveils the first half of the 2026 WSOP Circuit schedule.
Adopting a calendar-year season format, poker players around the world can look forward to competing for gold rings at their… pic.twitter.com/jmu1hMk6GQ— WSOP - World Series of Poker (@WSOP) December 4, 2025
Multiple locations — January 2026
The WSOP Circuit begins its 2026 season with several domestic stops, including Planet Hollywood Las Vegas, Choctaw Durant, Thunder Valley Casino, Horseshoe Tunica, and Harrah’s Pompano Beach. These early stops establish the tone for the Circuit’s calendar-year format.
Venetian DeepStack Showdown
January 19 – February 8, 2026 — The Venetian Resort, Las Vegas
The Venetian’s winter DeepStack Showdown spans late January into February and features a wide range of no-limit hold’em tournaments with extended level structures and multiple guaranteed prize pools.
Grand Poker Series Winter Classic
January 7–15, 2026 — Golden Nugget Las Vegas (Downtown)
The Winter Classic edition of the Grand Poker Series runs alongside January’s major Strip events and provides a downtown Las Vegas alternative with a focused schedule and traditional tournament formats.
February
February maintains the early-year momentum, with WSOP Circuit stops continuing nationwide and several established mid-stakes series returning to Las Vegas and regional venues.
WSOP Circuit – February Stops
February 2026 — Multiple locations
Key February stops include Harrah’s Cherokee in North Carolina, Horseshoe Baltimore, and Horseshoe Hammond near Chicago. These venues traditionally draw large player pools and form the core of the Circuit’s winter schedule.
MSPT Poker Bowl X
🏈 MSPT POKER BOWL X 🏈
📍: @VenetianPoker - Las Vegas
🗓️: February 4-7, 2026
💰: $1,600 / $1,000,000 GTD
✳️ $3,500 MSPT CHAMPIONSHIP SEAT ADDED TO 1ST PLACE
Event Schedule: https://t.co/mPamHJZvbxhttps://t.co/tJuvIOMHfV pic.twitter.com/9tiP8hSvHH— MSPT (@msptpoker) January 30, 2026
February 4–7, 2026 — The Venetian Resort, Las Vegas
The MSPT Poker Bowl X returns to Las Vegas with a short, high-profile schedule centred around a guaranteed Main Event. It serves as one of the MSPT’s early-season championship-style stops.
March
March bridges the gap between the winter circuit season and the spring tournament calendar, combining long-running regional series with continued WSOP Circuit activity.
L.A. Poker Classic
The rings have been won… but the action never stops at Commerce Casino ♠️
Next up ➡️ The L.A. Poker Classic 2026! 🏆
📅 January 7 – March 1, 2026
Stay tuned for updates, satellites, and early-bird info.
Until then, join us for daily tournaments and cash games — the tables are… pic.twitter.com/y4PJZOgs1g— The Commerce Casino & Hotel (@CommerceCasino) November 28, 2025
January 7 – March 1, 2026 — Commerce Casino, Los Angeles
The L.A. Poker Classic concludes in early March after running for nearly two months, making it one of the longest continuous tournament series on the US calendar.
WPT Rolling Thunder Championship
Begins March 29, 2026 — Thunder Valley Casino Resort, California
The WPT Rolling Thunder Championship marks one of the final major WPT stops of the season, drawing a national field late in the spring.
WSOP Circuit – March Stops
March 2026 — Multiple locations
March Circuit stops include Hard Rock Tulsa, Turning Stone Resort Casino in New York, and Horseshoe Las Vegas, continuing the tour’s nationwide coverage.
April
April signals the transition into the spring poker season, with Florida hosting one of its largest annual festivals and regional tours continuing their championship events.
Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown
April 8–28, 2026 — Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Florida
The Poker Showdown is one of the four major annual series held at Seminole Hard Rock and regularly spans several weeks with a dense tournament schedule.
MSPT Minnesota State Poker Championship
April 7–19, 2026 — Running Aces Casino, Minnesota
This MSPT stop serves as one of the tour’s most established Midwest events, running multiple flights and a full supporting schedule throughout April.
