The Global Poker Awards are coming back. After skipping a year, the Global Poker Index (GPI) and The Hendon Mob have announced that the seventh edition of the ceremony will take place on December 4, 2026, at the Baha Mar resort in the Bahamas, timed to coincide with WSOP Paradise. It is the first ceremony since 2019 not to be held in Las Vegas, and the category list has been reshaped around players rather than media. Here is a full look at what is changing, who is eligible, and what the shift says about where poker's attention economy is heading.
What Was Announced
According to PokerNews, the key facts are:
- Date: December 4, 2026
- Location: Baha Mar resort, Bahamas, the new home of WSOP Paradise
- Edition: the seventh Global Poker Awards
- Organizers: the Global Poker Index and The Hendon Mob
- Background: the 2026 ceremony had been canceled, which organizers announced in November 2025, citing the time needed to prepare and produce the event
WSOP Paradise was previously held for several years at Atlantis Paradise Island, so the move to Baha Mar is part of a larger relocation of the festival. Since 2019 the Global Poker Awards had been held at PokerGO Studio inside ARIA in Las Vegas. The awards have a long history; they began in Europe in 2001 and moved to Los Angeles in 2014.
The 11 Categories
The updated list contains 11 awards:
- Most Feared Live Tournament Player
- Most Feared Live Tournament Mixed Games Player
- Most Feared Cash Game Player
- Best Table Mate
- Best Villain
- Breakout Player
- Fans Choice: Most Entertaining Player
- Best Live Streamer
- Best Vlogger
- Best Final Table Performance
- GPI Poker ICON
Several categories are new or recast, including Best Villain, Best Table Mate and the three "Most Feared" awards. At the same time, a number of media-oriented awards were dropped: Best Podcast, Best Poker Book, Best Industry Person and Best Media Content are gone. Two creator categories, Best Live Streamer and Best Vlogger, were retained.
Organizers said in their announcement: "The renewed focus on player awards reflects the outstanding performances across the international poker circuit." The reporting does not explain how winners are chosen beyond naming "Fans Choice" as one category, so details of the voting process should be confirmed with the organizers.
What the Category Changes Signal
Players are the product. The 2025 edition had several awards for content creators, such as Rising Star in Content and Best Media Content. The new list shifts the emphasis to people at the table. "Most Feared" and "Best Villain" are categories built around personality and competitive reputation, which resonate with fans of streamed cash games and televised tournaments.
Live-streamed poker is recognized. Best Live Streamer and Best Vlogger acknowledge the influence of creators who build audiences outside traditional tournament broadcasts. This reflects a sector where Hustler Casino Live, PokerGO and individual streamers have changed how people discover the game.
Cash games get a category. The "Most Feared Cash Game Player" award recognizes a segment of poker that rarely gets equal billing with tournaments. Given how many high-stakes cash games now stream publicly, that makes sense. Our cash games guide explains why this format has such a loyal following.
Mixed games get their own spotlight. A separate Most Feared Live Tournament Mixed Games Player award is a nod to the growing mixed-game community. If you want to learn the formats, our Omaha overview is a good starting point, and the broader poker strategy hub covers fundamentals.
Last Time Around
The sixth annual edition took place in February 2025. Winners included Adrian Mateos for Players Choice for Toughest Opponent, Abby Merk for Rising Star in Content, Nikki Limo for Best Media Content (Short-Form Video) and Alejandro Lococo for Most Entertaining Player. PokerNews was a finalist in four categories: Best Written Content, Best Media Content (Photo), Best Podcast and Best Live Tournament Reporter.
Those past winners offer a window into what the awards value: Mateos's recognition as the toughest opponent speaks to long-term competitive reputation, and Lococo's Most Entertaining Player award shows how personality drives fan engagement. It will be interesting to see whether the new "Most Feared" categories produce similar names or open the door to new ones.
Why the Bahamas, and Why WSOP Paradise?
Holding the ceremony during WSOP Paradise places it at the center of one of the year's biggest gatherings of players. Anyone who wants to attend can combine the ceremony with the festival's events. For the WSOP, hosting at Baha Mar is a continuation of the festival's relocation within the Bahamas. If you track the series, our WSOP schedule and 2026 WSOP results pages are helpful references.
For the awards, the location is also symbolic. The ceremony has long been tied to Las Vegas and the PokerGO Studio, and moving to a different location signals a willingness to experiment with the format. A resort setting, a ready audience of players, and a year's absence all add up to an event that will be watched closely.
Who Might Be in the Conversation?
Organizers have not published nominee lists in the reporting we have, so any guesses should be treated as speculation. What we can say is that 2026 was a year with many storylines to draw on: Lucas Jumalon's WSOP Main Event victory, Daniel Negreanu's eighth bracelet, and the continued prominence of high-stakes streams. We will update this article when official nominations are published.
What This Means for Players and Fans
Awards shape reputation. For professional players, being named "Most Feared" is a marketing asset. For fans, it is a convenient way to follow the people driving the game.
Fans may get a say. With a "Fans Choice" category, there is at least one award where audience engagement matters. Check the official GPI and Hendon Mob channels for voting information.
Creators remain in the picture. The retention of Best Live Streamer and Best Vlogger suggests that organizers believe creators are central to poker's growth, even as other media categories are retired.
Poker media is shifting. The removal of podcast, book and media categories reflects a narrower scope for this edition. Whether the categories return later is unknown.
The Bottom Line
The return of the Global Poker Awards, with a new location and a player-first category list, is a notable moment for the poker community. It also coincides with a busy winter schedule that includes the WPT World Championship in Las Vegas and WSOP Paradise. For players looking to sharpen their own skills before the festivals, our tournaments page and poker glossary are good places to start.
This article is based on PokerNews reporting published October 29, 2026. Nominee lists, voting details and broadcast plans have not been confirmed in the sources we reviewed.