The World Series of Poker is bringing the Main Event back to ESPN, the network that broadcast the tournament from 1988 through 2020. The WSOP confirmed a multi-year agreement with ESPN, ending weeks of speculation that followed the release of the 2026 schedule.
"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," WSOP CEO Ty Stewart said. "Returning to ESPN — the home of our most iconic moments since 1978 — allows us to showcase the human drama of the Main Event like never before."
A 20-Day Break Before the Final Table
The 2026 Main Event begins July 2. Once the final table is set on July 13, play pauses for 20 days while ESPN airs prime-time episodes building toward the finale.
The final table then plays out live over three nights — August 3, 4, and 5, from 9 p.m. to midnight EST. That is one day longer than the 2025 final table, which ran two days and ended with Michael Mizrachi winning $10,000,000.
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 |
| Mon, August 3, 2026 | 6 p.m. | Final Table Day 1 |
| Tue, August 4, 2026 | 6 p.m. | Final Table Day 2 |
| Wed, August 5, 2026 | 6 p.m. | Final Table Day 3 |
Coverage begins Day 1A on July 2, with a minimum of six hours of programming guaranteed per tournament day — roughly 100 hours of original content per year across ESPN platforms.
ESPN and the WSOP
ESPN first aired the WSOP in 1987 through documentary-style highlights. In 2003, the network introduced hole-card camera technology, letting viewers see players' hidden cards for the first time. That same year, Chris Moneymaker converted an $86 online satellite into a $2.5 million Main Event title, helping spark a global poker boom. The combination of hole-card cameras and the commentary team of Lon McEachern and Norman Chad defined the era.
ESPN also introduced the November Nine format — a delayed final table — from 2008 to 2016. Coverage moved to CBS in 2021, making this year's return to ESPN the first since 2020.
