September 2026 Live Poker Tournament Preview: WSOP Circuit, WPT, MSPT, RGPS, Venetian & Wynn

Angry Aces Poker previews the biggest live poker tournaments to watch in September 2026, including major WSOP Circuit, WPT, MSPT, RGPS, Venetian and Wynn stops.

September is shaping up as one of the busiest live poker months of the second half of 2026, with major tournament series spread across Las Vegas, Texas, Virginia, Florida, Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, Iowa, California and other established poker markets.

The month brings a mix of WSOP Circuit ring stops, a $5,000 World Poker Tour Championship, MSPT state championships, multiple RunGood Poker Series festivals, nearly four weeks of Venetian DeepStack action and tournament series at Wynn Las Vegas. Several festivals begin in late August or continue into October, making September less a collection of isolated weekends and more a continuous stretch of tournament poker.

For players deciding where to travel, the biggest choices range from $800 regional Main Events to a WSOP Circuit Main Event carrying a $2 million guarantee. Here are the major September 2026 live poker tournaments worth watching.

September 2026 Live Poker Tournament Landscape

The September calendar has meaningful action from the opening day of the month through its final week.

Among the major U.S. series scheduled to overlap September are:

• Venetian DeepStack Extravaganza III — September 1–27 in Las Vegas

• MSPT Ameristar Poker Open — September 1–7 in St. Charles, Missouri

• RGPS Golden Expedition at The Barrel Social Club — September 1–7 in Franklin, Kentucky

• WPT bestbet Scramble festival — August 20–September 9 in Jacksonville, Florida

• WSOP Circuit Hard Rock Tulsa — August 26–September 7 in Catoosa, Oklahoma

• WSOP Circuit Caesars Virginia — September 3–14 in Danville, Virginia

• RGPS Golden Expedition at Caesars New Orleans — September 3–13 in New Orleans

• WSOP Circuit Texas Card House — September 10–21 in Austin

• RGPS Golden Expedition at Downstream Casino — September 15–20 near Joplin, Missouri

• WSOP Circuit Council Bluffs — September 17–28 in Council Bluffs, Iowa

• RGPS Golden Expedition at MGM National Harbor — September 21–27 in Oxon Hill, Maryland

• MSPT Wisconsin Poker State Championship — late September at Potawatomi Casino Hotel in Milwaukee

• WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley — September 24–October 5 in Lincoln, California

• Wynn Fall Classic — September 28–October 25 in Las Vegas

That list does not attempt to reproduce every tournament on every schedule. Instead, the sections below focus on the festivals, Main Events and guarantees most likely to matter to players planning a September trip.

Venetian DeepStack Extravaganza III Runs Nearly All Month in Las Vegas

The Venetian gives Las Vegas tournament players one of September's longest continuous options with DeepStack Extravaganza III, scheduled for September 1–27.

The official Venetian DeepStack series page advertises more than $1.4 million in guaranteed tournament prize pools during the festival.

Several multi-day events anchor the schedule:

• $400 No-Limit Hold'em with a $100,000 guarantee — September 4–7

• $1,100 MSPT No-Limit Hold'em Nevada Poker State Championship with a $300,000 guarantee — September 10–13

• $600 No-Limit Hold'em with a $125,000 guarantee — September 13–16

• $800 No-Limit Hold'em with a $150,000 guarantee — September 17–20

• $400 No-Limit Hold'em with a $75,000 guarantee — September 21–23

• $600 No-Limit Hold'em with a $150,000 guarantee — September 24–27

The schedule gives visitors substantially more flexibility than a conventional weekend tour stop. A player can target one featured event, build a longer Las Vegas trip around multiple tournaments or combine the Venetian series with other September action in the city.

The $1,100 Nevada Poker State Championship is especially notable because it also serves as an MSPT Main Event during the festival.

Angry Aces Poker has a complete Venetian DeepStack Extravaganza III 2026 Tournament Guide, while visitors unfamiliar with the venue can also review the Venetian Poker Room Guide.

Wynn Signature Series Finishes September 7 Before the Fall Classic Begins

Wynn Las Vegas also gives tournament players action at both ends of September.

The official Wynn Poker Room tournament page lists the Wynn Signature Series from August 17 through September 7, meaning its closing week overlaps the beginning of the September tournament calendar.

Then, on September 28, Wynn begins the Wynn Fall Classic, which runs through October 25. Wynn advertises more than $2 million in guaranteed prize pools for the Fall Classic and describes a schedule that includes No-Limit Hold'em, Pot-Limit Omaha, mixed games, seniors tournaments, satellites and nightly turbos.

