Last Updated on September 19, 2026 by Bala Kumar
The World Poker Tour is heading back to Texas. The WPT Prime Lodge Championship returns to The Lodge Card Club in Austin for a festival running September 24 through October 12, 2026, anchored by a $1,100 buy-in Championship event carrying a $1 million guaranteed prize pool.
Key Details
- Festival dates: September 24 – October 12, 2026
- Main Event dates: October 8–12, 2026
- Venue: The Lodge Card Club, 1401 S Interstate 35 #130, Round Rock, TX (Austin metro)
- Buy-in: $1,100
- Guarantee: $1,000,000
- Format: No-Limit Texas Hold’em, multi-flight structure
2026 Main Event Schedule
| Date | Event | Buy-in | Guarantee |
| Oct 8 | Flight A | $1,100 | $1M |
| Oct 9 | Flight B | $1,100 | $1M |
| Oct 10 | Flight C | $1,100 | $1M |
| Oct 10 | Flight D (Turbo) | $1,100 | $1M |
| Oct 11 | Day 2 | — | — |
| Oct 12 | Day 3 | — | — |
Four starting flights give players multiple entry points before the field consolidates into Day 2.
Other Major Events at the Festival
- “Half Milly” — $400 buy-in, $500,000 guaranteed, 12 starting flights running September 25–October 4, with Day 2 on October 4 at 12:15 PM
- $300 100K NLH — running October 4–6
- $1,100 PLO Hundred Grand — October 7
- $2,000 High Roller — October 11–12
- $21,400 guaranteed WPT satellite on September 29, awarding one $10,400 WPT Main Event seat plus ten $1,100 WPT Prime seats
- Multiple daily satellites and preliminary events throughout the festival window
What Happened at the 2025 WPT Prime Lodge Championship
WPT made its Texas debut at The Lodge in 2025, attracting 1,648 entries and generating a $1,598,560 prize pool — comfortably clearing its $1 million guarantee. Harvey Castro, playing in his home state, took down the title for $225,020. WPT CEO Adam Pliska pointed to that response as the reason for the 2026 return trip, citing the strength of the Texas poker community.
Main Event Structure
- Time extensions: Players receive time-extension chips at several stages — when the Action Clock activates on Day 1 (Level 16), at the start of Day 2, and again at 24 and 9 players remaining.
- Breaks: A 15-minute break follows every two hours of play.
- Rake structure: Texas state law prevents card clubs from collecting a traditional tournament rake, so The Lodge instead applies a “club access fee” to entering players.
- ID requirement: Winners must show valid identification to collect payouts.
Satellites and Ways to Qualify
Beyond the $21,400 satellite on September 29, players outside Texas have an online route through ClubWPT. Ahead of the festival, ClubWPT ran a series of $2,500 Passport qualifiers, each including:
- The $1,100 Championship buy-in seat
- A $1,400 travel and hotel stipend
- Card room access and seat rental fees
- VIP extras, including branded merchandise and a meet-and-greet with WPT talent
Passport winners were pre-registered specifically into the Day 1D flight of the Championship on October 10.
How to Watch
Much of the Championship action is expected to be livestreamed from The Lodge’s dedicated streaming setup, consistent with how the venue covered the 2025 debut — useful for anyone following the series without making the trip to Texas.
Why Players Are Watching This Event
- Texas-based players get a major WPT stop without traveling out of state
- Mid-stakes grinders get a $1,100 buy-in with a large guarantee relative to its cost
- Online qualifiers have an accessible path in through ClubWPT’s Passport system and the September 29 satellite
- Anyone tracking the Road to the WPT World Championship — this year’s Wynn Las Vegas festival runs November 27–December 21 with over $20 million in total guarantees, and strong Lodge results feed directly into that circuit
FAQs
What is the buy-in for the WPT Prime Lodge Championship?
$1,100 for the Main Event, with a $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool.
When does the festival run?
September 24 through October 12, 2026, with the Main Event itself running October 8–12.
How can I qualify without traveling to Austin?
Through ClubWPT’s online Passport qualifiers, which award a Championship seat plus a travel stipend, or through in-venue satellites like the $21,400 guaranteed satellite on September 29.
Who won the event last year?
Harvey Castro won the inaugural 2025 edition, defeating a 1,648-entry field for $225,020.
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