PokerStars Unveils 2026 WCOOP Schedule with 130 Events and $6.5 Million Prize Pool

PokerStars has confirmed the dates and structure for its 2026 World Championship of Online Poker series which runs from August 2 through August 17 and features 130 separate events along with a combined prize pool of $6.5 million. The schedule places the full series in mid-summer and includes a dedicated training component on each Friday when BBZ Poker coaches deliver free sessions open to registered participants. Coverage of the announcement appeared on Poker.org in the same window as reporting on the ongoing WSOP Main Event.

Schedule and Format Details

The two-week period begins on a Sunday and ends on a Monday two weeks later which allows players to compete across weekends while the Friday training blocks fall at regular intervals. Each of the 130 events carries its own buy-in level and format yet all contribute to the overall $6.5 million guarantee. Observers note that the event count remains consistent with recent editions while the guaranteed total reflects the operator's commitment to maintaining a substantial prize fund.

Training Sessions on Fridays

Every Friday during the series BBZ Poker coaches host complimentary training sessions that focus on strategy and gameplay adjustments relevant to the ongoing WCOOP schedule. These sessions run alongside the tournament calendar and remain accessible at no additional cost to anyone who has already entered at least one event. The addition of structured coaching on a recurring weekday gives participants a fixed point in the week to review hand histories and discuss adjustments before the weekend portion of the series begins.

Player Preparation and Access

Those who register for any WCOOP event receive automatic access to the Friday sessions which removes the need for separate sign-ups or additional fees. The training format allows coaches to address common questions that arise during multi-table runs and to highlight adjustments that apply across different buy-in levels. Because the sessions occur weekly throughout the series participants can attend multiple times and build on previous material as the tournament field narrows.

Registration for the series opens in advance of the August 2 start date and remains open through the final days so late entrants can still join the later events. The staggered opening helps distribute the field across the 130 tournaments while the fixed prize-pool total stays in place regardless of the number of participants. Data from prior years shows that guaranteed prize pools of this size attract both recreational and professional players across multiple time zones.

Integration with Broader Summer Calendar

The WCOOP dates sit immediately after the conclusion of the live WSOP schedule in July 2026 which creates a continuous period of high-profile poker activity from early summer into mid-August. Organizers have positioned the online series to begin once the live Main Event has wrapped allowing players who participated in Las Vegas to transition directly into the online format if they choose. This sequencing appears in the Poker.org coverage that ran both stories in parallel.

Conclusion

The 2026 WCOOP announcement supplies concrete dates, a confirmed event count, a set prize-pool amount, and a recurring training element that together define the upcoming series. With registration opening ahead of the August start and Friday coaching sessions built into the calendar, the operator has outlined the practical details players need to plan participation. Coverage on Poker.org provides the primary public record of these specifics alongside contemporaneous WSOP reporting.