May through July
Summer dominates the US poker calendar, with Las Vegas hosting the largest and most prestigious live poker series of the year, alongside multiple concurrent festival options.
World Series of Poker (WSOP)
May 26 – July 15, 2026 — Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas
The WSOP runs for nearly seven weeks and anchors the entire US poker calendar. The series includes a wide range of bracelet events across all formats and buy-in levels, attracting players from around the world – and some of the greatest poker players of all time.
Venetian DeepStack Championship Series
May–July 2026 — The Venetian Resort, Las Vegas
Running alongside the WSOP, the Venetian’s summer DeepStack series offers an alternative daily tournament schedule throughout the Las Vegas summer.
Grand Poker Series (Summer Edition)
Summer 2026 — Golden Nugget Las Vegas
The summer Grand Poker Series provides a downtown Las Vegas option during the WSOP period, with a condensed daily schedule and consistent tournament offerings.
August through December
The second half of the year features continued WSOP Circuit activity, regional championship events, and the return of several established late-season festivals.
Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open (SHRPO)
July 29 – August 11, 2026 — Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Florida
The SHRPO opens the late-summer calendar and stands as the largest annual poker festival in Florida.
MSPT Late-Season Stops
Multiple locations — Fall 2026
Key MSPT events during the second half of the year include the Michigan State Poker Championship at FireKeepers Casino, the Spade Poker Championship, and the season-ending Rock ’N’ Roll Poker Open in partnership with Seminole Hard Rock.
WSOP Circuit – Fall and Winter Stops
Various locations — August to December 2026
Additional WSOP Circuit stops take place throughout the fall and winter months, completing the tour’s full calendar-year schedule.
Individual Tournament Structure (USA)
World Series of Poker (WSOP)
- Location: Horseshoe & Paris Las Vegas
- Dates: May 26 – July 15, 2026
- Main Event Buy-in: $10,000 (freezeout)
- Key Formats: Freezeout, re-entry, bounty, mixed games, high roller
The World Series of Poker remains the cornerstone of the live poker calendar in the United States. With a multi-week schedule featuring over 100 bracelet events, the WSOP offers unmatched variety across all buy-in levels and types of poker games.
From low-stakes daily events to six-figure high rollers, the series attracts the largest and most diverse player pool of the year. In 2026, it continues to define competitive prestige in live tournament poker.
Fact: The WSOP Main Event features a $10,000 buy-in and is the most prestigious tournament in poker.
WSOP Circuit (USA Stops)
- Locations: Multiple US venues
- Dates: January–December 2026
- Main Event Buy-in: Typically $1,700
- Key Formats: Re-entry, multi-flight, championship events
The WSOP Circuit provides year-round tournament access across the United States. Designed as a regional counterpart to the WSOP, the Circuit offers lower buy-ins while maintaining large fields and ring-based prestige.
Major stops such as Harrah’s Cherokee, Choctaw Durant, and Thunder Valley anchor the domestic schedule and attract strong regional player pools year-round.
Fact: In 2026, WSOP Circuit ring winners receive a $5,000 WSOP Paradise package.
WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open
- Location: Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood, Florida
- Dates: January 6–21, 2026
- Main Event Buy-in: $3,500
- Key Formats: Deep stack NLH, high roller, mixed games
Held at one of the most prominent poker venues in the country, the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open opens the US poker year with a full-scale festival. The series combines large guarantees with long structures and culminates in a WPT Championship event that draws an international field.
Fact: The Lucky Hearts Championship winner joins the WPT Champions Club.
Venetian DeepStack Championship Series
- Location: The Venetian Resort, Las Vegas
- Dates: Multiple series throughout 2026
- Main Event Buy-ins: $800–$1,600 range
- Key Formats: Deep stack NLH, multi-flight events
The Venetian DeepStack Championship Series is built around extended levels and high starting stacks, appealing to players prioritising structure over spectacle. Running alongside major Las Vegas festivals, it provides consistent daily tournament volume throughout the year.
Fact: The Venetian has hosted DeepStack tournaments continuously since 2007.
