The World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP 2026) returns September 6-30, 2026. Here’s all you need to know about online poker’s most prestigious series.

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All it takes is one life-changing run. 

That’s the magic of the World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) on PokerStars. It’s online poker’s most prestigious series and its ultimate proving ground, yet it’s also where dreamers can become champions.

WCOOP 2026 will be no different.

Running from September 6-30, the series spans 121 events and 350 tournaments across almost every imaginable format, with buy-ins ranging from as little as $5.50 all the way up to the nosebleeds: $25,000.

As always, each event comes with three buy-in tiers: High, Medium, and Low. Players can also look forward to the usual fantastic spread of games and formats, including no limit hold’em, pot limit omaha, 8-Game, HORSE, progressive knockouts (PKOs) and mystery bounties.

There are leader board races, impressive trophies (yep, every winner will have a trophy shipped to their home), and the WCOOP 2026 Main Events, where you could etch your name into poker’s history books.

Here, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about WCOOP 2026: The events you can’t miss, how you can qualify, and more.

KEY SERIES INFO

September 6-30, 2026

Events: 121
Tournaments: 350

The centrepieces of WCOOP 2026 are the six WCOOP Main Events and 10 World Championship events in each discipline, including 6-Max, HORSE, Razz, and Progressive KO and a Women’s NLHE event.

The NLHE Main Events will take place on September 27, and the PLO Main Event will take place on September 28, with a total of $6.5 million guaranteed across the six Main Events.

• $109 NLHE Main Event L –  $1.25M Gtd – September 27
• $1,050 NLHE Main Event M – $2M Gtd – September 27
• $10,300 NLHE Main Event H/NLHE Championship – $2.5M Gtd – September 27
• $109 PLO Main Event L – $100,000 Gtd – September 28
• $1,050 PLO Main Event M – $250,000 Gtd – September 28
• $10,300 PLO Main Event H/PLO Championship – $400,000 Gtd – September 28

The High NLHE and PLO Main Events also serve as World Championship events. The remaining World Championship events are as follows:

• $5,200 NLHE 6-Max Championship – $400,000 Gtd – September 6​
• $1,050 HORSE Championship – $50,000 Gtd – September 7​
• $1,050 Razz Championship – $40,000 Gtd – September 10
• $1,050 NLHE PKO Championship – $500,00 Gtd – September 13
• $1,050 Triple Draw Championship – $40,000 Gtd – September 15
• $1,050 PLO8 Championship – $100,000 Gtd – September 17
• $215 Women’s NLHE Championship – $10K Gtd – September
• $2,100 8-Game Championship –  $80,000 Gtd – September 24​

As part of the 25th edition of WCOOP, the Finals (Phase 2) of the iconic Sunday Million 20th Anniversary with $5 million guaranteed will get underway on the first day of the series: September 6.

Daily $109 Heats (Phase 1) are currently underway for the phased tournament and are running until September 6, giving plenty of time for players to qualify for the Finals.

WCOOP 2026 SCHEDULE

WCOOP 2026 LEADER BOARDS

There are four WCOOP 2026 leader boards (low, medium, high, and overall), giving everyone from low-stakes grinders to high rollers a fair shot at recognition (and big cash prizes).

If you’re planning to pick out a handful of the best tournaments — the ones that best suit your skills and bankroll — then you needn’t worry about the boards. Just have fun out there.

But if you’re planning to put in a big grind and fancy testing yourself against the best in the biz, you’ll want to check the leader boards regularly.

There’s $100K in cash prizes up for grabs across all leader boards, plus a coveted trophy and eternal bragging rights for the winners of each, including the overall Player of the Series.

HOW TO QUALIFY

SATELLITES

Satellites to all events start at just $0.55, so if there’s an event you really want to play, you can find a way.

SPIN & GO

Special edition Spin & Go’s start at just $0.75. It’s the quickest way to win tickets.

LUCKY DIP

The WCOOP Lucky Dip will award $500,000 in WCOOP tickets from September 6-26.

But how can you get in on the action?

It couldn’t be simpler. All players need to do is play in a WCOOP tournament for the chance to win another WCOOP entry via the daily Lucky Dip.

Best of luck!

POWER PATH

There’s a $55 buy-in Power Path Express on September 6 awarding more than $175,000 in WCOOP Gold, Silver, and Bronze Pass ticket bundles and Main Event tickets.

The daily Stars Spinner is awarding tickets to the Power Path Express right now until September 5.

YOUR PATH TO GLORY

WCOOP has a path for you.

THE GRINDER

If you thrive on volume and leader boards, then WCOOP is your arena. It’s time to reward your consistency and stamina. 

THE DREAMER

For the dreamers, the road could begin with a $0.55 satellite. Every year, we see players qualify for pocket change and walk away with life-changing sums. Buy-ins start low, but the potential is massive.

THE FIRST-TIMER

New to WCOOP? Don’t worry, you belong here, too. Try freerolls or micro-stakes qualifiers to dip your toes in. Check out beginner-friendly events with great structures (there are plenty on offer this year). We say start small and experience the thrill of competing on online poker’s biggest stage.

WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR?

The 2025 WCOOP series was certainly one for the ages, with just shy of $74 million awarded in prizes. Six players won three titles a piece, while the likes of Patrick “pads1161” Leonard, Juan “Malaka$tyle” Pardo, and Leon “RUMUKULUS” Sturm did the double.

Check out how it all played out in our WCOOP 2025 coverage hub.

WHO HAS THE MOST WCOOP TITLES?

When it comes to online poker, few series carry the same weight and prestige as the World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP).

Since its launch on PokerStars in 2002, the WCOOP has become the ultimate proving ground for the best players in the game. With buy-ins ranging from small stakes to nosebleed high rollers, the series attracts thousands of grinders, recreational players, and the biggest names in poker, all chasing one of the most coveted prizes in online poker: a WCOOP title.

Over the years, a handful of elite players have separated themselves from the pack, amassing multiple championships across a variety of variants, from no limit hold’em and pot limit omaha, to mixed games like HORSE and badugi.

So, who are the players with the most WCOOP titles, and how did they build their legacies?

Let’s take a look.

COMPLETE WCOOP RESULTS 2002-2025

Want to find out if a player has ever won a WCOOP? Or how many titles they have?

Find out here in the complete WCOOP results table.

WCOOP 2026 FAQ

What’s the WCOOP Main Event prize pool this year?

There are three NLHE Main Events:

• 108-L: NLHE Main Event, $109 – $1.25M Gtd
• 108-M: NLHE Main Event, $1,050 – $2M Gtd
• 108-H: NLHE Main Event / World Championship, $10,300 – $2.5M Gtd

Can I qualify for just $0.55?

Yes. Satellites start from just $0.55. Spin & Go qualifiers start at $0.75. You can also win tickets through the WCOOP Lucky Dip and Power Path Express WCOOP edition.

How do WCOOP leader boards work?

Points are awarded based on event performance, with separate leaderboards for each buy-in level.

Can I play WCOOP on mobile?

Absolutely, the full schedule is available on desktop and mobile apps.

Are there trophies for winners?

Yes, winners of flagship events receive exclusive WCOOP trophies in addition to prize money.

What’s the cheapest way to play WCOOP?

Freerolls and deposit promotions give players free entry paths.

Can I multi-table during WCOOP?

Yes, the more experienced players grind multiple events at once. That’s how they crush the leader boards.

Where can I follow WCOOP coverage?

Results and stories will be on the PokerStars Blog throughout the series.

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