In a major milestone for European live poker, the iconic La Notte Degli Assi festival is making a grand return to Italy, hosted at the breathtaking Casino di Venezia from October 11–19, 2026.
Headlined by a massive €1,000,000 Guaranteed Main Event, the festival brings high-stakes action back to one of the most magnificent cardroom settings in the world.
The World’s Oldest Casino
Originally founded in 1638, the Casino di Venezia holds the undisputed title of the world’s oldest casino. It relocated in the 1950s to its current residence, a 15th-century Renaissance palace on the Grand Canal, which served as a home to Venetian Doges and was the final residence of composer Richard Wagner.
In addition to its deep roots in classical gaming like Chemin de Fer and French Roulette, the venue has occasionally opened its grand halls to top-tier high-stakes poker.
From 2009 to 2013, WPT Venice took place in the historic Italian city, with Rocco Palumbo the most recent WPT Venice champion. More recently, the palace played host to the PokerGO Tour, drawing prominent international high rollers to compete in high-stakes No-Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha, and Short Deck events.
The €1,000,000 GTD Main Event
The focal point of the series is the Main Event which features a multi-flight structure designed for both regular buy-in starters and late-stage contenders. The early flights (Days 1A–1D) run from October 11 to 12 with a discounted €400 buy-in, before transitioning to the €600 prime flights (Days 1E–1I & Turbo) from October 14 to 17. Every Day 1 entry grants players a deep starting stack of 200,000 chips with 30-minute levels (15 minutes for the Saturday Turbo). Players surviving to Day 2 on October 17, Day 3 on October 18, and the Final Table on October 19 will see the blind levels extend to 45 and 60 minutes, ensuring plenty of room for deep-stack play down the stretch.
The schedule features also features a €1,500 High Roller event. Day 1 kicks off on Wednesday, October 14 at 6:00 pm, offering a generous 250,000 starting stack and 35-minute levels with 12 levels of late registration. Players who make the cut will return to compete for the title on the High Roller Final Day, scheduled for Thursday, October 15 at 3:00 pm.
Satellites and Side Events
Players looking to qualify for a fraction of the cost have multiple routes into the key events.
On Tuesday, October 13 at 3:00 pm, a Freeroll Satellite offers 12 guaranteed seats with optional €20 rebuys. Later that evening at 9:00 pm, a €180 Satellite gives players a direct path into the €1,500 High Roller. The satellite options peak on Wednesday, October 14 at 3:00 pm with the Mega Satellite, awarding 25 guaranteed tickets for a €60 buy-in with €40 rebuys.
Alongside the satellite path, players can jump into non-Main Event action with a €150 NLH Side Event on Tuesday evening at 7:00 pm.
2026 La Notte Degli Assi Venice Full Schedule
Will Shillibier
Managing Editor