PokerStars has revealed the full schedule for WCOOP 2026, with 350 tournaments set to run across more than three weeks of online poker action.
The 25th World Championship of Online Poker runs from September 6 to September 30 and features 121 numbered events spread across Low, Medium and High buy-in levels.
Every tournament winner will be awarded a WCOOP trophy, meaning PokerStars expects to crown 350 champions during the series. Buy-ins range from just $5.50 to $25,000, with NLHE, PLO, HORSE, Razz, 8-Game, Progressive Knockout and Mystery Bounty tournaments among the formats on the schedule.
Ten tournaments have also been designated as World Championship events, including the $10,300 NLHE and PLO Main Events.
Six WCOOP Main Events Guarantee $6.5 Million
The biggest weekend of WCOOP 2026 arrives towards the end of the series, when the NLHE and PLO Main Events take place.
Three NLHE Main Events begin on September 27, followed by three PLO Main Events on September 28.
The six tournaments combine for $6.5 million in guaranteed prize pools:
- $109 NLHE Main Event Low: $1.25 million guaranteed, September 27
- $1,050 NLHE Main Event Medium: $2 million guaranteed, September 27
- $10,300 NLHE Main Event High: $2.5 million guaranteed, September 27
- $109 PLO Main Event Low: $100,000 guaranteed, September 28
- $1,050 PLO Main Event Medium: $250,000 guaranteed, September 28
- $10,300 PLO Main Event High: $400,000 guaranteed, September 28
The $10,300 High versions of both Main Events double as official World Championship tournaments.
That puts the $10,300 NLHE Main Event at the heart of the series, with its $2.5 million guarantee making it the largest of the six headline Main Events.
Ten World Championship Events on the WCOOP Schedule
PokerStars is expanding the championship concept across several poker disciplines rather than reserving it exclusively for No-Limit Hold’em.
Alongside the two High Main Events, players can compete for World Championship honors in 6-Max NLHE, HORSE, Razz, PKO, Triple Draw, PLO8, 8-Game and a Women’s NLHE Championship.
The confirmed World Championship schedule includes:
- September 6: $5,200 NLHE 6-Max Championship, $400,000 guaranteed
- September 7: $1,050 HORSE Championship, $50,000 guaranteed
- September 10: $1,050 Razz Championship, $40,000 guaranteed
- September 13: $1,050 NLHE PKO Championship
- September 15: $1,050 Triple Draw Championship, $40,000 guaranteed
- September 17: $1,050 PLO8 Championship, $100,000 guaranteed
- $215 Women’s NLHE Championship, $10,000 guaranteed
- September 24: $2,100 8-Game Championship, $80,000 guaranteed
- September 27: $10,300 NLHE Main Event/Championship, $2.5 million guaranteed
- September 28: $10,300 PLO Main Event/Championship, $400,000 guaranteed
PokerStars’ announcement does not specify the date of the Women’s NLHE Championship.
The supplied release also lists the NLHE PKO Championship guarantee as “$500,00”. Poker Type has therefore omitted that figure rather than assuming the intended guarantee.
Neymar Came Close to WCOOP Glory in 2025
WCOOP has long attracted many of online poker’s leading tournament players, but PokerStars also highlighted one particularly famous near-miss from last year’s series.
Brazilian football star Neymar Jr finished runner-up in the $5,000 Titans event during WCOOP 2025, narrowly missing what would have been his first WCOOP title.
The result underlined the reach of a series that has developed into one of online poker’s longest-running annual championships since its introduction in 2002.
This year’s edition marks the 25th WCOOP.
Sunday Million 20th Anniversary Finals Open WCOOP 2026
WCOOP will also incorporate the next stage of another major PokerStars anniversary.
The Finals of the Sunday Million 20th Anniversary tournament will begin on September 6, the opening day of WCOOP.
The tournament carries a $5 million guarantee, with $109 Phase 1 heats running ahead of the September 6 Finals.
It gives PokerStars two major anniversaries to promote simultaneously, with the Sunday Million celebrating its 20th anniversary as WCOOP reaches its 25th edition.
WCOOP Lucky Dip Gives Away $500,000 in Tickets
Players do not necessarily need to pay the headline buy-ins to get involved in WCOOP.
Satellites will start from $0.55, while special WCOOP Spin & Go tournaments begin at $0.75.
PokerStars is also launching a WCOOP Lucky Dip promotion between September 6 and September 26, with $500,000 worth of WCOOP tickets available.
Players who enter a WCOOP tournament can become eligible for the daily Lucky Dip, potentially giving them another entry into the series.
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Power Path Express Offers More Than $175,000 in WCOOP Passes
PokerStars’ Power Path system is also getting a special WCOOP edition.
The $55 Power Path Express will award more than $175,000 through Gold, Silver and Bronze Power Pass ticket bundles and Main Event tickets.
Players can also qualify for Power Path Express through the daily Stars Spinner promotion running until September 5.
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Another $100,000 Available on WCOOP Leaderboards
Tournament results will count towards four WCOOP leaderboards covering the Low, Medium and High tiers alongside an overall Player of the Series race.
PokerStars will distribute another $100,000 in cash prizes through those leaderboards.
With 350 tournaments across 25 days, the leaderboard races should provide another reason for regular tournament players to compete throughout the series rather than concentrating solely on the Main Events.
The first WCOOP 2026 tournaments begin on September 6, with the series continuing through September 30.
