The World Series of Poker has officially reshaped its competitive ecosystem with the announcement of a global $1,000,000 Player of the Year (POTY) race for the 2026 season, unifying its three flagship live series into one worldwide leaderboard. For the first time in WSOP history, performances at WSOP Europe 2026, the summer WSOP in Las Vegas, and WSOP Paradise will all count toward a single, season-long chase for poker’s most prestigious consistency title.
This landmark move elevates WSOP Europe 2026 into a central pillar of the global WSOP calendar, ensuring that success in Europe carries the same long-term significance as deep runs in Las Vegas and Paradise.
$1 Million WSOP Player of the Year Prize Pool Explained
To mark the launch of the unified global system, WSOP has committed a $1,000,000 total prize pool to the 2026 Player of the Year race. The competition will use an enhanced scoring methodology designed to reward consistent excellence across buy-ins, formats, and international stops.
The overall Player of the Year will receive:
- A $100,000 WSOP Paradise package
- Global recognition as the most consistent WSOP performer of 2026
Additionally, the top 100 finishers on the final leaderboard will earn WSOP packages and tournament tickets, dramatically increasing the incentive to compete throughout the entire season.
Ty Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of WSOP, described the initiative as a defining step forward:
“By uniting our three flagship live series under a unified, $1M Player of the Year competition, we’re giving players a true global season to chase history.”
WSOP Europe 2026 Moves to Prague With Historic Guarantees
The global POTY race officially begins with WSOP Europe 2026, which will take place in Prague from March 31 to April 12, 2026. The series will award 15 WSOP bracelets, making it one of the most significant European poker festivals ever staged.
Headlining the schedule is the €5,300 WSOP Europe Main Event, featuring a record-breaking €10,000,000 guaranteed prize pool. This is the largest guarantee ever announced for a European poker tournament, underscoring WSOP’s renewed commitment to the region.
Another marquee addition is the European Circuit Championship, a €1,500 buy-in No Limit Hold’em event offering a €1,500,000 guarantee, further expanding mid-stakes opportunities tied directly into the Player of the Year race.
Full WSOP Europe 2026 Schedule Highlights
The WSOP Europe 2026 lineup blends flagship championships, popular mass-field events, and elite high rollers:
- €5,300 Main Event – €10M GTD
- €25,000 GGMillion$ High Roller
- €10,400 High Roller 8-Max
- €5,300 PLO European Championship
- €1,500 Monster Stack NLH
- €500 Colossus NLH
- €1,500 European Circuit Championship – €1.5M GTD
With formats ranging from Mystery Bounties to PLO variants, WSOP Europe 2026 is designed to reward both specialists and all-around performers—exactly the type of players the new POTY system aims to highlight.
Las Vegas and Paradise Complete the Global WSOP Journey
Following WSOP Europe 2026, the Player of the Year race continues at the 57th annual World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, scheduled from May 26 to July 15, 2026. The series will once again be hosted at Horseshoe Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas, serving as the centerpiece of the global leaderboard.
The season will conclude in dramatic fashion at WSOP Paradise 2026, running from December 1 through December 18, 2026, where final leaderboard positions—and the POTY title—will be decided.
Online Qualification for WSOP Europe 2026 and Beyond
Players worldwide will be able to qualify online for all three legs of the Player of the Year race:
- GGPoker will host international satellites
- WSOP Online will run U.S.-facing qualifiers
This integrated qualification system ensures broad global access to WSOP Europe 2026, Las Vegas, and Paradise, reinforcing WSOP’s position as the most inclusive elite poker ecosystem.
A Defining Year Begins With WSOP Europe 2026
By launching its global Player of the Year race in Prague, the WSOP has made it clear that WSOP Europe 2026 is no longer a standalone series—it is the opening chapter of a unified worldwide season. With historic guarantees, expanded rewards, and direct POTY implications, WSOP Europe 2026 is set to become one of the most influential poker events of the decade.
