Last Updated on September 26, 2026 by Bala Kumar
What Is WSOP Paradise?
WSOP Paradise is the World Series of Poker‘s winter festival in the Bahamas. It’s a two-week series of live tournaments held every December. The 2026 festival features 20 bracelet events, and each one awards an official WSOP gold bracelet (WSOP).
The series began in 2023 and has grown quickly:
- 2023: the first Main Event had a $5,000 buy-in.
- 2025: the headline event was a $25,000 Super Main Event with a $60 million guarantee. It drew a $72.275 million prize pool, the largest of any tournament ever held outside Las Vegas, according to WSOP’s reporting (Casino Life Magazine, quoting WSOP).
- 2026: the festival moves to a new home, the Baha Mar resort in Nassau, with 20 bracelet events and a record $120 million in guaranteed prize money.
WSOP Paradise is also where the year’s WSOP Player of the Year race is decided (WSOP).
WSOP Paradise 2026 at a Glance
| Detail | 2026 information |
| Dates | December 2–17, 2026 |
| Venue | Baha Mar Hotel & Resort |
| Location | Cable Beach, Nassau, The Bahamas |
| Bracelet events | 20 |
| Total guarantees | $120,000,000 |
| Flagship event | Super Main Event: $26,000 buy-in, $50,000,000 guaranteed |
| Buy-in range (bracelet events) | $2,750 to $250,000 |
| Daily side events | From $400 |
| Online qualifying | WSOP Express satellites on GGPoker |
| Live stream | Daily on WSOP’s YouTube channel, December 5–17, 3 PM ET / 12 PM PT |
WSOP Paradise 2026 Schedule
| Date | Event | Buy-in | Guarantee | Status |
| Dec 2 | #1 Circuit Championship Mystery Bounty | $2,750 | $5,000,000 | Upcoming |
| Dec 3 | #2 High Roller PLO/NLH Mixed | $26,000 | $1,000,000 | Upcoming |
| Dec 4 | #3 High Roller NLH (Single Day) | $50,000 | $2,500,000 | Upcoming |
| Dec 5 | #4 GGMillion$ NLH Championship | $10,000 | $20,000,000 | Upcoming |
| Dec 5 | #5 WSOP Pro-Am NLH | $250,000 | $10,000,000 | Upcoming |
| Dec 5 | #6 Bahamas Big Bet Mix (Dealer’s Choice) | $5,300 | $1,000,000 | Upcoming |
| Dec 6 | #7 High Roller PLO (Single Day) | $50,000 | $2,000,000 | Upcoming |
| Dec 8 | #8 Super High Roller PLO | $100,000 | $5,000,000 | Upcoming |
| Dec 8 | #9 Baha-MONSTER STACK NLH | $5,300 | $1,000,000 | Upcoming |
| Dec 9 | #10 8-Game Mixed | $10,000 | $1,000,000 | Upcoming |
| Dec 9 | #11 Super High Roller NLH | $100,000 | $10,000,000 | Upcoming |
| Dec 10 | #12 Super Main Event | $26,000 | $50,000,000 | Upcoming |
| Dec 10 | #13 9-Game Mixed Championship | $26,000 | $2,000,000 | Upcoming |
| Dec 12 | #14 Double Board Bomb Pot PLO | $2,750 | $1,000,000 | Upcoming |
| Dec 14 | #15 Caribbean COLOSSUS NLH | $10,000 | $2,000,000 | Upcoming |
| Dec 15 | #16 High Roller Turbo NLH | $26,000 | $2,500,000 | Upcoming |
| Dec 15 | #17 Paradise PLOSSUS PLO | $10,000 | $1,000,000 | Upcoming |
| Dec 16 | #18 High Roller Turbo PLO | $26,000 | $1,000,000 | Upcoming |
| Dec 16 | #19 The Closer (GGPoker Bounty Wheel) | $5,300 | $1,000,000 | Upcoming |
| Dec 17 | #20 Last Chance in Paradise NLH | $15,000 | $1,000,000 | Upcoming |
Source: WSOP official schedule. All side events, satellites and structures are published on the WSOP LIVE app.
