The Global Poker Awards will not return in 2026, marking a rare pause for one of the industry’s most recognized celebrations. The announcement came from the Global Poker Index and The Hendon Mob, who explained that producing the ceremony requires so much preparation time that it pulls key team members away from daily operations.
In their joint statement, the organizers confirmed the show will not take place in early 2026. They added that competitive races such as the GPI Player of the Year and The Hendon Mob Award will still crown their champions. These rankings have remained central to the GPI and THM ecosystem and will continue uninterrupted despite the cancellation.
The awards have traveled a long path over the years. The first edition was held in Europe in 2001, later moving to Los Angeles in 2014, before settling at the PokerGO Studio at ARIA Las Vegas in 2019. The most recent edition, held in Las Vegas this past February, featured 38 awards and recognized top players, media contributors, and industry professionals.
Eric Danis, President of the Global Poker Index and The Hendon Mob Poker Database, explained that the workload behind the scenes had simply become too demanding. He noted that preparing the ceremony typically takes two team members out of day-to-day duties for two months each year. He also reflected on the journey of hosting ceremonies in France, Monte Carlo, Malta, the Sunset Strip, and eventually Las Vegas, describing it as something he never imagined experiencing.
Danis said the team will miss putting on the show but acknowledged that several ongoing projects now take priority. The organizers also thanked the many hosts who have taken the stage over the years, including Maria Ho, Joe Stapleton, and Jeff Platt.
Although the ceremony will not be held, the end-of-year races remain as competitive as ever. The GPI Male Player of the Year leaderboard is locked in a three-way battle with Jesse Lonis, Artur Martirosian, and Punnat Punsri all sitting at roughly 4,300 points. On the women’s side, Kristen Foxen holds a comfortable lead after a strong season that has pushed her to the top of the Women’s All-Time Money List.
With only a month and a half left in the calendar year, the focus now turns to how these races will conclude and which players will claim the year’s major honors.
