The Hippodrome Casino in central London will host the United Kingdom’s only stop in the World Poker Federation’s 2026 Ladies Weekend, a synchronised international series of women-focused poker events running from Oct. 16 to 18. Fourteen countries have been confirmed, spanning Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Estonia, France, Hong Kong, Israel, Liechtenstein, Nigeria, the Philippines, South Africa, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The London programme includes a women-only livestreamed cash game, a poker bootcamp with PokerStars ambassador Marle Spragg and Jennifer Shahade, and the £300 Hippodrome Women’s Classic. The tournament carries a £20,000 guaranteed prize pool.
Spragg is scheduled to play in the streamed cash game on Friday, Oct. 16, lead a strategy session on Saturday and enter the Women’s Classic on Sunday. Victoria Livschitz is also due to attend. Shahade will speak about her earlier Women’s Summer Festival victory at the Hippodrome, including how to approach a women’s event with strong opposition and become comfortable on a streamed table.
Ladies Weekend is returning for a second edition after launching in 2025. The WPF Women’s Committee created the initiative to bring women together at poker tables in different countries during the same weekend, while broadening women’s participation in poker and the wider industry. The federation works with local federations, organisers and venues rather than operating each stop itself, allowing local programmes to set their own buy-ins, structures and supporting activities.
That model means the international weekend does not have a single fixed schedule. Alongside tournaments, stops may offer training, talks, cash games, networking and social events. The 2026 programme is also set to include bootcamps, round-table discussions and networking opportunities, while organisers use events to seek feedback on potential barriers to women playing poker and to encourage local media coverage.
The inaugural edition covered more than 15 cities across 10 countries on five continents, according to SoMuchPoker, generating more than 2,200 tournament entries from more than 1,500 women. Roberto Lifschitz, a WPF representative, separately put participation at about 2,000 players across 17 or 18 stops. The first weekend also included panels, workshops and other activities focused on leadership, education and inclusion.
The WPF is still aiming to stage a global “champion of champions” event that would bring local champions together. The Hippodrome Women’s Classic is scheduled for Oct. 18.