The late-September start makes the Fall Classic particularly relevant to players who want to turn a September trip into a longer stay extending into October.

Angry Aces Poker's published Wynn Signature Series Tournament Guide covers the series that carries into Labor Day weekend, and the Wynn Las Vegas Poker Room Guide provides additional venue information.

MSPT Ameristar Poker Open Brings a $300,000 Guarantee to St. Charles

The Major Series of Poker: The Tour heads to Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles from September 1–7 for the 2026 Ameristar Poker Open.

The official MSPT tournament calendar lists a $300,000 guarantee for the Ameristar Poker Open. MSPT's published event information also advertises a $1,110 Main Event and a $3,500 MSPT Championship seat added to first place.

That combination gives the Labor Day-week festival a clear regional draw: a four-figure Main Event with a substantial guarantee without requiring a trip to Las Vegas or one of the larger national championship stops.

Players planning the Missouri trip can use the 2026 MSPT Ameristar Poker Open Tournament Guide for event-specific coverage and the Ameristar St. Charles Poker Room Guide for venue information.

RGPS Golden Expedition Opens September at The Barrel Social Club

The RunGood Poker Series begins September with a Golden Expedition stop at The Barrel Social Club in Franklin, Kentucky, from September 1–7.

According to the official RGPS Barrel schedule, the festival includes 11 ring events across seven days. The centerpiece is an $800 Main Event with a $250,000 guarantee.

Main Event players have six starting flights available from September 4–6 before the Day 2 restart on September 7. The schedule also includes $200 turbo satellites awarding Main Event seats at a one-in-five rate, along with $105 on-demand Flip & Go Main Event satellites.

Other highlighted events include a $400 PokerNews PowerStack with a $30,000 guarantee and a $400 Pot-Limit Omaha tournament with a $25,000 guarantee.

For a regional tour stop, the $250,000 Main Event guarantee gives Franklin one of the more attractive lower-buy-in options during the opening week of September.

See the 2026 RGPS Golden Expedition at The Barrel Social Club Tournament Guide and the Barrel Social Club Poker Room Guide for additional Angry Aces coverage.

WPT bestbet Scramble Championship Brings a $1 Million Guarantee to Jacksonville

The World Poker Tour has one of September's largest individual championship buy-ins at bestbet Jacksonville.

The broader WPT bestbet Scramble festival runs from August 20 through September 9, but its biggest tournament lands squarely in September. The World Poker Tour's official preview confirms that the $5,000 WPT bestbet Scramble Championship runs September 4–9 with a $1 million guarantee.

The Championship concludes with a livestreamed final table on September 9.

That makes Jacksonville a different proposition from most of September's regional circuit stops. The $5,000 price point is considerably higher than the typical $700–$1,700 Main Events elsewhere on this list, while the WPT title and seven-figure guarantee make it one of the month's most prominent championship events.

Players considering the Florida stop can review the 2026 WPT bestbet Scramble Championship Tournament Guide.

WSOP Circuit Hard Rock Tulsa Carries Into Labor Day Weekend

September begins with a WSOP Circuit series already in progress at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa in Catoosa, Oklahoma.

The official WSOP calendar lists the stop from August 26 through September 7, so the most important closing portion of the festival falls during the opening week of September.

That makes Tulsa relevant to this monthly roundup even though cards were first dealt in August. Players looking for WSOP Circuit ring action around Labor Day can compare it with the simultaneous options at Ameristar St. Charles, The Barrel Social Club, Wynn and The Venetian.

Angry Aces Poker has published both a 2026 WSOP Circuit Hard Rock Tulsa Tournament Guide and a Hard Rock Tulsa Poker Room Guide.

Caesars Virginia Hosts Its First WSOP Circuit Stop September 3–14

One of September's more significant new destinations is Danville, Virginia, where Caesars Virginia hosts its first WSOP Circuit stop from September 3–14.

WSOP announced a combined $1.5 million in guarantees for the inaugural series. The official WSOP Circuit Caesars Virginia schedule includes several notable guaranteed events:

• $600 Mini Main Event — $250,000 guaranteed

• $400 Monster Stack — $150,000 guaranteed

• $1,100 No-Limit Hold'em — $100,000 guaranteed

• $1,700 WSOP Circuit Main Event — $500,000 guaranteed

• $2,200 High Roller — $100,000 guaranteed

The $1,700 Main Event has starting flights on September 10, 11 and 12.

For Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern players, Caesars Virginia adds a major Circuit destination without requiring travel to an established stop farther west or south. The combination of an inaugural series, $1.5 million in advertised guarantees and multiple six-figure tournaments makes Danville one of September's most important stops.

