The first Main Event of the new year will take place in Hollywood, Florida
The World Poker Tour has wasted no time in setting the stage for its 2026 season. Organizers confirmed that the first Main Event of the new year will take place in Hollywood, Florida, with the Seminole Hard Rock hosting the popular Lucky Hearts Poker Open from January 16 to 20.
The Main Event carries a $3,500 buy-in and a guaranteed $3 million prize pool, ensuring that the series opens with the same level of energy and prestige fans have come to expect. The Seminole Hard Rock has long been one of the WPT’s cornerstone venues, drawing large and diverse player fields that routinely push prize pools well beyond their guarantees. With the announcement, players and fans now have a clear first destination for what is expected to be another busy year on the WPT calendar.
The early reveal is a slight departure from tradition. Typically, the WPT announces its new season’s lineup later in the year, once its ongoing events have wrapped up. By locking in the first stop for 2026, the tour gives players more time to prepare their schedules and bankrolls, particularly as poker circuits grow increasingly competitive with rival series.
For now, though, much of the poker world’s attention remains on the WPT World Championship this December, which will close out the 2025 season. The tour has yet to release details on prize pool guarantees or the freeroll promotions that have been hallmarks of past editions. That omission has drawn some attention, especially in light of GGPoker’s recent announcement of a $60 million guaranteed Main Event at WSOP Paradise.
Still, the early announcement of the Lucky Hearts Poker Open suggests WPT remains committed to keeping its momentum strong into 2026, offering a high-profile and high-stakes start to the new year.
