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ESPN to Air More WSOP Main Event Coverage Than Ever Before; Here's the Schedule
ESPN marks its return to the WSOP Main Event coverage with an unprecedented schedule, featuring extensive live streams and televised broadcasts.
TL;DR
For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, ESPN is reinstating its coverage of the $10,000 buy-in World Series of Poker Main Event. The comprehensive schedule includes daily live streams on ESPN+ and televised broadcasts on ESPN and ESPN2 from July 2 to August 5, 2026.
The 2026 World Series of Poker Main Event will be broadcast with increased coverage from ESPN, marking its return to the event after moving to CBS Sports Network for several years. The $10,000 buy-in tournament, held at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, runs from July 2 to August 5, with a three-week break before the final table.
Live stream coverage for the Main Event will primarily be available on the ESPN+ app, starting with Day 1a on July 2 from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. ET. All four Day 1 sessions, followed by Days 2 through 8, will feature daily live streams on ESPN+. This extensive streaming schedule ensures that subscribers can follow the action from the early stages of the tournament.
For viewers without ESPN+ or those preferring condensed highlight versions, ESPN2 will air edited coverage of the pre-final table action. Broadcasts are scheduled for July 21 (9 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET) and July 28 (8 p.m. and 9 p.m. ET), with re-broadcasts on July 22, 26, and 29.
The final table, dubbed the "August Nine," will convene on August 3 for three days of play. ESPN2 will carry the live action on August 3-4, culminating with the final day on ESPN on August 5. Following the conclusion of the final table, ESPN2 will premiere recap episodes on August 9 and 10 at 10 p.m., with subsequent re-airs on various dates throughout August.
Commentary for the Main Event will feature familiar voices such as Norman Chad, Lon McEachern, Ali Nejad, and Nick Schulman. This year's broadcast plan by ESPN is set to be the most extensive in the network's history for the WSOP Main Event, providing significant access for poker enthusiasts.
