PokerStars Publishes 2026 WCOOP Schedule With 350 Tournaments From September 6-30
TL;DR — PokerStars released the 2026 WCOOP schedule for September 6-30, with 350 tournaments across 121 events and buy-ins from $5.50 to $25,000. Main events guarantee $6.5 million. Qualification starts at $0.55 with $500,000 in tickets and $100,000 in leaderboard prizes.
SCCG Take — The schedule maintains PokerStars’ annual online poker calendar with clear prize pools and low-entry qualification. Operators should track participation rates against prior editions to gauge format appeal.
PokerStars has published the full schedule for the 2026 World Championship of Online Poker. The 25th edition runs from 6 to 30 September and includes 121 events that comprise 350 tournaments.
These events span High, Medium and Low buy-in tiers and award 350 championship titles. Formats cover No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, HORSE, Razz, 8-Game, Progressive Knockout and Mystery Bounty. Buy-ins range from $5.50 to $25,000. Every winner receives a WCOOP trophy.
The series launches alongside the second phase of the Sunday Million 20th Anniversary event, which carries a $5 million guaranteed prize pool. Daily Phase 1 qualifying heats continue until 6 September. Main events take place on 27 and 28 September.
Main Event Guarantees and Championship Disciplines
Six No Limit Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha tournaments offer combined guaranteed prize pools of $6.5 million. The $10,300 No Limit Hold’em Main Event and $10,300 Pot Limit Omaha Main Event also serve as World Championship events. Additional World Championship tournaments are set for 6-Max No Limit Hold’em, HORSE, Razz, Triple Draw, Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo, Progressive Knockout, 8-Game and a Women’s No Limit Hold’em Championship.
Qualification Routes and Promotions
Players can qualify via satellite tournaments starting at $0.55, Spin & Go tournaments from $0.75 and the Power Path Express. PokerStars will distribute $500,000 in WCOOP tournament tickets through its Lucky Dip promotion and award $100,000 in cash prizes through WCOOP leaderboards.
“A WCOOP victory is a piece of poker history. Every champion joins an exclusive group of players who have conquered one of the toughest online tournament series in the world,” said Steve Clarricoats, PokerStars Associate Director of Online Scheduling. “For professional players, it can represent one of the most important titles of their careers and for recreational players, it’s an achievement they have dreamed of.”
Reporting: iGaming Future
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
Twenty-five years in, PokerStars still owns the online tournament blueprint — broad buy-in range, clear guarantees, accessible qualification.
WCOOP remains the gold standard for online poker series architecture. We track how operators structure tournament calendars, pricing ladders, and satellite ecosystems because these mechanics drive liquidity and player LTV. The $0.55-to-$25,000 spread and half-million in ticket giveaways show how a mature platform sustains both recreational and pro engagement across a month-long calendar.
- 350 tournaments across 121 events, September 6-30, buy-ins $5.50 to $25,000
- $6.5M combined guarantees across six main events; qualification starts at $0.55
- $500K in tickets via Lucky Dip, $100K leaderboard prizes, multiple format disciplines
SCCG angle: SCCG works with poker platforms and multi-vertical operators building or refreshing tournament calendars. We connect clients to tech providers, payment rails, and compliance partners who understand the liquidity mechanics behind multi-tier buy-in structures and satellite ecosystems that drive volume and retention across regulated markets.
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