The 2026 WSOP Main Event final table will be played in a newly built arena this summer.
The World Series of Poker has revealed a redesigned Main Event Final Table Arena at Horseshoe Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas. The new venue was built for the closing stages of the $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em WSOP Main Event and for live poker coverage during the 2026 summer series.
WSOP officially presented the arena on May 29, 2026, during an event attended by members of the poker community, media representatives, and industry guests. WSOP Chief Executive Officer Ty Stewart took part in the presentation alongside Jeff Platt, Joe Stapleton, Norman Chad, Spunky Hwang, David Williams, Justin Garrone, and poker television producer Mori Eskandani.
A New Final Table Setting for the Main Event
The redesigned arena gives the WSOP Main Event a dedicated final-table setting.
At the center of the venue is the Main Event final table stage. The arena also includes 16 feature tables that can be used throughout the 2026 WSOP to showcase major tournaments, notable players, and key moments from the series.
The space covers approximately 25,000 square feet and includes large LED displays, upgraded lighting, and a modern stage layout. WSOP also added more seating and larger rail areas, giving spectators, supporters, and family members more room to watch when major events reach their later stages.
For players who make a deep Main Event run, the new setup creates a clearer championship-stage environment. For viewers watching live coverage, it gives production teams a larger and more flexible broadcast space.
2026 WSOP Main Event Broadcast Schedule
The 2026 WSOP $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em Main Event is scheduled to begin on July 2, 2026, with Flight A opening the tournament.
ESPN’s live coverage of the Main Event is also scheduled to begin on July 2 and continue through July 13. Once the official final table is reached on July 13, tournament play will pause before the remaining players return to Las Vegas for the final stage.
The 2026 WSOP Main Event finale is scheduled for August 3 through August 5. The eventual champion will become the first Main Event winner to receive the bracelet inside the newly revealed WSOP Final Table Arena.
ESPN Coverage and WSOP Talent Team
The new arena is part of WSOP’s 2026 broadcast setup for the Main Event.
Ali Nejad and Nick Schulman are listed as the commentary team for ESPN’s Main Event coverage. WSOP identifies Schulman as a 2025 Poker Hall of Fame inductee.
WSOP’s full-time talent team also includes Jeff Platt, David Williams, Lon McEachern, Norman Chad, Maria Ho, and Joe Stapleton. During the series, the group will contribute live reporting, player interviews, feature segments, strategy discussion, and behind-the-scenes coverage.
WSOP is also running the WSOP Countdown Show daily during the series, with episodes available on YouTube. The show features Jeff Platt, Joe Stapleton, and Norman Chad, with occasional appearances from 2004 WSOP Main Event runner-up David Williams.
In addition, WSOP stated that every other bracelet event scheduled for the 2026 WSOP will be streamed for free on the official WSOP YouTube channel.
Daniyal Gheba Wins the First Bracelet on the New Stage
The new Main Event Final Table stage has already hosted its first bracelet winner.
Las Vegas-based player Daniyal Gheba won the $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em event on the new stage, defeating runner-up Chenxiang Miao. Gheba earned the $502,985 top prize and his first WSOP bracelet.
That result made Gheba the first player to win a bracelet on the newly unveiled WSOP Main Event Final Table stage.
What the New Arena Adds to the 2026 WSOP
The new WSOP Final Table Arena gives the series a larger space for both live spectators and broadcast production.
With a dedicated Main Event final table stage, 16 feature tables, LED displays, upgraded lighting, expanded seating, and larger rail sections, the arena gives WSOP more room to feature major events and key storylines across the summer schedule.
The 2026 WSOP Main Event final stage is scheduled to take place in the new arena from August 3 through August 5.