Event numbering: we follow the current WSOP schedule, which lists the Super Main Event as Event #12. WSOP’s August 20 press release called it Event #13.
The WSOP Paradise Super Main Event
The Super Main Event is the headline tournament of the festival.
Super Main Event 2026 Details
| Detail | 2026 |
| Buy-in | 26,000(promotedasthe”25K Super Main Event”; WSOP adds entry fees to all events) |
| Guarantee | $50,000,000 |
| Start date | December 10, 2026 |
| Game | No-Limit Hold’em |
| Prize | WSOP gold bracelet plus the top prize |
Source: WSOP
How the Main Event Has Grown
| Year | Buy-in | Guarantee | Entries | Prize pool | Winner | First prize |
| 2023 (Main Event) | $5,000 | $15,000,000 | 3,010 | $15,050,000 | Stanislav Zegal (Germany) | $2,000,000 |
| 2024 (Super Main Event) | $25,000 | $50,000,000 | 1,978 | $50,000,000 | Yinan Zhou (China) | $6,000,000 |
| 2025 (Super Main Event) | $25,000 | $60,000,000 | 2,891 | $72,275,000 | Bernhard Binder (Austria) | $10,000,000 |
Sources: Wikipedia – 2023 WSOP Paradise, PokerNews – 2024 Super Main Event, PokerNews – 2025 Super Main Event
The stories behind each year:
- 2023: Stanislav Zegal was an online qualifier from Germany. He beat Michael Sklenicka heads-up to win the first Paradise bracelet.
- 2024: Yinan Zhou won at 24 years old. His previous best live result was 28th place in the 2023 Paradise Main Event. The field fell $550,000 short of the $50 million guarantee, so WSOP covered the difference.
- 2025: the Super Main Event beat its $60 million guarantee by more than $12 million. Bernhard Binder won it by defeating French veteran Jean-Noël Thorel heads-up. The two were 51 years apart in age.
WSOP Paradise Bracelet Events
A WSOP bracelet is the most famous trophy in tournament poker. Each of the 20 bracelet events on the 2026 schedule awards an official WSOP gold bracelet. The schedule covers a wide range of games and formats:
| Category | 2026 events |
| No-Limit Hold’em | Super Main Event, GGMillion$, Caribbean COLOSSUS, Baha-MONSTER STACK, High Rollers |
| Pot-Limit Omaha | Super High Roller PLO, High Roller PLO, Paradise PLOSSUS, Double Board Bomb Pot PLO |
| Mixed games | 8-Game Mixed, 9-Game Mixed Championship, Bahamas Big Bet Mix |
| Bounty formats | Circuit Championship Mystery Bounty, The Closer (GGPoker Bounty Wheel) |
| Special formats | WSOP Pro-Am, turbo High Rollers, Last Chance in Paradise |
The WSOP Pro-Am
The $250,000 Pro-Am brings amateur and professional players together in one event:
- Amateurs apply, and a WSOP committee decides who is invited.
- Professionals register independently.
- The two groups play in separate fields at first, then merge once the tournament reaches the money and compete for one bracelet.
If formats like Bomb Pot PLO or mystery bounties are new to you, see our guides to Pot Limit Omaha and Mystery Bounty Poker.
WSOP Paradise Results
2026 Results
The 2026 series runs December 2–17. Update this table as each event finishes.
| Event | Winner | Entries | Prize | Date |
| #1 Circuit Championship Mystery Bounty | TBD | — | — | Dec 2026 |
| #4 GGMillion$ NLH Championship | TBD | — | — | Dec 2026 |
| #12 Super Main Event | TBD | — | — | Dec 2026 |
| Add remaining events as they finish |
2025 Results
The 2025 edition was held December 4–18 at Atlantis Paradise Island. It awarded $201,838,070 in total prize money across 8,015 entries and 15 bracelet events (Casino Life Magazine).
