The return of live poker at Casino di Venezia: €1,000,000 Main Event

In October 2026, the legendary La Notte Degli Assi festival will take place at the world’s oldest casino — Casino di Venezia. The Main Event with a €1,000,000 guarantee will bring together the best players in Europe.

In October 2026, a landmark event will take place in the world of European live poker — the legendary La Notte Degli Assi festival returns to Italy. The venue will be the famous Casino di Venezia , which will welcome players from October 11 to 19, 2026. The highlight of the series will be the Main Event with a guaranteed prize pool of €1,000,000, once again drawing attention to one of the most beautiful and historically significant poker rooms in the world. The Historical Significance of Casino di Venezia Casino di Venezia is not just a gambling venue, but a true historical monument. Founded in 1638, it is considered the oldest casino in the world. In the 1950s, the establishment moved to its current building — a 15th-century Renaissance palace located on the Grand Canal. This palace once served as the residence of Venetian doges and was also the final home of composer Richard Wagner. The casino is renowned not only for traditional games such as Chemin de Fer and French roulette, but also for hosting high-level poker events. From 2009 to 2013, it was the site of the WPT Venice stop, where the last champion was Rocco Palumbo . In recent years, the palace has hosted PokerGO Tour events, attracting international high rollers to play No-Limit Hold'em , Pot-Limit Omaha , and Short Deck . Main Event: €1,000,000 GTD Main Event The centerpiece of the festival is the Main Event with a guaranteed prize pool of €1,000,000. The tournament features a multi-flight structure, allowing both those who want to play from the very start and those who prefer a late entry to participate. Early flights (Days 1A–1D) with a reduced buy-in of €400 will take place from October 11 to 12. Then, from October 14 to 17, the main flights (Days 1E–1I, including a turbo version) will start with a buy-in of €600. Each entry into Day 1 gives players a deep starting stack of 200,000 chips . Blinds in the early stages will increase every 30 minutes (every 15 minutes in the turbo version). Players who advance to Day 2 (October 17), Day 3 (October 18), and the final table (October 19) will play longer levels: 45 and 60 minutes respectively. This provides room for thoughtful strategy and deep stacks in crucial hands. In addition to the Main Event, the schedule includes a High Roller with a €1,500 buy-in. This tournament starts on October 14 at 18:00. Players will begin with an even deeper stack — 250,000 chips , and blind levels will last 35 minutes. Late registration is open for 12 levels. The High Roller final day will take place on October 15 at 15:00. Satellites and Additional Tournaments For those who want to enter the main events for less, the organizers have prepared a series of satellites: October 13, 15:00 — Freeroll Satellite with 12 guaranteed seats and the option to rebuy for €20. October 13, 21:00 — €180 Satellite with direct entry to the High Roller for €1,500. October 14, 15:00 — Mega Satellite with 25 guaranteed tickets, €60 buy-in, and €40 rebuys. Besides the satellites, on the evening of October 13 (19:00), there will be a €150 NLH Side Event — an additional no-limit hold'em tournament open to everyone. Full Schedule of La Notte Degli Assi Venice 2026 Below is the schedule of the festival's key events: October 11–12 — Main Event, Days 1A–1D, €400 buy-in October 13, 15:00 — Freeroll Satellite (12 seats, €20 rebuys) October 13, 19:00 — €150 NLH Side Event October 13, 21:00 — €180 Satellite to High Roller October 14–17 — Main Event, Days 1E–1I and Turbo, €600 buy-in October 14, 15:00 — Mega Satellite (25 tickets, €60 buy-in, €40 rebuys) October 14, 18:00 — High Roller Day 1, €1,500 buy-in, 250,000 stack, 35-min levels October 15, 15:00 — High Roller Final Day October 17 — Main Event Day 2 October 18 — Main Event Day 3 October 19 — Main Event Final Table Context and Significance of the Series The return of La Notte Degli Assi to such an iconic venue as Casino di Venezia highlights the festival's high status among European poker events. In recent years, the largest global series have been held here, such as WPT Venice and PokerGO Tour stops, where both local and international professionals, including players like Rocco Palumbo , have competed. Thanks to the palace's rich history and atmosphere, the tournament consistently attracts not only experienced regulars but also poker fans from around the world. The multi-flight Main Event format makes participation accessible to a wide audience, and the well-developed satellite system allows players to get into the game even with a limited bankroll. Deep stacks and longer blind levels in the later stages ensure high-quality poker and create opportunities for skill to shine. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For club members on the PPPoker platform, this news is a great reason to consider new goals and opportunities. First, the La Notte Degli Assi schedule clearly shows that even the largest live series focus on multi-flight tournaments with deep stacks and long levels. This means that training and regular play in similar formats on PPPoker will help prepare for live events of this caliber. Second, the large number of satellites and affordable buy-in tournaments in the festival schedule is a signal for online clubs: it's worth running more qualifiers and encouraging participation in them, giving your players a chance to reach major offline events even with a small bankroll. Finally, the return of major series to historic European casinos speaks to the steady interest in live poker. For PPPoker players, this is extra motivation: to improve their skills, participate in club leagues, and keep an eye on the schedule to qualify for such prestigious events in time.