WSOP 2026 Main Event Sees Record International Participation

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2026 Main Event set new records for international participation and geographic diversity. Players from a record 111 countries entered the tournament, surpassing last year’s 103 and the previous high of 108 recorded in 2024.

International players made up 38.8% of the field, the highest proportion in the last three years. This increase in international participation comes despite an overall decline in the number of entrants, with the 2026 Main Event attracting 9,208 players, making it the fourth consecutive year that the tournament surpassed the 9,000-player mark.

US, Canada, and UK participation continued to decline year over year. The United States saw a decrease of nearly 6% from 5,978 players in 2025 to 5,634 in 2026. Canada recorded one of the biggest year-over-year declines among major markets, falling from 421 to 371 players. The United Kingdom slipped from 388 to 356 entrants. Meanwhile, countries like France, Japan, Israel, and Spain increased their representation. France ranked as the largest non-English-speaking contingent for the second consecutive year, with 296 entries in 2026. Japan continued its impressive growth, rising from 217 to 222 players. Israel saw a significant increase, climbing from 124 players to 154. Spain also saw an increase in participation, from 141 to 148 this year. Additionally, female participation reached 4.68%, a new modern high. California again led all US states with 965 players, while Florida, New York, Illinois, and New Jersey all grew.