MGM Poker Championship Set for Biggest Series Yet at MGM Cotai

Poker is making another big return to Macau as the MGM Poker Championship 2026 prepares for its sixth edition at MGM Cotai from October 23 to November 2.

The 11-day festival is set to be the biggest edition yet, with HKD 14 million (~USD 1.78 million) in total guaranteed prize pools, highlighted by a HKD 9 million (~USD 1.15 million) guaranteed Main Event.

HKD 9 Million Main Event Leads the Schedule

The centerpiece of the festival is the MPT Championship Main Event, featuring a HKD 12,000 (~USD 1,530) buy-in and a massive HKD 9,000,000 (~USD 1.15 million) guarantee.

The Main Event runs from October 30 to November 1, with five starting flights giving players multiple chances to qualify for Day 2. All players who make it through to Day 2 will already be in the money, setting up a three-day race for the title and the biggest share of the prize pool.

With the guarantee alone accounting for more than half of the festival's total guaranteed prize money, the Main Event is expected to draw players from across the region and beyond.

Full MGM Poker Championship 2026 Schedule

Poker's Return to Macau

Macau has long been associated with the growth of poker in Asia, making the return of major tournament action to the city an important development for the regional scene.

The MGM Poker Classic in June offered a strong indication of the appetite for poker in Macau. That series featured HKD 13 million in guarantees across 25 events, attracting 2,213 entries in total. Players from 24 different countries made the money, with the festival paying out more than USD 2.27 million.

The Main Event produced one of the memorable stories of the series when recreational player Shehzad Hassam took down the title for USD 136,670.

A Busy Opening Day

The action gets underway on October 23 with an HKD 8,800 NLH event, carrying an HKD 800,000 guarantee and playing out as a one-day tournament, with cards in the air at 12 PM.

The schedule then continues at 5 PM with a Pot-Limit Omaha event featuring a HKD 5,000 buy-in. Another HKD 5,000 NLH tournament follows at 6 PM, giving players plenty of options from the very first day of the festival.

At the other end of the schedule, the MPT Super High Roller takes the spotlight on the final day.

The event features a HKD 100,000 (~USD 12,750) buy-in, bringing the festival to a high-stakes finish and offering Macau's bigger bankroll players a chance to close out the series on the biggest stage.

Cash Games Keep Macau Busy

Tournament poker is only part of the picture at MGM Cotai.

Cash games have also been building momentum, with the room regularly seeing 15 to 20 tables running each day, including plenty of recreational players.

That mix of tournament competition and a busy cash-game environment gives the upcoming MGM Poker Championship 2026 an interesting backdrop. With Macau's poker scene continuing to grow, the sixth edition arrives with the biggest guarantees yet and a HKD 9 million Main Event at the center of it all.

For everything you need to know before playing, check out the full player’s guide.