Angry Aces Poker's 2026 WSOP Circuit Caesars Virginia Tournament Guide covers the festival, while the Caesars Virginia Poker Room Guide can help with venue planning.

RGPS Caesars New Orleans Offers $330,000 in Series Guarantees

RunGood follows its Kentucky opening with an 11-day Golden Expedition festival at Caesars New Orleans from September 3–13.

The official RGPS Caesars New Orleans schedule advertises 14 ring events and $330,000 in total guarantees.

The schedule starts aggressively with a $400 Series Kickoff carrying a $100,000 guarantee and five starting flights. Later highlights include a $600 Monster Stack with a $30,000 guarantee.

The centerpiece is an $800 RunGood Main Event with a $200,000 guarantee. Four Main Event starting flights are scheduled across September 11 and 12, followed by the restart on September 13.

Satellites are spread throughout the festival. The schedule includes $185 Main Event satellites awarding seats at a one-in-five rate, as well as larger package satellites tied to multiple series entries.

The New Orleans stop therefore offers a longer festival than The Barrel while keeping the Main Event below the four-figure threshold.

Angry Aces Poker has a dedicated 2026 RGPS Caesars New Orleans Golden Expedition Tournament Guide.

WSOP Circuit Texas Card House Has One of September's Biggest Guarantees

For players chasing the largest advertised Main Event guarantee among the U.S. Circuit stops discussed here, Austin stands out.

The WSOP Circuit returns to Texas Card House from September 10–21, and the official WSOP Circuit Texas Card House schedule lists a $1,700 Main Event with a $2 million guarantee.

Main Event flights are scheduled for September 17, 18 and 19.

The rest of the Austin schedule is unusually deep in guaranteed prize pools as well. Highlights include:

• $600 Mini Main — $750,000 guaranteed

• $3,250 Big Tex High Roller — $200,000 guaranteed

• $400 Monster Stack — $250,000 guaranteed

• $1,100 Texas Trailblazer — $100,000 guaranteed

• $1,700 Main Event — $2 million guaranteed

The schedule also includes Pot-Limit Omaha, Big O, H.O.R.S.E., No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw and a double-board PLO bomb-pot event, giving the stop more mixed-format variety than a purely No-Limit Hold'em festival.

For players comparing WSOP Circuit destinations in September, the size of the Austin guarantees is difficult to ignore.

See the 2026 WSOP Circuit Texas Card House Austin Tournament Guide for Angry Aces coverage.

RGPS Continues Through Missouri and Maryland

RunGood's September calendar does not end with Kentucky and New Orleans.

The official RunGood Events Schedule lists a Golden Expedition stop at Downstream Casino from September 15–20 and another at MGM National Harbor from September 21–27.

Downstream Casino — September 15–20

The official Downstream schedule lists eight ring events across six days. The festival gives players in the Joplin-area market another mid-month regional option immediately after the opening RGPS stops conclude.

Angry Aces Poker has a published RGPS Golden Expedition Downstream Casino Tournament Guide.

MGM National Harbor — September 21–27

The MGM National Harbor stop in Oxon Hill, Maryland, offers 12 ring events in seven days.

The official MGM National Harbor RGPS schedule lists a $1,300 Main Event with a $250,000 guarantee. Starting flights are scheduled for September 24, 25 and 26, with Day 2 on September 27.

The schedule also includes a $400 PokerNews PowerStack with a $50,000 guarantee and Main Event satellites throughout the festival.

The RGPS Golden Expedition MGM National Harbor Tournament Guide provides additional Angry Aces coverage.

RunGood also lists the Mississippi State Championships at Horseshoe Tunica from September 15–20. Players considering that stop should check the current RunGood September events calendar for the latest published information before making travel plans.

MSPT Wisconsin Poker State Championship Puts $1 Million on the Line

Milwaukee becomes one of the most important late-September Midwest destinations when the MSPT Wisconsin Poker State Championship returns to Potawatomi Casino Hotel.

The current official MSPT tour calendar lists the stop for September 22–27 and advertises a $1 million Main Event guarantee. Separate recent MSPT promotional posts have displayed September 22–29 for the broader series, so players should verify the final travel schedule directly with MSPT before booking.

The Main Event is listed at $1,110, with a $3,500 MSPT Championship seat added to first place.

A $1 million guarantee at that buy-in level makes Wisconsin one of the most consequential regional Main Events on the September schedule and gives Midwest players a major alternative to Austin's WSOP Circuit stop or the East Coast festivals.

Angry Aces Poker has published a 2026 MSPT Wisconsin Poker State Championship Tournament Guide.

