The World Series of Poker announced the dates for the return of the live 2021 WSOP festival.

The World Series of Poker has announced its plans for the return of its live, in-person Las Vegas poker festival for 2021. The series is set to take place from Thursday, September 30 through Tuesday, November 23 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel with the first flight of the $10,000 Main Event kicking off on Thursday, November 4.

“This year, more than ever, we embrace our role at the WSOP to deliver memorable experiences and bring this community of poker lovers back together,” said Ty Stweart, WSOP Executive Director.

While a complete schedule was not released with the announcement, the opening weekend is expected to feature a special charity event to benefit frontline health workers, a $25,000 HORSE event, and a $5 million guaranteed No Limit Hold’em tournament dubbed “The Reunion.”

The $10,000 Main Event will have four starting flights – one per day from November 4-7. Day 2 for the first two flights will be on Monday, November 8, and the final two flights will reconvene for Day 2 on Tuesday, November 9. The entire field will play together for the first time on November 10 and play down to a winner, who will be crowned on November 17.

All of the laid-out dates for the series are subject to change and will hinge on both state and regulatory approvals. The series will also be following any and all specific COVID-19 safety protocols, such as social distancing and capacity limits, that may be in place.

“In 2021, the theme is, get vaccinated and get back to Vegas,” Stewart said.

WSOP Online

In addition to the return of the live festival, 2020’s expanded WSOP Online series is set to return in 2021, with the first gold bracelet event taking place on WSOP.com in the U.S. on Thursday, July 1.

The full schedule of domestic online gold bracelet events will be released on April 15, however, it is confirmed that the series will wrap up with a $1,000 Online Championship Event.

It is also expected that there will be a 2021 WSOP Online international gold bracelet series, as there was in 2020, that will be held on GGPoker.

WSOP Europe

King’s Casino in Rozvadov is also preparing for the return of the World Series of Poker Europe which is set to take place from Friday, November 19 through Tuesday, December 8.

“We hope and anticipate travel restrictions will ease by the fall,” said Stewart. “It’s important to us that we have an excelled tournament schedule available to our European players.”

The series looks to have 15 live gold bracelet events, including a €10,000 buy-in WSOPE Main Event and a €50,000 High Roller.

Like the fall WSOP series, the start of WSOPE is also subject to regulatory approval and COVID protocols.