Beau Rivage Poker Series (Beau Rivage Heater)
- Location: Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi, Mississippi
- Dates: January 7–19, 2026
- Main Event Buy-in: (varies by festival; mid-stakes focus)
- Key Formats: Bounty events, multi-flight formats, guaranteed prize pools
Why it matters in 2026: The Beau Rivage Heater is a reliable mid-stakes stop for players in the South, with a compact schedule and strong guarantees that consistently attract a regional field. It’s especially useful for players who want a “serious” festival feel without the travel and bankroll demands of the biggest national series.
Fact: The Beau Rivage Heater is one of the most established January poker festivals on the US Gulf Coast.
Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT)
- Locations: Multiple US venues (nationwide schedule)
- Dates: Selected major stops throughout 2026
- Main Event Buy-ins: Typically $1,100–$1,500 (varies by stop)
- Key Formats: Multi-flight Main Events, regional championships, value-heavy structures
The MSPT remains one of the most important mid-stakes tours in the US, built around accessible buy-ins and consistently large fields. It’s a strong choice for players prioritising value and structure, with several “flagship” stops that function like mini-championships across different regions.
Fact: MSPT Main Events are known for mid-stakes buy-ins paired with multi-flight formats that build large prize pools.
Best USA Tournaments by Player Type
Best for first-time live players:
The Venetian DeepStack series offers forgiving structures with plenty of chips and long levels. MSPT Regional events ($360 buy-in) provide a professional tournament experience without breaking the bank.
The Beau Rivage Heater has multiple affordable events with strong guarantees and a higher poker probability of securing a win.
Best mid-stakes value:
Players looking for mid-stakes value will find strong opportunities at WSOP Circuit stops and regional championship series. The MSPT Main Events ($1,110) offer excellent structures and prize pools that regularly exceed guarantees.
The Golden Nugget Grand Poker Series provides great value during the WSOP summer months.
Best high-roller events:
The WSOP offers the widest range of high-stakes events, from $10,000 Championships to the $250,000 Super High Roller.
The WPT Lucky Hearts and Poker Showdown both feature $25,500 High Rollers.
Best bracelet/title chasers:
For bracelet hunters, the WSOP is the only game in town with 100+ events. Ring chasers should prioritise Harrah's Cherokee (largest fields) and Choctaw Durant (multiple stops per year).
WPT titles at Seminole Hard Rock carry significant prestige.
4 Practical Tips for Playing in the USA
- Many US tournaments allow late registration for several levels, which can impact optimal arrival and bankroll planning. The WSOP typically allows late registration through the first few levels of each Day 1 flight. Check specific tournament rules, as policies vary by series.
- For major series like the WSOP, book accommodation early. Nearby hotels can sell out quickly during peak weeks. For regional events, host casinos often offer discounted poker rates, so check the venue’s booking options in advance.
- Bring a valid government-issued ID to every tournament. Most venues require players to have a casino rewards card, which you can obtain for free at the casino cage. At the WSOP, the WSOP+ app handles registration, so download it before you arrive.
- Satellite entries are common at major US events. Both the WSOP and WPT run extensive satellite schedules, and online qualifiers are available through platforms like GGPoker (international) and WSOP.com (domestic).
FAQ: USA Poker Tournaments 2026
When does the WSOP take place in 2026?
The 2026 World Series of Poker runs from May 26 to July 15 at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
What is the best US tournament for mid-stakes players?
For mid-stakes value, MSPT Main Events (often in the $1,100–$1,500 range) and WSOP Circuit Main Events (typically $1,700) are the most consistent choices.
Are satellite entries common in major US events?
Yes. Most major series run live satellites on-site, and some offer online qualifiers depending on jurisdiction and operator.
Which WSOP Circuit stops are known for large fields?
Stops like Harrah’s Cherokee and Choctaw Durant are widely associated with strong turnout, especially in marquee events.
Do I need the WSOP+ app to play at the WSOP?
Yes. The WSOP+ app is used for WSOP registration. Set it up before your trip and follow the on-site verification process.
What is the MSPT? Is it the same as the Mid-States Poker Tour?
Yes. MSPT refers to the same tour that originally focused on the Midwest and now runs a nationwide schedule with multiple major stops.