WSOP Circuit Council Bluffs Is Confirmed, but the Detailed Schedule Is Still Pending

Horseshoe Council Bluffs is confirmed to host the WSOP Circuit from September 17–28.

As of August 23, however, the official WSOP Circuit Council Bluffs page says the tournament schedule will be announced soon.

That distinction matters. Older Council Bluffs schedules should not be treated as the 2026 schedule, and Main Event dates, buy-in details and guarantees should not be assumed until WSOP publishes them for this specific stop.

The series still belongs on September travel radars because the dates and venue are official. Players can bookmark the WSOP Circuit Council Bluffs Tournament Guide and the official WSOP page while waiting for the detailed schedule.

WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley Starts September 24 and Peaks in October

The final U.S. WSOP Circuit stop beginning in September is Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, California.

The series runs September 24 through October 5. That timing means September contains a meaningful opening week even though the festival's Main Event falls in October.

The official WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley schedule shows early events beginning September 24, including a multi-flight Opener with a $250,000 guarantee. Additional September tournaments include No-Limit Hold'em, Pot-Limit Omaha and a mystery bounty.

For players making a late-September trip, the important planning point is that Thunder Valley is a crossover series. September gets the opening events; the biggest championship action arrives after the calendar flips to October.

Angry Aces Poker's 2026 WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley Tournament Guide covers the stop in more detail.

Which September 2026 Poker Stop Fits Your Schedule?

With so many overlapping festivals, the best destination depends less on finding a tournament and more on choosing the type of trip a player wants.

For extended Las Vegas flexibility, Venetian DeepStack Extravaganza III is the clearest option. Its September 1–27 run offers repeated multi-day events, several buy-in levels and the MSPT Nevada Poker State Championship within one long series. Wynn adds options at both ends of the month.

For a major national championship, the WPT bestbet Scramble stands apart with its $5,000 buy-in and $1 million guarantee.

For WSOP Circuit players, Caesars Virginia offers a new destination and $1.5 million in advertised series guarantees, while Texas Card House has the month's headline Circuit number: a $2 million guarantee on its $1,700 Main Event, plus a $750,000 Mini Main.

For sub-$1,000 Main Event buyers, RunGood gives players several geographic choices. The Barrel Social Club has an $800 Main Event with a $250,000 guarantee, while Caesars New Orleans offers an $800 Main Event with $200,000 guaranteed as part of a longer festival.

For Midwest players, the MSPT Ameristar Poker Open opens the month with a $300,000 guarantee, while the Wisconsin Poker State Championship later in September raises the stakes to a $1 million guarantee.

And for players whose trips can extend into October, both Thunder Valley and the Wynn Fall Classic begin before September ends.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the biggest live poker tournaments in September 2026?

Major September 2026 U.S. poker action includes Venetian DeepStack Extravaganza III, the WPT bestbet Scramble Championship, several WSOP Circuit stops, MSPT events, multiple RunGood Poker Series festivals and tournament series at Wynn Las Vegas.

Which September 2026 tournament has the biggest WSOP Circuit Main Event guarantee?

Among the currently published U.S. September schedules covered here, Texas Card House in Austin advertises a $2 million guarantee for its $1,700 WSOP Circuit Main Event.

When is the WPT bestbet Scramble Championship?

The $5,000 WPT bestbet Scramble Championship is scheduled for September 4–9, 2026 at bestbet Jacksonville in Florida and carries a $1 million guarantee.

Are there major Las Vegas poker tournaments in September 2026?

Yes. The Venetian runs DeepStack Extravaganza III from September 1–27 with more than $1.4 million in advertised guarantees. Wynn's Signature Series continues through September 7, and the Wynn Fall Classic begins September 28 with more than $2 million in advertised guarantees.

Are all September tournament schedules final?

No. Most of the major series in this roundup already have published schedules, but some details remain pending. In particular, WSOP has confirmed the September 17–28 Council Bluffs stop while stating that its detailed tournament schedule will be announced later. Players should always recheck the official organizer before booking travel.

September Gives Live Tournament Players Choices Across the Country

September 2026 is not dominated by one festival or one poker destination. Its strength is the number of legitimate choices available at the same time.

Las Vegas offers long-running Venetian and Wynn schedules. Jacksonville has a $5,000 WPT Championship. Austin and Danville headline a busy WSOP Circuit month. MSPT supplies major Missouri and Wisconsin stops, while RunGood gives regional players multiple opportunities from Kentucky and Louisiana to Missouri and Maryland.

With overlapping dates and several schedules extending across month boundaries, travel planning matters almost as much as tournament selection. Players should use the official schedule links above for last-minute changes and the linked Angry Aces Poker Tournament Guides for deeper coverage of individual stops as September approaches.