The World Poker Tour (WPT) has finalized its highly anticipated competitive return to the Australian continent, confirming that The Star Sydney will serve as the exclusive host venue for the WPT Australia festival from September 10 to September 30, 2026.
The 20-day series represents a milestone for the tour’s regional operations, bringing the WPT Prime Australia schedule and the WPT Australia Championship together under a single, consolidated festival for the first time in history.
Flagship Main Events and Live Streaming Strategy
The comprehensive tournament schedule is anchored by two marquee championship events:
- AU$1,500 WPT Prime Australia (September 17–22): Formulated as an accessible entry tier for competitive regional players.
- AU$5,000 WPT Australia Championship (September 24–30): The premier headline crown event of the festival.
To maximize international brand visibility, all core championship final tables will feature professional, low-latency live streaming, enabling poker enthusiasts worldwide to track the action live from the floor. To expand entry accessibility and lower financial barriers for casual players, The Star Sydney will operate a multi-tiered satellite network throughout the opening week, allowing players to win championship entries for a fraction of the full buy-in.
The schedule also features a dedicated AU$500 Ladies Australian Championship from September 15 to September 16, alongside highly volatile Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) events and bounty formats.
Australia’s Passionate Poker Landscape
Adam Pliska, CEO of the World Poker Tour, expressed strong enthusiasm for returning to New South Wales, pointing to Australia’s exceptional player engagement statistics:
“The tour is delighted to be back at The Star Sydney for another festival in Australia since the country continues to be one of the most enthusiastic poker-playing countries in the world. We are excited to welcome players from all over the world during the search for the next WPT Champion.”
The strategic convergence of high-value Prime events, international satellites, and broadcast finals establishes the September series as the single most comprehensive tournament stop on the Australian poker calendar this year.
