WPF Ladies Weekend Expands to 14 Countries for 2026 Edition

The World Poker Federation (WPF) Ladies Weekend returns from October 16-18, 2026, increasing its coverage to at least 14 countries with a schedule that blends women-only poker tournaments, bootcamps, and networking sessions. This marks the second year of the initiative, as the WPF and its local partners seek to address longstanding gender imbalance in poker participation worldwide.

WPF Ladies Weekend: Global Reach and Goals

WPF Ladies Weekend was established in 2025 to encourage more women to play poker. After a debut spanning ten countries and nearly 2,000 players—including over 500 in Brazil—the event’s scale is growing. In 2026, events are confirmed in the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, Taiwan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Estonia, France, Hong Kong, Israel, Liechtenstein, Nigeria, the Philippines, and South Africa. According to WPF’s Roberto Lifschitz, organizers work with local federations to host and promote the tournaments, seeking feedback to better understand obstacles facing female participation. Media engagement is a major component at each stop, with the goal of presenting poker as open and inclusive. “We create them to boost poker locally, and to present poker, especially for women, in a different manner, in an open environment,” Lifschitz stated regarding WPF’s ethos.

United States: Multiple Venues and Guest Speakers

The United States will host several events across key states. Notable venues and hosts include:

• Nevada: Bellagio Las Vegas, featuring speakers Jamie Kerstetter and Emma Hodge
• California: Stars Casino Tracy
• Florida: Oxford Downs Summerfield, One Eyed Jacks in Sarasota, and Bonita Springs Poker Room
• Kentucky: The OG Clubhouse Oak Grove
• Ohio: Empire Social Lounge Toledo
• Pennsylvania: Rivers Casino Philadelphia
• Texas: Palace Poker in Grand Prairie

Arizona and New Mexico are also expected to add events before the festival begins. Each state’s venue will offer not only main events but additional community activities, increasing player engagement.

UK Edition: Spotlight on the Hippodrome Women’s Classic

London’s Hippodrome Casino is the UK’s sole WPF Ladies Weekend venue in 2026, hosting a £20,000 GTD tournament and cash game tables. Poker ambassadors Marle Spragg and Victoria Livschitz headline the guest list, with Spragg scheduled to participate in livestreamed cash games, the £300 Hippodrome Women’s Classic tournament, and a Saturday strategy session. “I’m mostly excited to just chat poker with women. There aren’t many of us in the game and usually you’re just chatting hands with men, so it’s a special opportunity for all of us,” noted Spragg. Jennifer Shahade, PokerStars ambassador and chess champion, will join by Zoom for a masterclass session, sharing insights from her 2025 Women’s Summer Festival win at the Hippodrome and from her book Thinking Sideways.

Shahade’s recent wins include the PokerStars Open Philly Live Ladies Event in March. She emphasized the benefit of stream experiences for women: > "They allow women to get comfortable under the bright lights and hole card cameras, which will make us that much more confident when we play for an EPT or WSOP title." — Jennifer Shahade

Evaluating Success: Progress for Women in Poker

Quantifying progress for gender equity in poker extends beyond turnout statistics. Still, player feedback and rising female visibility support the WPF’s approach. The initiative aligns with broader recent successes: Shiina Okamoto appearing on the European Poker Tour and World Series of Poker, Kristen Foxen’s $1.7M WSOP $25,000 High Roller win in 2025 (the first woman in five years to win an open WSOP event), and Leo Margets’ 7th-place finish and $1.5M prize at the 2025 WSOP Main Event—just the second woman to reach a final table in three decades. Xuan Liu narrowly missed a second Triton Poker win in Jeju in 2026.

When asked about current role models in women’s poker, Marle Spragg pointed to "Krissy Foxen, Cecile Ticherfatine, and Leo Margets." Shahade praised "Julie Cornelius for her table presence and Xuan Liu for her historic accomplishments." These endorsements reflect a landscape where women are not just participating but excelling at the highest levels.

Looking Forward: Ambitions for a 'Champion of Champions' Event

While the goal remains to someday unite local champions for an international showdown, WPF’s Roberto Lifschitz acknowledged the complexity of aligning champions from diverse buy-ins and field sizes. He hopes for a future global contest: > "We want to have all the local champions playing together at some point on a global stage," commented Lifschitz.

For many, WPF Ladies Weekend signals a promising chapter—increased visibility, engagement, and momentum for female poker players in every region. The 2026 edition’s expanded reach reflects a longer-term commitment to inclusive growth — and offers new opportunities for networking, skill-building, and competition.

Further poker event coverage and industry developments can be found in the site’s news archive.