Last Updated on October 9, 2026 by Bala Kumar
Some players spend Thanksgiving at the dinner table. Others spend it at a poker table in the Great Smoky Mountains. If you’re in the second group, mark November 26 on your calendar.
That’s the day the WSOP Circuit rolls back into Harrah’s Cherokee for the last time in 2026. The series runs through December 7, and it’s the final U.S. Circuit stop of the year. Cherokee has been one of the busiest rooms on the whole tour this year, so expect big crowds and big fields.
Key details
| What you need to know | |
| Dates | Thursday, November 26 – Monday, December 7, 2026 |
| Venue | Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, Cherokee, North Carolina |
| Tour | WSOP Circuit, 2026 season |
| Stop | Fourth Cherokee visit of 2026 and the last U.S. Circuit stop of the year |
| Main Event | Traditionally $1,700 (2026 details still to be announced) |
| Schedule status | Dates confirmed; full event list not yet published |
Dates confirmed in the second-half 2026 WSOP Circuit schedule.
Why Cherokee keeps drawing a crowd
Look at any list of the Circuit’s biggest fields and Cherokee is usually near the top. It’s easy to see why. The resort sits within a day’s drive of Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville and Knoxville, so a huge chunk of the Southeast can get there without a flight.
The numbers back it up. Cherokee has already hosted three Circuit stops in 2026, and every one of its $1,700 Main Events has drawn more than 1,400 entries.
Cherokee Main Event results
| Stop | Entries | Prize pool | Winner | First prize |
| August 2026 | 1,681 | $2,307,380 | Curtis King | $363,703 |
| May 2026 | 1,489 | $2,255,835 | Hamid Izadi | $332,405 |
| February 2026 | 1,824 | $2,763,360 | Maxwell Guo | $386,231 |
| Nov–Dec 2025 | 1,190 | $1,802,850 | Derek Sein-Lwin | $281,514 |
| August 2025 | 1,437 | $2,177,055 | Zachary Fischer | $324,135 |
All $1,700 No-Limit Hold’em Main Events. Sources: Wikipedia (2025 and 2026 WSOP Circuit) and DeucesCracked.
The highlighted row is the one to watch. Last year’s December stop had the smallest field of the bunch, 1,190 entries, but it still beat its $1.5 million guarantee by more than $300,000. December falls right in the middle of the holiday season, and that tends to cut both ways: fewer travelling regulars, but plenty of locals with time off.
2026 has been a stronger year all round. The February Main Event set the pace at 1,824 entries, and August added another 1,681. If December lands anywhere near those numbers, it’ll be one of the biggest finales Cherokee has had.
What to expect from the schedule
WSOP hasn’t released the full December line-up yet. Last year’s finale is the best guide to its shape, and it’s likely to look similar.
| 2025 finale event | Buy-in | Notes |
| Turkey Day 30K | $400 | Opened the series on Thanksgiving |
| Mini Main Event | $400 | $750,000 guaranteed |
| Monster Stack | $400 | $750,000 guaranteed |
| Main Event | $1,700 | $1.5 million guaranteed, played over the final weekend |
From the November 27 – December 8, 2025 Cherokee schedule. In total there were 18 ring events with buy-ins from $400 to $1,700 and more than $4 million guaranteed.
Based on that pattern, here’s a sensible plan for 2026:
• Thanksgiving week: cheaper events kick things off, so it’s a good time to build a bankroll.
• Early December: the Monster Stack and other mid-week events fill the middle of the series.
• Final weekend, around December 4–7: the Main Event, if it follows last year’s timing.
We’ll update this post as soon as the official schedule and guarantees are published.
Rings, and the road to the Bahamas
Every official event awards a WSOP Circuit gold ring. This year the Circuit moved to a calendar-year season, and it builds towards December in the Bahamas, where WSOP Paradise hosts the season-ending Circuit Championship.
One thing to check: the Paradise Circuit Championship starts on December 2, while Cherokee runs until December 7. If you’re hoping a Cherokee ring earns you a Bahamas package this year, confirm the eligibility cut-off with WSOP before you plan around it.
Planning your trip to Cherokee
• Getting there: Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) is the closest airport, roughly an hour’s drive. Many players drive in from Atlanta, Charlotte or Knoxville.
• Where to stay: book early. With Thanksgiving traffic and a busy poker series, rooms at the resort can sell out.
• Weather: it’s the mountains in late autumn, so expect chilly mornings and cold nights. Check road conditions if snow is forecast.
• Time off the felt: the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is right on the doorstep, and the Oconaluftee Visitor Center is a short drive away.
• About the resort: Harrah’s Cherokee is on the Qualla Boundary, home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Bring valid photo ID for tournament registration.
Sources
• PokerOrg: Texas return on tap for second half of 2026 WSOP Circuit schedule
• WSOP: Circuit announces 2026 season with shift to calendar-year format
• Wikipedia: 2026 World Series of Poker Circuit
• Wikipedia: 2025 World Series of Poker Circuit
• DeucesCracked: Curtis King wins WSOP Circuit Cherokee Main Event (Aug 2026)
• WCCB Charlotte: WSOP returns to Harrah’s Cherokee for 2025 Circuit finale
FAQs
When is the WSOP Circuit at Harrah’s Cherokee in December 2026?
November 26 to December 7, 2026.
Is this the last Circuit stop of the year?
It’s the last U.S. stop on the 2026 schedule.
How much is the Main Event?
Cherokee’s Main Event has been $1,700 at every recent stop. The 2026 December details haven’t been announced yet.
How many players usually play?
Recent Cherokee Main Events have drawn between 1,190 and 1,824 entries.
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