Sunday Million Live 2026 Returns to In-Person Format with €1 Million Guaranteed
The Sunday Million Live 2026 will be held from October 2 to 12 at the PokerStars Live Room in the Casino di Campione d’Italia, with a minimum prize pool of €1 million and an accessible buy-in of €250.
Key Takeaways
- Sunday Million Live 2026 will take place from October 2 to 12 at the Casino di Campione d’Italia.
- PokerStars guarantees a minimum prize of €1 million with a buy-in of €250.
- The in-person event returns after nine years and coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Sunday Million online.
- The structure includes six initial flights and culminates in a final day on October 12.
- The anniversary online edition offers $5 million guaranteed with buy-ins starting from $109.
PokerStars will bring back its iconic Sunday Million tournament to an in-person format for the first time in nine years. The Sunday Million Live 2026 guarantees at least €1 million and will take place in the PokerStars Live Room at the Casino di Campione d’Italia, on the shores of Lake Lugano, from October 2 to 12. This return coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Sunday Million online, reinforcing the brand's celebration calendar.
Structure and Format of the Sunday Million Live 2026
The in-person tournament will offer a buy-in of €250 and a starting stack of 50,000 chips per player. Participants will have six opportunities to qualify in the starting flights, scheduled every day from Friday, October 2, to Friday, October 9, at 2 p.m. Each flight will continue until only 12.5% of the field remains.
The subsequent phases of the tournament are distributed as follows:
- Day 2 (Saturday, October 10): Split into Day 2A and Day 2B
- Day 3 (Sunday, October 11)
- Final Day (Monday, October 12)
The PokerStars Live Room, operated by PokerStars in collaboration with the Casino di Campione d’Italia, offers a professional environment by Lake Lugano, hosting this special edition after the last in-person version held in 2017.
The Sunday Million in the Context of Online and Live Poker
The online Sunday Million, a weekly reference for PokerStars for 20 years, continues with a special anniversary edition. The online edition of 2026, celebrating both the 20th anniversary of the tournament and the 25th anniversary of the site, guarantees $5 million and has already started on the PokerStars platform. Initial phases with a buy-in of $109 are available daily; Phase 2 begins on September 6.
The transition of the Sunday Million to the live format is rare. Since its inception, only one in-person edition occurred in 2017. The 2026 edition represents a unique opportunity for players to test their skills in person at an event historically linked to the online environment.
Sunday Million Live 2026: Details and Expectations
The success of anniversary online editions—where guaranteed figures have occasionally been exceeded—generates expectations about the final prize pool of this year's Sunday Million Live. However, PokerStars has confirmed the guarantee of €1 million as a base, highlighting its appeal to players of all levels due to its relatively low buy-in in the main live events circuit.
The recently reopened PokerStars Live Room in Campione d’Italia, equipped with high-end infrastructure, reinforces its position as a host for major international tournaments by welcoming the return of the Sunday Million to an in-person format.
"The list of winners of the online Sunday Million is not long; even fewer have won it live." — Poker.org
Celebrations and Context of the Poker Industry in 2026
The Sunday Million Live 2026 is part of PokerStars' strategy to commemorate two milestones: the 20th anniversary of the flagship online tournament and the 25th anniversary of PokerStars as a global operator. The site has organized themed tournaments, both online and live, with accessible structures aimed at maximizing participation and the global visibility of the brand.
In the live gaming ecosystem, integrating iconic events from the digital space presents a business opportunity for both the Casino di Campione d’Italia and PokerStars, further strengthening the value proposition of physical poker circuits in Europe.
The Evolution of the Sunday Million: From Online to Live
The fact that the Sunday Million will be played again in a real venue nine years after the last live edition underscores the tournament's sustained appeal and PokerStars' ability to adapt to current player demands. The conditions—low buy-in, phased event structure, and high guaranteed prize—position this tournament as one of the major events on the 2026 agenda in Europe.
Images courtesy of Rational Intellectual Holdings Ltd.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where and when will the Sunday Million Live 2026 be held?
The Sunday Million Live 2026 will take place from October 2 to 12 at the PokerStars Live Room in the Casino di Campione d’Italia, Italy, next to Lake Lugano.
What is the guaranteed prize for the Sunday Million Live 2026?
The guaranteed prize pool is at least €1 million, a figure that reflects the historical status of the event and its appeal to players of different levels.
What is the structure of the Sunday Million Live 2026 tournament?
The structure includes six initial flights from October 2 to 9, Day 2 divided into A and B, Day 3 on October 11, and a final day on October 12, with an initial stack of 50,000 chips and a buy-in of €250.
What else is happening alongside the online Sunday Million?
The online Sunday Million celebrates its 20th anniversary on PokerStars with $5 million guaranteed and buy-ins of $109 for Phase 1, as part of the 25-year anniversary event program of the site.
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About the author
Sofía Carrasco
Poker Correspondent
Sofía Carrasco covers live and online poker — tournament series from the WSOP and EPT to the daily room grind, promotions, and the industry moves behind them. The reports keep every score, pot, and player name exactly as the record shows, and follow the story past the final hand: who qualified, what the structure rewarded, and how the field is shifting. For player moves, software, and regulation across the poker economy, Sofía Carrasco is the first read.
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