Online satellites are already running, with buy-ins starting as low as $2 for select events
January poker action on the East Coast will get a major boost when the Borgata Winter Poker Open returns in early 2026. The long-running series is scheduled for January 2–18 and will bring players back to Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa for nearly three weeks of tournament play.
The festival will feature 37 official events and a combined $8 million in guaranteed prize pools. All action will take place inside the Borgata Event Center, with buy-ins designed to appeal to both casual players and seasoned tournament regulars. The series is once again powered by BetMGM, which will handle online registration and qualifiers.
At the center of the schedule is the $3,500 Winter Poker Open Championship. The event carries a $3 million guarantee and begins on January 10 with three starting flights spread across consecutive days. Survivors return for Day 2 on January 13, with the final table set for January 15 and streamed live for fans following along at home.
Several other headline tournaments round out the schedule. The Almighty Winter Kick Off offers a $1 million guarantee on a $400 buy-in, while the Deepstack Main Event brings a $2 million prize pool and adds a “Big Blind Rewind” twist on Day 2. Players can also compete in mixed games tied to a leaderboard paying the top 20 finishers.
With bigger guarantees and more main events than last year, the Borgata Winter Poker Open is shaping up as a key stop to open the 2026 poker calendar.
