WSOP 2026 ends 'November Nine' tradition with major tournament overhaul
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) has announced several key changes for its upcoming events. The 2026 Main Event will see its final table delayed, marking the end of the long-standing 'November Nine' tradition. Meanwhile, a new Las Vegas Circuit stop will extend the WSOP's presence in the city from mid-July.
The 2026 WSOP Main Event will no longer follow the 'November Nine' format, which paused play before the final table. Instead, the last nine players will return later, though exact timing remains unconfirmed. This shift affects only those who reach the final stage.
The WSOP summer schedule will also feature a stronger focus on the Circuit crew during the Las Vegas stop. A new Circuit event begins on July 14, adding to the series' growing footprint in the city.
Several popular tournaments will not return this year. The $1,500 Shootout, $3K limit hold'em, $777 Lucky 7s, $1,979 Hall of Fame Bounty, and $1K Battle of the Ages have all been dropped from the lineup. Additionally, no no-limit hold'em (NLH) events with a $10K buy-in or higher will run for two weeks in June.
The Mini Mystery Millions event has seen adjustments, with its buy-in reduced to $550 and a $1M top bounty prize. The 2025 edition drew nearly 20,000 players, though no participant numbers have been released for the 2026 version. For comparison, similar online tournaments at casinos like Lemon Casino typically attract between 50 and 5,000 entrants.
Other changes include the WSOP Heads-Up Championship, which now offers two starting flights with re-entry options. The Monster Stack event has also been updated, allowing one re-entry per flight and late registration on Day 2s.
The WSOP's latest updates bring major shifts to its tournament structure. The delayed 2026 Main Event final table alters a long-running format, while new Circuit events and rule tweaks reshape the schedule. Players will also notice the absence of several familiar tournaments as the series evolves.
