Climax of the PokerGO Tour (PGT) and the Player of the Year Battle
The highlight of the month is the action at PokerGO Studio in ARIA Resort, which will also reveal the winner of the PGT Player of the Year title. Sam Soverel leads the pack but closely followed by Alex Foxen, setting the stage for drama until the last hand.
The month kicks off with the PGT Last Chance Series (January 5-10). Comprising six tournaments with a $10,100 buy-in, it's the last chance for many players to break into the top 40 rankings, guaranteeing a spot in the final championship.
Last call before the PGT $1,000,000 Championship!
— PGT (@PokerGOTour) January 4, 2026
The PGT Last Chance series runs January 5-10 with six $10,500 NL hold’em events and five Dream Seats on the line. Rake discounts for on-time registration.
▶️ https://t.co/5h9xtQCoDl pic.twitter.com/xYP85yzlSc
Following that is the PGT Championship (January 12-13). This prestigious freeroll with a $1,000,000 prize fund is for the top 40 players of the season and the winners of “Dream Seats.” The winner takes home $500,000 and a prestigious title.
After crowning last season's champion, PokerGO Studio won’t stay idle for long. From January 26-31, the new season kicks off with the PGT Kickoff series. The schedule includes four tournaments with a $5,100 buy-in and two high rollers with a $10,100 buy-in, including a final Turbo event.
The City That Never Sleeps
Las Vegas offers more than just PGT; several other events are set to please both recreational players and the world’s elite.
The Venetian hosts the climax of the DeepStack Extravaganza NYE series, which began over the holidays and lasts until January 19. Players can look forward to a $1,600 MSPT NLHE with a $500,000 guarantee (January 1-4) and a series of MonsterStack tournaments with six-figure prize pools. Immediately after, from January 19, the Deepstack Showdown takes over with highlights like the $800 UltimateStack boasting a $200,000 guarantee.
For gold ring enthusiasts, the WSOP Circuit at Planet Hollywood (January 1-12) features 19 ring events. The main attraction is the $1,700 Main Event with a $500,000 guarantee (January 8-12), plus a $3,300 High Roller for those aiming high.
The city’s calendar also includes the Signature Series at Wynn Las Vegas (January 5-19), with events like the $1,100 NLHE offering a $400,000 guarantee.
Million-Dollar Guarantees Beyond Vegas
Outside Las Vegas, attention in the USA shifts to Atlantic City and Florida. The Borgata Winter Poker Open in Atlantic City, running from January 3-18, offers multiple seven-figure prize pools. Highlights include the $600 NLHE Deepstack with a $2,000,000 guarantee and a $3,500 Main Event guaranteeing a massive $3,000,000.
On the East Coast, the WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open (Florida) is on the schedule. The Seminole Hard Rock hosts a massive festival from January 6-20. The highlight is the $3,500 WPT Main Event with a $3,000,000 guarantee (January 16-20), plus a $25,500 High Roller for added excitement.
The WSOP Circuit tour also stops in Oklahoma (Choctaw, January 7-19) with a million-dollar guarantee in the main event. This is followed by half-million guarantees at the Main Events in Thunder Valley (January 15-26) and Tunica (January 22-February 2).
European Scene: Rozvadov, Madrid, and Prestigious England
In January 2026, European poker is dominated by the Czech King’s Resort in Rozvadov. From January 1-13, the WSOP International Circuit takes place. The most notable event is the €1,500 NLHE Main Event with a €1,000,000 guarantee (January 9-13). The Mystery Bounty event with a €300,000 guarantee is also worth watching.
In Spain, the 888poker Live Madrid returns to Casino Gran Via from January 11-18. Players can participate in events like the €1,500 NLHE or the Main Event with an €880 buy-in.
The UK will light up in Nottingham (Dusk Till Dawn) during the UK Poker Championships (January 17-26), where the main event with a £560 buy-in offers a £500,000 guarantee. The month concludes with the Italian PS Open Campione (January 23-February 1) featuring a million-euro guarantee in the main event.
Worldwide: Asian Boom and Exotic Destinations
Asia continues its growth in 2026. Towards the end of the month (from January 30), WPT & WPT Prime Cambodia kicks off, with a main event guaranteeing 1.5 million dollars. Concurrently, the APT Jeju Classic in South Korea is set to feature an estimated prize pool exceeding 4.9 billion KRW. For those wanting to compete for rings on the WSOP Circuit outside the USA and Europe, January offers stops in Canada (Calgary) and Morocco (Marrakech).
January 2026 Top Events Overview
|
Date |
Festival / Tournament |
Location |
Main Attraction (Guarantee) |
|
1.1. – 13.1. |
WSOP International Circuit |
Rozvadov, Czech Republic |
€1,500 Main Event (€1,000,000 GTD) |
|
1.1. – 12.1. |
WSOP Circuit (Winter) |
Las Vegas, USA |
$1,700 Main Event ($500,000 GTD) |
|
3.1. – 18.1. |
Borgata Winter Poker Open |
Atlantic City, USA |
$3,500 Main Event ($3,000,000 GTD) |
|
5.1. – 10.1. |
PGT Last Chance |
Las Vegas, USA |
6x $10,100 High Roller |
|
12.1. – 13.1. |
PGT Championship |
Las Vegas, USA |
$1,000,000 Freeroll for top 40 |
|
16.1. – 20.1. |
WPT Lucky Hearts |
Florida, USA |
$3,500 Main Event ($3,000,000 GTD) |
|
17.1. – 26.1. |
UK Poker Championships |
Nottingham, UK |
£550 Main Event (£500,000 GTD) |
|
23.1. – 1.2. |
PokerStars Open Campione |
Campione, Italy |
€1,100 NLHE (€1,000,000 GTD) |
|
26.1. – 31.1. |
PGT Kickoff |
Las Vegas, USA |
4x $5,100 and 2x $10,100 High Roller |
|
30.1. – 12.2. |
WPT Cambodia |
Phnom Penh, Cambodia |
$3,500 Main Event ($1,500,000 GTD) |
|
30.1. – 8.2. |
APT Jeju |
Jeju, South Korea |
2,300,000 KRW (2,200,000,000 KRW GTD) |
January 2026 clearly demonstrates the vibrant nature of the poker world, offering a spot for every player, from trophy hunters to professional grinders.
Sources: WSOP, The Hendon Mob, PokerListings, WPT, APT, PGT, X, Kings Resort