Selected 2025 results:
| Event | Entries | Winner | Prize |
| $25,000 Super Main Event | 2,891 | Bernhard Binder (Austria) | $10,000,000 |
| $100,000 Triton NLH Main Event | 237 | Aleksejs Ponakovs (Latvia) | $4,750,000 |
| $150,000 Triton NLH 8-Handed | 77 | João Simão (Brazil) | $3,067,000 |
| 25,000GGMillion Single Day Turbo | 287 | Johan Guilbert (France) | $1,534,645 |
| $50,000 PLO High Roller | 113 | Charlie Hook (USA) | $1,456,000 |
| $10,000 8-Game Mix | 115 | Koray Aldemir (Germany) | $287,800 |
| $2,500 The Closer Turbo Bounty | 509 | Imari Love (USA) | $145,725 |
WSOP Paradise Champions by Year
| Year | Venue | Main Event winner | Main Event prize |
| 2023 | Atlantis Paradise Island | Stanislav Zegal (Germany) | $2,000,000 |
| 2024 | Atlantis Paradise Island | Yinan Zhou (China) | $6,000,000 |
| 2025 | Atlantis Paradise Island | Bernhard Binder (Austria) | $10,000,000 |
| 2026 | Baha Mar | TBD (Super Main Event starts Dec 10) | TBD |
How to Qualify for WSOP Paradise
There are four main routes to a seat. Online satellite availability depends on where you live.
1. Buy in directly. Pay the full buy-in for any event using the payment methods listed below.
2. Qualify online through GGPoker. GGPoker is WSOP’s exclusive international partner. It runs WSOP Express satellites to the Super Main Event throughout the year. According to WSOP, you can qualify from as little as $0.50 through four satellite steps, and over 1,000 $30,000 Super Passes are being awarded (WSOP).
3. Win a live satellite on site. Progressive satellites run daily at 6 PM for the GGMillion$ and the Super Main Event. Each time a satellite’s guarantee is hit, the next one gets bigger.
4. Win a WSOP Circuit ring. Every 2026 WSOP Circuit ring winner (December 1, 2025 to November 30, 2026) is invited to Paradise with a free $5,000 package. It includes:
- a Circuit Championship Day 1A ticket
- a four-night stay
- player buffet access
2026 WSOP Online bracelet winners also receive a $30,000 Super Pass to the Super Main Event, as covered in our GGPoker review.
How to Register for WSOP Paradise
- Choose your event from the schedule above.
- Download the WSOP LIVE app, where WSOP publishes structures, side events and satellites.
- Check eligibility, such as age limits and invitation rules for events like the Pro-Am.
- Pick your starting flight for multi-day events.
- Pay the buy-in using an accepted method.
- Get your seat assignment and arrive before the start time.
Accepted Buy-in Methods
According to WSOP, you can pay by:
- credit or debit card, PayPal or ACH
- Luxon Pay (WSOP’s approved payment partner)
- approved cryptocurrency through WSOP LIVE
- bank wire, after completing a front-money application with Baha Mar
- payment at the WSOP Paradise cash desk
WSOP Paradise 2026 Venue: Baha Mar
For 2026, WSOP Paradise moves from Atlantis Paradise Island to Baha Mar, on Cable Beach in Nassau. The resort includes three hotels (Grand Hyatt, SLS and Rosewood), a casino, restaurants, pools, beach access, golf and entertainment (WSOP).
Where to Stay
| Hotel | What to know |
| Grand Hyatt Baha Mar | Exclusive WSOP player rate available |
| SLS Baha Mar / Rosewood Baha Mar | On-site luxury options |
| Breezes Bahamas | Exclusive WSOP rate; all-inclusive; walking distance to Baha Mar; adults-only (14+) |
| Goldwynn Resort & Residences | Quiet boutique hotel, a short drive away |
| Sandals Royal Bahamian | Adults-only, all-inclusive, a short drive away |
| Sandyport Beach Resort | Family-friendly, good for longer stays |
Early-bird packages: WSOP offers two packages that combine a 16-night stay with tournament play:
- $100K Paradise Package: requires $100,000 in tournament buy-ins and a $5,000 deposit.
