Circa Resort and Casino to host annual Ultimate Contest Weekend

26 June 2026

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Circa Sports’ highly anticipated Ultimate Contest Weekend will return to Circa Resort & Casino in downtown Las Vegas 27-29 August, bringing contest entrants of the record-breaking Circa Survivor, Circa Million VIII and Circa Grandissimo three days of exclusive events, entertainment and competition.

As Circa Sports continues to raise the bar with a historic $30 million, no rake prize pool for the 2026 contests, entrants can enjoy exclusive parties, live Radio Row broadcasts, expert panels, a blackjack tournament and more during the ultimate football season kickoff.

Ultimate Contest Weekend will feature the following events and festivities:

Thursday, 27 August

- Radio Row in Circa’s Galaxy Ballroom, featuring live broadcasts throughout the day.
- Reception at BarCanada in Circa’s sister property the D Las Vegas from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Friday, 28 August

- Radio Row in the Galaxy Ballroom, featuring live broadcasts throughout the day.
- Open bar at Circa’s year-round pool ampitheater, Stadium Swim, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

- Guests must be registered with at least one entry to recieve an open bar wristband and access to the private event space.

- Blackjack Tournament from 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.

• Guests must be registered with at least one entry to be eligible to participate.

- Legacy Club Mixer from 8 p.m. – 10 p.m.

• Guests must be registerd with at least one entry to recieve a free drink ticket.

Saturday, 29 August

- Mike Palm’s Football Season Preview Panel: Hosted by Circa Sports Vice President of Operations, Mike Palm, guests can listen to a variety of panelists speak on the contests and upcoming football season, along with participating in a Q&A. This event is free and open to the general public from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Proxy services also will be available to help with out-of-state registrations. Attendees must be 21 years of age.

For the 2026-27 football season, Circa Survivor returns with a guaranteed $20 million prize awarded to the last entry standing. Circa Million VIII will once again offer a guaranteed $6 million prize pool, including a $1 million first-place prize and the coveted Circa Sports Blue Jacket. Returning for its second year, the ultra-premium Circa Grandissimo contest features a $100,000 entry fee and a guaranteed $4 million prize for the final surviving entrant. All three contests remain entirely no rake, ensuring every dollar beyond the guaranteed prize pools is returned to participants and further enhances the potential winnings.

Circa Survivor
$20 million is guaranteed for the last entry standing for Circa Survivor. Picks consist of up to 20 legs throughout the year, one for every week of the football season plus two special weeks. Each week, participants will choose a team to win straight up, but the player cannot pick the same team twice for the duration of the season. Thanksgiving Eve/Day/Black Friday and Christmas Eve/Day will each be considered their own contest weeks.

Entries are $1,000 each, with a maximum of 10 entries per participant. An entrant can purchase up to 10 additional entries if they lose their original entries on the opening Wednesday night or Thursday game. All entrants will also receive a Circa Survivor hat.

Entries are eliminated from the contest by selecting a team that subsequently loses or ties its game that week. If more than one entry remains after 20 legs, the pool will be split equally amongst all the entries that successfully submitted a selection during the leg. An entrant cannot go into the Saturday sign-up deadline with more than 10 active entries. Each team can only be selected once each entry during the contest.

During the season, picks are due at 4 p.m. PST every Saturday or before kickoff or the selected games. For Thanksgiving Eve/Day and Black Friday, picks are due by 4 p.m. PST on Wednesday of that week. For Christmas Eve/Day, picks are due by 4 p.m. PST on Thursday, 24 December.

Circa Million VIII
Circa Million VIII is no rake, and any extra fees go into the quarter- and full-season prize pools. $6 million is guaranteed in total prizes with a $1 million first place prize. $3.65 million will be allocated amongst places two through 100 and $300,000 of prizes per quarter will be awarded every four to five weeks. The last place booby prize winner will receive $100,000 and second to last place booby prize winner will receive $50,000.

Each player will make five professional football picks against the spread each week via the Circa Sports Nevada mobile app. One point will be awarded for each correct selection and one-half point for each push. Each entry for Circa Million VIII is $1,000, with a new-this-year maximum entry of 10 per person. All entrants will receive a Circa Million VIII hat.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the top 100 places for the season, the top five places within each quarter of the season, the last place and second last place full season score and the last place score within each quarter of the season.

Contest point spreads will be posted every Thursday around 10 a.m. PST, with selections due by 4 p.m. Saturday. During Thanksgiving week, point spreads will be posted at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Circa Grandissimo
Circa Grandissimo will feature a $4 million guaranteed payout, plus more if entries exceed this amount. Circa Grandissimo is no rake and the last remaining entry wins the entire prize pool. Entries are $100,000 each, with a maximum of two entries per participant. An entrant can purchase up to two additional entries if they lose their original entries on the opening Wednesday night or Thursday game.

Circa Grandissimo will consist of up to 20 legs throughout the year, one for every week of the football season plus two special weeks. Each week, participants will choose a team to win straight up, but the player cannot pick the same team twice for the duration of the season. Thanksgiving Eve/Day/Black Friday and Christmas Eve/Day will each be considered their own contest weeks.

Entries are eliminated from the contest by selecting a team that subsequently loses or ties its game that week. If more than one entry remains after 20 legs, the pool will be split equally amongst all the entries that successfully submitted a selection during the leg. An entrant cannot go into the Saturday sign-up deadline with more than two active entries. Each team can only be selected once each entry during the contest.

During the season, picks are due at 4 p.m. PST every Saturday or before kickoff or the selected games. For Thanksgiving Eve/Day and Black Friday, picks are due by 4 p.m. PST on Wednesday of that week. For Christmas Eve/Day, picks are due by 4 p.m. PST on Thursday, 24 December.

All contests will run through 10 January 2027.