2026 No Limit Hold'em Championships — Christchurch Casino
3 – 6 Dec 2026 · Christchurch Casino, New Zealand
Christchurch Casino's flagship tournament week, four events across four days from Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 December 2026. Every event starts at 12.30pm and every event allows one re-entry, although the cut-off differs by format — the deeper the structure, the earlier re-entry closes.
The week runs Turbo on Thursday at NZ$550, the Friday Feature at NZ$1,100, the Main Event — billed as The Christchurch Masters — on Saturday at NZ$1,600 with a 40,000 starting stack, and the Big Bounty on Sunday at NZ$750 with NZ$350 bounties. Monday 7 December is held in reserve in case an event does not finish on its own day, and the casino has said the Main Event will resume at 12.30pm on Sunday 6 December if it has not played to a conclusion on the Saturday.
One thing to know before planning a trip: as of the schedule read on 17 October 2026, all seats into the Main Event, the Friday Feature and the Big Bounty have been allocated. The casino is keeping alternate lists by email rather than selling further entries, and the long-running satellite programme is now paying the cash equivalent of a Main Event seat instead of the seat itself. Buy-ins above are as published by the casino and no prize-pool guarantee has been announced.
Schedule
| Date | Event | Buy-in | Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Dec 2026 | NLHC Turbo | NZ$550 | — |
| 4 Dec 2026 | NLHC Friday Feature | NZ$1,100 | — |
| 5 Dec 2026 | NLHC Main Event — The Christchurch Masters | NZ$1,600 | — |
| 6 Dec 2026 | NLHC Big Bounty | NZ$750 | — |
Qualify online from New Zealand
Partner rooms run satellites to live festivals like this one. Available from New Zealand:
Frequently asked questions
When are the 2026 No Limit Hold'em Championships?
Thursday 3 December to Sunday 6 December 2026 at Christchurch Casino, with Monday 7 December held as a reserve day. Every event starts at 12.30pm.
Can I still buy in?
As the schedule stood on 17 October 2026, seats into the Main Event, Friday Feature and Big Bounty had all been allocated and the casino was taking names for alternate lists by email rather than selling further entries.
What is the Main Event buy-in and stack?
NZ$1,600 (NZ$1,475 plus NZ$125) for a 40,000 starting stack, with one re-entry allowed up to the end of the second break, before level 9.
What happens if an event runs long?
Monday 7 December is a reserve day. The casino has said the Main Event will resume at 12.30pm on Sunday 6 December if it does not finish on Saturday 5 December.