12 Days Until CPG Championship Finals 2026 Begins

Just 12 days remain until the CPG Championship Finals 2026 begins, with ten days of competition planned at the Howard Johnson Resort Sanya Bay from August 19 to 28.

Thousands of players are expected to travel to Sanya for the 14th edition of the festival . However, the ambition behind this year’s CPG Championship extends beyond filling tournament tables.

The organisers want players to experience more of Hainan during their visit, combining ten days of tournament action with beaches, resorts, local culture and outdoor activities around Sanya.

Ten Days of CPG Championship Action

The schedule features tournaments running throughout the festival, including freezeouts, mystery bounty events, high rollers, Pot Limit Omaha tournaments and numerous satellites.

The centrepiece of the series will once again be the CPG Championship Main Event. Opening flights are scheduled across August 23, 24 and 25, followed by the remaining stages from August 26 until the conclusion of the festival on August 28.

CPG has built its reputation around large freezeout fields, giving every player one entry and one opportunity to progress. That format helped the 2025 CPG Championship Finals attract 4,211 Main Event entries, continuing a remarkable run of participation in Sanya.

The festival has recorded more than 3,700 Main Event entries at each of its previous four editions, including a record field of 4,406 during its tenth-anniversary series.

This year, China Poker Games is hoping to welcome another large domestic field alongside a growing number of players arriving from outside China.

More Than a Poker Tournament

For China Poker Games , attracting players requires more than building a tournament schedule. It also means giving people a reason to travel and experience the destination away from the tables.

That is where Sanya becomes such an important part of the festival.

Located on the southern coast of Hainan, Sanya is one of China’s best-known resort destinations. Its tropical climate, long coastline and collection of beachfront hotels make it considerably different from the major cities that host many of Asia’s biggest poker festivals.

Players can compete during the day before stepping outside to explore Sanya Bay, visit local restaurants or spend time along the coast. Those staying at the Howard Johnson Resort will not even need to leave the festival venue to reach the beach.

CPG has also partnered with local activity providers to offer special rates using CPG service vouchers. According to the organiser, one service voucher is worth approximately US$7.30.

The advertised experiences include:

• Wakesurfing: 20 service vouchers, compared to a regular price of US$177
• Self-drive jet ski: 10 service vouchers, compared to a regular price of US$118
• Stand-up paddleboarding: 10 service vouchers for adults and seven for children, compared to regular prices of US$100 and US$71
• Diving package: 16 service vouchers, compared to a regular price of US$140

The vouchers can be redeemed with participating CPG partners. Players should confirm availability, eligibility, booking requirements and any activity restrictions directly with CPG before making plans.

The idea is simple: players may arrive because of poker, but the complete experience should give them a reason to explore Sanya and return in the future.

Sanya’s Growing Sports-Tourism Ambition

The concept fits with Sanya’s wider efforts to bring sport, culture and tourism together.

Earlier this year, the city hosted the 2026 Asian Beach Games, welcoming athletes from across the continent for competitions staged around its coastline. The event placed Sanya’s beaches, venues and tourism infrastructure in front of an international audience.

Hainan has continued to promote travel built around outdoor activities and major events, while Sanya offers beach sports, sailing, golf, cycling, surfing and diving.

CPG believes competitive poker can contribute to that event-led tourism economy by bringing thousands of participants to the city, filling hotel rooms and introducing more visitors to Hainan.

The festival also offers something different from a traditional sporting event. Rather than arriving only to watch professionals compete, visitors can participate themselves through satellites, smaller side events or the Main Event.

For overseas players, access to Hainan has also become easier. Passport holders from 59 eligible countries can enter the province without a visa for stays of up to 30 days for approved purposes, including tourism and sports competitions.

Players should still confirm the latest entry requirements for their nationality before arranging travel.

Somuchpoker Heading to Sanya

Somuchpoker will be on site throughout the CPG Championship Finals 2026, covering the tournament action and exploring the wider experience available around the festival.

Alongside articles from the tables, the team will produce videos and reels from the Howard Johnson Resort Sanya Bay and around Hainan. The coverage will look at the host venue, the city and CPG’s efforts to combine its established tournament series with everything Sanya offers away from the tables.

We will also speak with players and organisers during the festival to find out why they made the journey, what separates CPG from other events and how the Championship Finals can continue expanding its international reach.

For those making the trip, the complete schedule is available through the CPG App and the official CPG website.

The tables open on August 19. Away from them, there will be plenty more of Sanya to discover.