The 2026 WSOP officially kicked off in Las Vegas, with Day 1 featuring the 550 Mini Mystery Millions and the 550 Mini Mystery Millions, as well as a 5,000 No-Limit Hold'em 8-Max event. A total of 100 gold bracelets will be awarded this year, and the tournament will continue until the Main Event final table on August 5th.
In Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, playing cards have officially been flying through the air, signifying the official start of the 57th World Series of Poker (WSOP) in 2026.
This annual poker extravaganza kicked off at noon with Group A of the #1:$550 No-Limit Texas Hold'em Mini Mystery Millions tournament. This is a brand-new mystery bounty tournament, with daily matches throughout the first day until May 30th.
Players aspiring to win a gold bracelet can also try their luck in Events #2 and $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em 8-Max at 2:00 PM today. These two events are the first two of the 100 gold bracelets to be awarded in Las Vegas this summer (assuming no controversy arises that leads to bracelet cancellations, as happened last year).
Jack Effel, Vice President of World Series of Poker, kicked off the celebrations ahead of the Mini Mystery Million.
"I'm thrilled to welcome everyone to the 57th World Series of Poker," said Effel. "Every year we spend countless hours planning and waiting for the next hand to be dealt in Las Vegas, the world's largest poker arena. And that's never been less exciting for me!"
"Our mission is to provide better and better service every year. Hey, we can't do everything perfectly, but we will do our best. Because no one can be perfect, but if you don't strive for perfection, you'll never get close to it."
He then introduced the 2025 WSOP Main Event champion, who would perform the traditional "Shuffle Up and Deal" ceremony. At that very moment, the 2026 WSOP officially began!
Key Takeaways from the 2026 WSOP
What kind of sequel will Michael Mizrachi deliver this summer? Will Benny Glaser be able to win three more gold bracelets? Is Shaun Deeb, who has already secured two runner-up finishes at the WSOP Europe, a strong contender for Player of the Year? And who will step up and become this summer's biggest surprise?
These are all interesting topics we'll be covering throughout the WSOP. Our coverage will include unparalleled live action, digital media content, and breaking news. We'll keep you updated on the most interesting and newsworthy stories happening in Las Vegas until the Main Event final table on August 5th.
Our live coverage of the 2026 WSOP begins Wednesday with Day 2 of the $5k No-Limit Hold'em event. Stay tuned to PokerNews for exclusive insider coverage from Las Vegas all summer long.
Want to change Texas Holdem from "can understand" to "can win"?
If you want to learn more about Texas Hold'em, you can continue reading：
The Origins of Texas Hold'em: Why is it the World's Most Popular Poker Variant?
Texas Hold'em Hand Rankings and Showdown Rules (Beginner’s Essentials)
Texas Hold'em Betting teaching: Check / Bet / Call /Raise and Betting Strategy Analysis
The importance of Texas Hold'em position? Why is the back position more advantageous?
How to play Texas Hold'em? Novices learn Texas Hold'em rules, processes and betting teaching in 10 minutes
Texas Hold'em Starting Hands Strategy Guide: Which Hands to Play?
Texas Holdem Starting Hands Chart Tutorial: Complete Starting Hand Chart and Position Strategy
How to play Texas Hold'em? Complete rules and a hand's flow (Preflop / Flop / Turn / River)
Hunter Poker offers comprehensive tutorials, hand analysis, and strategy sharing to help players upgrade from simply "reading the cards" to understanding the range . This allows you to make better decisions in every hand.
▶️ In Facebook Follow Hunter Poker.
📘 In Youtube Follow Hunter Poker.