WCOOP 2026 on PokerStars: Become the World Online Poker Champion!

From September 6 to 30, PokerStars will host WCOOP 2026 — a prestigious online poker tournament series with buy-ins for all levels and hundreds of championship titles.

From September 6 to 30, 2026, PokerStars will host the next edition of the World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) —one of the most prestigious events in the world of online poker. This year, the series once again gives players a unique chance to compete for the world champion title, regardless of the size of their bankroll. In total, WCOOP 2026 will feature 121 events across three buy-in categories: High, Medium, and Low, with the number of new champions reaching 350. WCOOP: History and Significance for Online Poker Since its inception 25 years ago, WCOOP has rightfully been considered the pinnacle of online tournament poker. Every September, the series brings together the strongest players from around the world at the virtual tables, and winning any of the tournaments becomes a dream come true for many. Over the years, WCOOP has formed a kind of elite club—players who have managed to win at least one championship title. WCOOP winners stand alongside online poker legends such as Benny "RunGodLike" Glaser , Joao "Naza114" Vieira , Patrick "pads1161" Leonard , and Niklas "Lena900" Astedt . These names are well known to poker fans, as each has repeatedly proven their skill in the biggest tournaments. However, every year the series introduces new names—players from all over the world get the chance to write their nickname into WCOOP history. According to Steve Clarricoats , Deputy Director of Online Tournament Scheduling at PokerStars, winning WCOOP is not just a big score, but a part of poker history. For professionals, it can become one of the most important milestones in their career, and for amateurs—a dream come true. Accessibility and Variety of Formats: WCOOP for Everyone One of WCOOP’s key features has always been its accessibility for players with different bankroll levels. In 2026, series tournament buy-ins range from $5.50 to $25,000, allowing both beginners and professionals to take part. The schedule includes tournaments in a wide variety of disciplines: No-Limit Hold'em —the most popular and dynamic form of poker; Pot-Limit Omaha —Omaha with pot-limit betting, where players receive four cards and the bet size is limited by the pot; 8-Game —a mix of eight different poker games, requiring versatility and deep knowledge of the rules; HORSE —another mixed format, including five disciplines: Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo, Razz, Stud, and Stud Hi-Lo; Progressive Knockout (PKO) —tournaments with progressive bounties, where knocking out an opponent earns the player part of the reward, and the rest increases their own bounty; Mystery Bounty —a format with "mystery" rewards, where the bounty for knocking out a player is revealed only after their elimination; Triple Draw —a draw poker variant with three card exchanges. The main events of the series are traditionally the official world championships in various disciplines, as well as six Main Events to be held on September 27 and 28. The total guaranteed prize pool in the main tournaments alone will exceed $6.5 million. In addition to the main events, the schedule features world championships in the following disciplines: $5,200 NLHE 6-Max Championship — September 6 $1,050 HORSE Championship — September 7 $1,050 Razz Championship — September 10 $1,050 NLHE PKO Championship — September 13 $1,050 Triple Draw Championship — September 15 $1,050 PLO8 Championship — September 17 $215 Women's NLHE Championship — September 20 $2,100 8-Game Championship — September 24 This way, players can compete for championship titles not only in the most popular, but also in rare disciplines, making the series as diverse and interesting as possible for all categories of participants. Satellites and Promotions: The Path to WCOOP is Open to Everyone For those not ready to pay the full buy-in for major tournaments, PokerStars traditionally offers a wide range of satellites—qualifying tournaments that allow you to win a ticket for a small amount. In 2026, the minimum entry to a satellite will be just $0.55, and special Spin & Go tournaments dedicated to WCOOP will start at $0.75. In addition, the series will feature the WCOOP Lucky Dip promotion, with $500,000 in tournament tickets up for grabs. Another promotion— Power Path Express —will allow participants to win over $175,000 in ticket packages and Main Event entries. The most active players will have access to leaderboards, where an additional $100,000 prize pool will be distributed. Prizes are awarded to the best players in the Low, Medium, and High categories, as well as to the overall series leaders. Key WCOOP 2026 Championship Schedule $5,200 NLHE 6-Max Championship — September 6 $1,050 HORSE Championship — September 7 $1,050 Razz Championship — September 10 $1,050 NLHE PKO Championship — September 13 $1,050 Triple Draw Championship — September 15 $1,050 PLO8 Championship — September 17 $215 Women's NLHE Championship — September 20 $2,100 8-Game Championship — September 24 Main Events — September 27 and 28 (guaranteed over $6.5 million) The full schedule includes 121 tournaments, giving hundreds of chances to win a WCOOP title and earn substantial prizes. Top WCOOP Champions: Who Are They? Winning a WCOOP tournament is not only a major cash prize, but also worldwide recognition. The series’ history features special players such as Benny "RunGodLike" Glaser , Joao "Naza114" Vieira , Patrick "pads1161" Leonard , and Niklas "Lena900" Astedt . These players have repeatedly topped the tournament leaderboards, demonstrating consistency and the highest level of play. Each new WCOOP season brings fresh success stories: professionals cement their status, while amateurs make sensational breakthroughs. In 2026, another 350 players will join the ranks of champions, their names forever etched in the history of online poker. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, the news of WCOOP starting on PokerStars is a great reason to think about your own development and opportunities. Even if you prefer the club format and private games, the experience and strategies you can learn from WCOOP champions will be useful in any form of poker. Watch the broadcasts, study the hands, and analyze the decisions of the best players—this will help you improve your game. In addition, participating in satellites and qualifiers is a great way to test yourself at a higher level without risking large sums. Many WCOOP champions started their journey with cheap satellites, which means everyone has a chance. Even if you’re not planning to play on PokerStars yet, similar formats can be implemented in PPPoker clubs by organizing your own mini-series or leaderboards. Finally, WCOOP is always a source of inspiration and motivation for all poker enthusiasts. Follow the results, support your friends and clubmates, and maybe in the future your name will be among the champions of the world’s biggest poker series!