WSOP Turns Player of the Year Into a Global Poker Season

The World Series of Poker is reshaping how elite performance gets measured. Starting in 2026, the Player of the Year race will stretch across the full live calendar, linking Europe, Las Vegas, and the winter series in the Bahamas into one continuous chase.

For the first time, results from WSOP Europe, the summer WSOP in Las Vegas, and WSOP Paradise will all count toward a single global leaderboard. Consistency across continents now matters as much as peak moments.

Good to Know

• Player of the Year will span three live WSOP series
• Total prize pool reaches $1,000,000 for 2026
• Top 100 players will earn WSOP packages or tickets

How the New Player of the Year Race Works

The updated Player of the Year format covers the entire live WSOP calendar year. Performances in Europe, Las Vegas, and Paradise now feed into one unified standings table.

WSOP confirmed a $1,000,000 total prize pool for the 2026 race, supported by a revised scoring method built to reward sustained excellence rather than isolated finishes.

The overall winner will receive a $100,000 WSOP Paradise Package. Additional WSOP packages and tournament entries will go to the top 100 players once the season ends.

Leadership Frames the Shift as a Global Reset

WSOP leadership positioned the change as a reset for competitive structure.

“We are thrilled to kick off 2026 with a bold new vision for the World Series of Poker,” said Ty Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of WSOP. “By uniting our three flagship live series under a unified, $1M Player of the Year competition, we’re giving players a true global season to chase history. Starting with a monster guarantee in Prague, continuing through our summer homecoming in Las Vegas, and culminating in Paradise, we are dedicated to offering the best value and the biggest stages in the world.”

Europe Sets the Tone With a Major Opening Act

The Player of the Year season opens in Europe, where WSOP Europe moves to Prague from March 31 to April 12, 2026. The stop will award 15 WSOP bracelets and introduce the first major leaderboard points of the year.

At the center sits a €5,300 Main Event carrying a $10,000,000 guaranteed prize pool. No poker tournament in Europe carried a higher guarantee during 2025, placing Prague firmly on the global map again.

Another key addition arrives in the form of the European Circuit Championship. The €1,500 No Limit Hold’em event features a €1,500,000 guaranteed prize pool and adds depth for mid-stakes players chasing points.

WSOP Europe 2026 Schedule Overview

March 31

• The Opener NLH Mystery Bounty €1,000
• PLO Mixed €3,000

April 2 to April 12

• COLOSSUS NLH €500
• PLOSSUS Bounty PLO €500
• Main Event NLH European Championship €5,300 with €10M GTD
• MONSTER STACK NLH €1,500
• PLO European Championship €5,300
• High Roller events up to €25,000 buy in
• European Circuit Championship NLH €1,500 with €1.5M GTD
• The Closer NLH Turbo Bounty €2,000

Las Vegas Remains the Midseason Anchor

After Europe, attention shifts to Nevada.

The 57th annual World Series of Poker will run from May 26 through July 15, 2026. Horseshoe Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas will again host the series, serving as the central battleground for Player of the Year momentum.

Summer results traditionally define careers. Under the new format, they now directly shape the final leaderboard heading into winter.

Paradise Closes the Loop

The final chapter of the Player of the Year race lands in the Bahamas.

WSOP Paradise 2026 will take place from December 1 through December 18. Performances there will finalize the standings and decide the $100,000 Paradise Package winner along with the remaining top 100 placements.

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