The World Series of Poker has reached a multi-year deal with ESPN, bringing the Main Event back to the network that broadcast it from 1988 to 2020.
The agreement ends weeks of speculation that followed the release of the 2026 WSOP schedule. Coverage begins July 2 with Day 1A, and ESPN has committed to a minimum of six hours of programming per tournament day, totaling roughly 100 hours of original content annually across its platforms.
"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. With our new ownership's commitment to growth, this is the perfect time to bring the 'World Championship' back to the biggest stage in sports."
A Cliffhanger Format for the Final Table
The 2026 Main Event will not revive the November Nine. Instead, the WSOP is going with a 20-day break after the final table is set on July 13. During that window, ESPN will air specially curated prime-time episodes to build anticipation ahead of the finale.
The final table then plays out live over three nights, Aug. 3 through 5, from 9 p.m. to midnight EST. That is one day longer than the 2025 Main Event final table, which ran over two days and ended with Michael Mizrachi winning $10,000,000.
2026 WSOP Main Event Schedule
| Date | Time (PT) | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, July 2 | 11 a.m. | Day 1A |
| Fri, July 3 | 11 a.m. | Day 1B |
| Sat, July 4 | 11 a.m. | Day 1C |
| Sun, July 5 | 11 a.m. | Day 1D |
| Mon, July 6 | 11 a.m. | Day 2ABC |
| Tue, July 7 | 11 a.m. | Day 2D |
| Wed, July 8 | 11 a.m. | Day 3 |
| Thu, July 9 | 11 a.m. | Day 4 |
| Fri, July 10 | 11 a.m. | Day 5 |
| Sat, July 11 | 11 a.m. | Day 6 |
| Sun, July 12 | 11 a.m. | Day 7 |
| Mon, July 13 | 11 a.m. | Day 8 (Final Table Set) |
| Mon, Aug. 3 | 6 p.m. | Final Table Day 1 |
| Tue, Aug. 4 | 6 p.m. | Final Table Day 2 |
| Wed, Aug. 5 | 6 p.m. | Final Table Day 3 |
ESPN and the WSOP: A Long History
The WSOP first appeared on ESPN in 1987, with coverage initially limited to documentary-style highlights that aired months after the event. That changed in 2003, when ESPN introduced hole-card camera technology, giving viewers their first look at players' hidden cards.
That same year, Chris Moneymaker turned an $86 online satellite entry into a $2.5 million Main Event victory. The run touched off the poker boom, with ESPN expanding into edited episodes featuring commentary from Lon McEachern and Norman Chad. The network also introduced the November Nine delayed final table format, which ran from 2008 to 2016. WSOP coverage moved to CBS in 2021, but for many fans, ESPN remained the series' natural home.
