ESPN To Broadcast World Series of Poker Main Event Live In August

The World Series of Poker has officially signed a multi-year agreement to bring the WSOP $10,000 no-limit hold’em main event back to ESPN platforms in 2026 and beyond.

The deal sees the brands rekindle a partnership after splitting in 2021. It will also bring back the delayed final table format, with the last nine players being set on July 13. There will then be a 20-day break before the next world champion is crowned during a three-night live finale airing from Aug. 3-5 on the network. The broadcasts are slated to run from 9 PM to midnight Eastern, with prime-time episodes aired throughout the hiatus to introduce the final table contestants to the audience and build hype heading into the final showdown for the bracelet.

ESPN is set to air around 100 hours of original WSOP programming each year, with the main event broadcasts kicking off on day 1A and including at least six hours of daily coverage. According to the press release from WSOP organizers, Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions, creators of the popular ‘Manningcast’ football broadcast, has been engaged to ‘apply its signature storytelling lens to the poker table.’

“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,” said Ty Stewart, CEO of the WSOP. “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.”

The 2026 WSOP Main Event Schedule

This year’s coverage brings back the “cliffhanger” format utilized during the November Nine era, which was first introduced in 2008 and ran for nine years. This time around, the break in play will be markedly shorter, though, lasting just a few weeks rather than several months.

Ashley O’Connor, VP of Programming at ESPN, commented: “Nobody is better equipped to showcase the stories that unfold throughout a tournament more than ESPN. This reflects our commitment to delivering premium competition.”

Below is a look at the WSOP main event schedule for 2026.