- $300K VIP Package: requires $300,000 in tournament buy-ins and a $10,000 deposit.
For both, the deposit is due by October 31, 2026, and you must play GGMillion$ Day 1A and Super Main Event Day 1A (WSOP).
Practical Travel Tips
- Check passport and entry requirements for the Bahamas well before you travel.
- Book early. WSOP player rates are subject to availability.
- Arrive a day early for multi-flight events, so registration isn’t rushed.
- Keep your WSOP LIVE app updated for schedule changes and seat draws.
WSOP Paradise vs WSOP Las Vegas
| Feature | WSOP Paradise | WSOP Las Vegas |
| Location | Nassau, Bahamas (Baha Mar from 2026) | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Time of year | December | Summer (June–July) |
| Bracelet events (2026) | 20 | 100+ |
| Headline event | 25KSuperMainEvent(50M guaranteed) | $10,000 Main Event |
| 2026 headline prize pool | TBD (December) | $85,634,400 (winner Lucas Jumalon, $10,000,000) |
| Overall 2026 size | $120M in guarantees | Record 251,899 entrants, $469M+ in prize money |
| Player of the Year | Decided at Paradise | Points count toward the race |
The key difference is buy-in size. Las Vegas has events for nearly every budget. Paradise is mainly a high-roller festival, although daily side events start at $400.
WSOP Paradise Rules
- Official rules: WSOP Paradise follows the official WSOP Rules, published on wsop.com.
- Entry fees: WSOP adds entry fees to all events.
- Operational withholding: up to 5% of tournament buy-ins are withheld for staff and operational costs.
- Guarantees: guaranteed events are paid out after that withholding is deducted from the prize pool.
- Structures: blind levels, late registration and re-entry rules are published on WSOP LIVE.
- Schedule changes: WSOP may change or cancel events without notice.
Paradise Parlay Promotion
WSOP is running a $1,000,000 “Paradise Parlay” for players who won a bracelet, or finished 2nd to 9th in a bracelet event, earlier in 2026, live or online. These players earn extra rewards for their results at Paradise. The rewards range from $500 for registering for Super Main Event Day 1A up to $500,000 for a 2026 bracelet winner who also wins the Super Main Event. Full terms are on the official WSOP page.
How to Watch WSOP Paradise 2026
WSOP streams the action free on its official YouTube channel every day from December 5 to 17, at 3 PM ET / 12 PM PT (WSOP).
WSOP Paradise 2026 News & Updates
Newest first. Add a dated entry for every major update.
- September 24, 2026: WSOP confirmed $5,000 Paradise packages for ring winners at its Thunder Valley Circuit stop in California.
- September 18, 2026: Media credential applications for WSOP Paradise opened, with a deadline of October 23.
- August 20, 2026: WSOP released the full schedule: 20 bracelet events, $120 million in guarantees, a $50 million Super Main Event and a move to Baha Mar.
- Coming up:
- October 31: early-bird deposit deadline
- December 2: series begins
- December 5: live stream starts
- December 10: Super Main Event begins
- December 17: final event
FAQs
What is WSOP Paradise?
WSOP Paradise is the World Series of Poker’s annual December festival in the Bahamas. The 2026 festival features 20 bracelet events, each awarding an official WSOP gold bracelet.
When is WSOP Paradise 2026?
WSOP Paradise 2026 runs from December 2 to December 17, 2026.
Where is WSOP Paradise held?
In 2026, it’s held at the Baha Mar Hotel & Resort on Cable Beach in Nassau, the Bahamas. The 2023–2025 editions were held at Atlantis Paradise Island.
