Breaking: WSOP Europe Confirms Move to Prague in 2026 with Earlier Spring Slot

The World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) is officially moving to Prague.

WSOP officials have confirmed that Prague will become the new home of its European festival, marking the end of an eight-year run in Rozvadov. The 17th edition of WSOP Europe will take place in 2026, debuting in its new location.

Not only is the series changing venues, but for the first time, it will also be held much earlier in the year, shifting to a March–April slot.

WSOPE 2026 will be hosted at the Hilton Prague in Czechia from March 31 to April 12, in partnership with King’s Casino Prague. Prague will become the sixth city to host the series since its debut in 2007. The Hilton Prague is also the home of PokerStars’ EPT Prague festival, making it a familiar setting for the live poker players.

While the full schedule for WSOPE 2026 has not yet been released, officials have confirmed that the series will once again feature 15 gold bracelet events.

“It’s an exciting rebirth of the World Series of Poker Europe in Prague,” said Ty Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of WSOP, in a press release that went out this morning. “We have a big ambition to elevate this festival to one of the very best in the world and look forward to welcoming players to a great poker city next April.”

New Venue Long Overdue

Talk of WSOPE relocating had been circulating even before the official announcement. Many speculated that the ongoing Rozvadov festival would be its last, with Prague widely rumored as the next destination.

Rozvadov, a small town on the western border of the Czech Republic with just 800 residents, has faced repeated criticism for its remote location. Many players and fans have long called for a change to a more accessible and vibrant setting.

Indeed, this year’s WSOP Europe festival generated less excitement than in previous years. GGPoker did not run any online qualifiers, and since Leon Tsoukernik sold his ownership stake in King’s Resort last year, many have felt the festival has lost part of its original charm.

All these factors contributed to a noticeable decline in attendance. The 2025 Main Event drew 659 entries, a 14.2% drop from last year’s 768 entries and a steep fall from the record 817-player field in 2023.

A venue change, therefore, appeared long overdue.

WSOPE first launched in 2007, marking the World Series of Poker’s expansion beyond the US. The first four editions took place in London before moving to France in 2011—first in Cannes (2011 and 2012) and later in Enghien-les-Bains (2013). The series then shifted to Berlin in 2015 before settling at King’s Casino in Rozvadov, Czech Republic, in 2017. Notably, WSOPE was not held in 2014, 2016, or 2020.

The 2024 edition marked the festival’s return to a September slot, a decision influenced by several factors, including better weather, avoiding overlap with EPT Prague in December, and giving organizers more time to plan for WSOP Paradise in winter. However, since the change, attendance has continued to decline.

How the series performs in its new home and new time slot remains to be seen. Ty Stewart has already hinted at “a big ambition to elevate the festival,” calling the Prague move an “exciting rebirth” for WSOP Europe.

The press release confirmed that GGPoker will once again serve as the exclusive online partner for WSOP Europe, running qualifiers for the 2026 edition both on its main platform and through the newly launched WSOP Express satellite program.

The 2026 edition will also integrate the game-changing WSOP Plus app, designed to enhance the live experience through digital registration, player tracking, and real-time tournament updates. The app made its debut at WSOP Paradise and is gradually becoming the default companion for WSOP events worldwide, including the Las Vegas series.

Meanwhile, WSOP Europe 2025 concludes today with the final table of the Main Event and the Closer. The Main Event champion will take home a €1.1 million first prize. This year’s series attracted 12,492 total entries and generated €18.8 million in prize money.

WSOP Europe History