Beyond the WSOP: Major Poker Tournaments in Las Vegas This Summer

The summer of 2026 in Las Vegas is set to be a thrilling time for poker enthusiasts, with a multitude of high-stakes tournaments taking place beyond the World Series of Poker (WSOP). While the WSOP is the main attraction, there are numerous other events offering substantial prize pools and a variety of games and formats.

The Wynn Summer Classic is one of the standout events, featuring 87 tournaments from May 20 through July 13. With more than $40 million in total prize pool guarantees, this series offers a wide range of buy-ins and game types, including no-limit hold’em, pot-limit Omaha, and various mixed games. The signature event, the Wynn Summer Championship, has a $10,400 buy-in and a $10 million guarantee, with four starting flights running daily from June 21 through June 24.

Another major series is the Venetian DeepStack Championship Poker Series, which runs from May 18 through August 2. This series boasts more than $16 million in guarantees across 121 tournaments, catering to both recreational and experienced players with buy-ins ranging from $200 to $2,500. Notable events include an $1,100 buy-in, $1 million guaranteed seniors event and a $1,600 buy-in, $1.5 million guaranteed tournament for players 50 and over.

The Aria Poker Classic, running from May 27 through July 12, offers well over $8 million in total guarantees. The series includes a variety of mixed game tournaments, with no-limit hold’em and pot-limit Omaha carrying the biggest guarantees. The signature event is the $3,500 buy-in, $4 million guaranteed BetMGM Championship, a multi-flight no-limit hold’em tournament running from July 1 through July 4.

The Orleans Summer Open, from May 22 through July 12, provides 160 total tournaments with over $4.7 million in total guarantees. This series is known for its mixed game offerings and local-friendly atmosphere. The signature event is a $600 buy-in no-limit hold’em tournament with a $500,000 guarantee, running from July 1 through July 5.

The MGM Grand Summer Poker Festival, from June 3 through July 10, offers $2.5 million in total tournament guarantees. This series is focused on more recreational players, with buy-ins starting as low as $160. Highlights include a pair of $250,000 guaranteed no-limit hold’em events and a $700 buy-in multi-flight $300,000 guaranteed ‘grand finale’ tournament in early July.

For locals and those willing to travel, South Point offers over $3 million in guaranteed prize pools from May 25 through July 12. The series includes a $300 buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed no-limit hold’em event with starting flights on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and day 2 on Thursday.