Asian Poker Tour Gears Up for a Landmark 2026 Season as APTC Nears

Kai Cocklin is a poker journalist and live reporting manager who has worked with PokerNews at major festivals including the World Series of Poker and the European Poker Tour. He has managed multiple live reporting teams at the World Series of Poker and trained individual reporters to develop their skills. He now oversees Somuchpoker’s editorial and live coverage, ensuring consistent quality and engaging content across the Asian poker scene.

Updated: 2025.11.11

The Asian Poker Tour (APT) is gearing up for a milestone year, announcing a stacked lineup of festivals for 2026 just as it prepares to host the biggest series in its history.

Over nearly two decades, the APT has grown from a regional circuit into one of the most recognized poker brands in the world, setting records across Asia and redefining what large-scale tournaments in the region look like. With each stop attracting international fields, high-profile pros, and packed schedules, the tour has cemented itself as the heartbeat of Asian poker, and eyes are watching from all corners of the globe.

Meanwhile, as the APT Championship 2025 (APTC) gets underway in Taipei on November 14, the tour has confirmed a five-stop calendar for next season, marking its 20th anniversary in style.

APTC 2025: The Tour’s Biggest Festival Yet

Before the new year begins, all eyes are on Taipei for the inaugural APT Championship. Running November 14–30 at Red Space in partnership with the Chinese Texas Hold’em Poker Club (CTP), the festival spans 17 days and 200 events with over TWD 288 million (~USD 8.7 million) in guarantees.

Headlining the record-breaking schedule is the USD 10,000 APT Championship Main Event Freezeout, featuring a USD 5 million guarantee, the largest in Asian poker history. The series also introduces a collection of new lion-themed trophies, led by the 24K Gold Lion Championship Trophy for the Main Event winner.

Furthermore, high rollers will be spoiled for choice with buy-ins ranging from USD 15,000 to USD 50,000, including the Superstar and Super High Roller Championships, while mid- and lower-stakes players can chase prestige across dozens of Championship Events from the National Cup to the Ultra Stack.

Asian Poker Tour’s CEO Fred Leung described the festival as “the culmination of three years of growth in the New Era,” and the numbers back it up. Since 2023, the APT has shattered records across Taiwan, Korea, and Vietnam, with Taipei consistently producing the largest fields and prize pools in the tour’s history.

APT 2026: Five Stops Across Three Countries

Fresh off the heels of the APTC, the APT will usher in its 20th anniversary season with an exciting five-stop schedule across South Korea and Taiwan.

APT Jeju Classic 2026

January 30 – February 8
Jeju Shinhwa World, in partnership with Landing Entertainment Korea
The year opens in Jeju with a KRW 4.9 billion (~USD 3.4 million) guaranteed festival headlined by a KRW 2.3M (~USD 1,600) Main Event and a KRW 2.2 billion (~USD 1.5 million) guarantee.

APT Taipei 2026

April 22 – May 3
Red Space, in partnership with CTP
Taipei returns as the centerpiece of the spring schedule and is expected to once again attract the tour’s biggest fields.

APT Incheon 2026

August 7 – 16
Paradise City, in partnership with Paradise Group
After a mid-year break, the APT lands in Incheon for another major Korean festival at one of the country’s most prestigious venues.

APT Jeju 2026

September 25 – October 4
Jeju Shinhwa World, in partnership with Landing Entertainment Korea
The tour makes a second stop in Jeju later in the year, offering players another shot at world-class poker on the island.

APT Championship 2026

November 13 – 29
Red Space, in partnership with CTP
The season finale returns to Taipei to celebrate the APT’s 20th birthday with a 17-day extravaganza set to rival this year’s record-setting APTC.

The APT’s Next Chapter

From its beginnings in 2006 to becoming one of the fastest-growing tours in the world, the Asian Poker Tour has built a reputation for world-class events, strong partnerships, and innovative formats. With the APTC 2025 about to make history and the 2026 calendar already locked in, the tour’s next chapter looks set to be its most ambitious yet.

Players won’t have to wait long to join the action. The countdown to the APT Championship 2025 is on, and the new season kicks off in Jeju in January. Until then, hang tight. APTC is right around the corner, and the poker world’s eyes are firmly on Taipei for what promises to be the most exciting festival Asia has ever seen.