The WSOP 2026 Main Event (Event #82) is a $10,000 freezeout with four Day 1 flights running July 2 to 5. Players get one shot: no re-entries.
The 2026 edition brings the biggest format change since the November Nine era ended in 2016. The final nine players are determined on July 13, then return 20 days later for a live ESPN finale from August 3 to 5.
This page covers the WSOP 2026 Main Event in depth, from the opening flights to the final hand, with daily chip counts and eliminations once play begins. For results across all 100 bracelet events, follow our daily WSOP 2026 results tracker.
Event #82 | $10,000 Freezeout | Day 1A starts July 2 | Final table on ESPN2 and ESPN, August 3 to 5
Main Event Format and Schedule
The $10,000 Main Event carries the deepest structure of the summer. Every entrant starts with 60,000 chips and plays 120-minute levels. It is a freezeout: one entry per player, with no re-entries.
The Main Event runs across the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, the modern home of the WSOP. Its slow, deep structure rewards skill and stamina over gamble. First-time visitors can map the casinos and tournament rooms with our WSOP 2026 Las Vegas venue guide.
Field size is the summer’s biggest question. The Main Event has cleared 9,000 entries three years running, and the 2024 record of 10,112 still stands.
| Phase | Dates | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1A | Thursday, July 2 | Flight A. 60,000 chips, 120-minute levels |
| Day 1B | Friday, July 3 | Flight B |
| Day 1C | Saturday, July 4 | Flight C |
| Day 1D | Sunday, July 5 | Flight D, historically the largest flight |
| Day 2 | July 6 to 7 | Each flight plays its own Day 2. Late registration closes end of Day 2D |
| Day 3+ | July 8 to 13 | Full field combines and plays down daily to the final table |
| Final table | August 3 to 5 | Nine players, live on ESPN, after a 20-day delay |
The defining change for 2026 is the delayed final table. The final nine are set on July 13 but do not return until August 3, reviving the November Nine format last used in 2016. Our WSOP 2026 schedule and reference pages cover the full series.
Most of the field reaches the $10,000 buy-in for far less through online satellites. Our WSOP 2026 satellite qualification guide covers the GGPoker and WSOP Online routes.
Key Storylines
Michael Mizrachi enters as defending champion after winning the 2025 Main Event for $10,000,000, his first world title and eighth bracelet. He also won the $50,000 Poker Players Championship and entered the Poker Hall of Fame. No player has won back-to-back Main Events since Johnny Chan in 1988.
A successful defence would be rare territory, and he arrives red-hot after winning the $10,000 PLO Championship for his ninth bracelet just days before the Main Event. His earnings, titles and high-stakes history sit in Michael Mizrachi’s career and bracelet record.
The chasing pack is stacked with legends. Phil Hellmuth brings a record 17 bracelets and a 37-year wait for a second Main Event title. We break it all down in Phil Hellmuth’s WSOP bracelet history.
Daniel Negreanu has lined up a 40-event summer as he chases bracelet number eight, the latest chapter in Daniel Negreanu’s results and earnings. Phil Ivey owns 11 bracelets but has never won the Main Event, his best a 7th in 2009, told in Phil Ivey’s high-stakes career story.
The women’s game has its own headline. Leo Margets finished 7th in 2025, the deepest run by a woman in the Main Event since Barbara Enright’s 5th place in 1995.
The Main Event carries one of the biggest points hauls in the WSOP 2026 Player of the Year race. Its vast field and $10,000 buy-in make it the highest-value stop on the calendar. Defending winner Shaun Deeb and the contenders have it circled.
Many reach their seat through online satellites, not the full buy-in. GGPoker’s WSOP Express path starts at just $0.50 and has awarded more than 1,000 Main Event seats for 2026. They add first-timers chasing poker’s biggest title.
How to Watch the WSOP 2026 Main Event
ESPN holds the Main Event broadcast rights under a new multi-year deal. Daily play streams on the ESPN app from July 2 to 13, by subscription. The final nine then debut free on ESPN2 on August 3, before ESPN takes over for August 4 and 5.
Outside the US, the Main Event reaches viewers through Eurosport, TNT Sports and HBO Max under the WSOP’s Warner Bros Discovery deal. Coverage and start times vary by territory.
Free daily streams of the rest of the series run on the WSOP YouTube channel. In short, daily play needs the ESPN app; the final table and the rest are free. For every Main Event option, including international broadcasters, see our WSOP 2026 broadcast and viewing guide.
Main Event History at a Glance
The Main Event has crowned a champion every year since 1970. A handful of records frame the 2026 edition.
| Record | Detail |
|---|---|
| Largest field | 10,112 entries (2024) |
| Largest first prize | $12,100,000 (2023, Daniel Weinman) |
| Youngest champion | Joe Cada, 21 (2009) |
| Most titles | Johnny Moss and Stu Ungar, 3 each |
| Last back-to-back | Johnny Chan (1987 and 1988) |
| Defending champion | Michael Mizrachi (2025, $10,000,000) |
The full list of winners from 1970 to today sits on our WSOP Main Event champions page.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the WSOP 2026 Main Event start?
Day 1A begins on Thursday, July 2 at Horseshoe Las Vegas. Four Day 1 flights run through July 5, with late registration open until the start of Day 2D on July 7.
How much does the Main Event cost to enter?
The buy-in is $10,000. The Main Event is a freezeout, so each player gets a single entry with no re-entries. Online satellites offer cheaper routes to a seat.
How many entries does the Main Event usually get?
Recent fields have been the largest in history: 9,735 entries in 2025, a record 10,112 in 2024 and 10,043 in 2023. A field above 9,000 is expected again in 2026.
When is the 2026 Main Event final table?
The final nine are set on July 13, then return after a 20-day delay. The final table plays live on ESPN2 and ESPN across three nights, from August 3 to 5.
Where can I watch the Main Event?
ESPN covers the Main Event. Daily play streams on the ESPN app with a subscription from July 2 to 13, then the final table is free on ESPN2 and ESPN from August 3 to 5. Free streams of the rest of the series run on WSOP’s YouTube channel.
Who won the 2025 WSOP Main Event?
Michael Mizrachi won the 2025 Main Event for $10,000,000, his first world title and eighth bracelet. He was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame days later.
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