World Series of Poker coverage is returning to the mainstream this year. ESPN and the WSOP announced an agreement that will bring poker back to the sports network for the first time since 2000.
“We’re proud to welcome the World Series of Poker back to ESPN,” said Ashley O’Connor, Vice President, Programming & Acquisitions at ESPN. “Poker is filled with unexpected storylines, and nobody is better equipped to showcase the stories that unfold throughout a tournament more than ESPN. Bringing the WSOP back reflects our continued commitment to delivering premium competition and that connects with fans in new and exciting ways.”
The announcement also ended speculation about how long the final nine players of the Main Event will have to wait until concluding the tournament. The answer is 20 days.
When the WSOP dropped its schedule a few weeks ago, it gave a huge hint that the final table will be delayed for broadcast. WSOP and ESPN did this from 2008-2016, delaying the final table a whopping four months so ESPN could show the final hands of the Main Event as the grand finale of its poker package.
The Main Event starts July 2, and will run until the final nine players are determined July 13. It will then pause until Monday, Aug. 3, where it will be broadcast on a slight delay for three consequetive nights. According to the WSOP, broadcast of the WSOP also starts on July 2.
Promised is more than 100 hours of Main Event coverage. During the 20-day break, “ESPN will air specially curated prime-time episodes to build momentum and introduce the final table competitors to a global audience,” according to the press release.
The full broadcast schedule has not yet been released, but coverage will go beyond the Main Event.
This deal ends a five-year partnership with PokerGO and CBS, whose contract with the WSOP ends in May. ESPN will use Omaha Productions, Peyton and Eli Manning’s company that produces sports documentaries for Netflix, NFL content on YouTube, and the weekly Monday Night Football Manningcast.
The Walt Disney Company owns both ESPN and ABC, so there’s a possibility that some of WSOP poker will end up on there.
“The World Series of Poker is a global phenomenon that transcends the gaming category, and our goal is to bring it to the widest possible audience,” said Ty Stewart, CEO of the WSOP. “Returning to ESPN – the home of our most iconic moments since 1987 – allows us to showcase the human drama of the Main Event like never before. With our new ownership’s commitment to growth, this is the perfect time to bring the ‘World Championship’ back to the biggest stage in sports.”
ESPN first covered the WSOP in 1978. It hit its stride in the lates 90s into the 2000s, and played a huge part in the explosion of poker during that time.
2026 WSOP Main Event Schedule
| Date | Time (PT) | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, July 2, 2026 | 11 a.m. | Day 1A |
| Fri, July 3, 2026 | 11 a.m. | Day 1B |
| Sat, July 4, 2026 | 11 a.m. | Day 1C |
| Sun, July 5, 2026 | 11 a.m. | Day 1D |
| Mon, July 6, 2026 | 11 a.m. | Day 2ABC |
| Tue, July 7, 2026 | 11 a.m. | Day 2D |
| Wed, July 8, 2026 | 11 a.m. | Day 3 |
| Thu, July 9, 2026 | 11 a.m. | Day 4 |
| Fri, July 10, 2026 | 11 a.m. | Day 5 |
| Sat, July 11, 2026 | 11 a.m. | Day 6 |
| Sun, July 12, 2026 | 11 a.m. | Day 7 |
| Mon, July 13, 2026 | 11 a.m. | Day 8 |
| Tournament | Paused | 20 days |
| Mon, August 3, 2026 | 6 p.m. | Final Table Day 1 |
| Tuesday, August 4, 2026 | 6 p.m. | Final Table Day 2 |
| Wednesday, August 5, 2026 | 6 p.m. | Final Table Day 3 |
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