2026 WPT Prime Lodge Poker Festival | Championship with a $1 million guarantee
The event will be held at The Lodge in Texas from September 24 to October 12, with the $1,100 championship scheduled for October 8 to 12.
Event facts
- Event dates
- Sep 24, 2026 – Oct 12, 2026
- Location
- United States · Austin · The Lodge Card Club
2026 WPT Prime Lodge Poker Festival
WPT returns to The Lodge Card Club in Austin, Texas, USA. The entire poker festival will be held from September 24 to October 12, 2026.
Flagship Championship
The WPT Prime Lodge Championship will be held from October 8 to 12, with a buy-in of $1,100 and a guaranteed prize pool of $1 million. Please distinguish between the entire poker festival and the championship dates.
Other Activities and Viewing
Side events, daily events, and live satellite tournaments are also available. The championship will be streamed live. Complete schedules and broadcast times are subject to WPT and venue announcements.
Entry Reminder
All stakes are in US dollars. Eligibility, membership requirements, additional fees, and re-entry rules are subject to the latest regulations from the organizers.
Information and Image Source: Official announcement and original poster released by WPT on July 7, 2026. The main text is a summary in Chinese.
Buy-in Split and Registration Requirements
The $1100 Championship consists of a $970 buy-in and a $130 fee. Registration closes at the start of Level 10 on each start day; participants must have a verified WPT.com account. Venue membership, credentials, and age requirements are subject to separate verification with The Lodge.
Blinds, Money, and Tournament Progression
• Standard Day 1: 40 minutes per level, until approximately 12.5% of players cash.
• Day 1 Turbo: 20 minutes per level.
• Day 2: 60 minutes per level, until 9 players remain.
• Final Table: 60 minutes per level, then 30 minutes per level after heads-up play.
Approximately 1 in 8 entries cashes; re-entries do not equal the number of independent entries. The tournament will start with 9 players whenever possible, and will be switched to 8 players as soon as possible after cashing.
Ante and Action Time Limits
A big blind ante is used, with the amount equal to the big blind. If chips are insufficient to pay both the big blind and the ante, the big blind will be paid first, according to the published rules. The action clock will be activated at level 16 of each Day 1, at which time each player will receive 4 delayed chips. An additional 4 chips will be awarded at the start of Day 2, when 24 players remain, and when 9 players remain. Delayed chips are accumulated and retained, and will not be reset.
Rest Arrangements
A 45-minute dinner break will be arranged after level 9 for Days 1A to 1E; 15-minute breaks will be provided every 3 levels for the 40-minute levels, and every 15-minute breaks every 2 levels for the 60-minute levels. The Day 1F fast group will have 15-minute breaks after levels 5, 9, and 15. The actual schedule will be subject to the tournament director's arrangements.
Accommodation and Full Handbook
The tournament page lists the total start time as 12:15 PM CDT. Please refer to the official handbook for each starting group for the correct time; do not use Central North America Time as Beijing Time.
Official Details: https://www.worldpokertour.com/event/prime-wpt-prime-lodge-championship-season-2026/details
Venue Accommodation Entrance: https://thelodgepokerclub.com/austin/hotels/
Official Rider Handbook: https://wptmedia-mig.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/WPT-Prime-Lodge-2026-Player-Guide-low-res-2.pdf
Information Verification Date: September 13, 2026. The schedule is subject to change; please refer to the organizer's latest announcement for the most up-to-date information.