The 2026 Big Cat Poker Run is scheduled for July 31 through August 1, 2026, in California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, bringing performance boats, cruisers, and Delta boating enthusiasts together for a full weekend of poker run activities, waterfront parties, live entertainment, and charity fundraising. Hosted by the Discovery Bay Lions Club, the annual event has become one of Northern California’s best-known summer poker run weekends.

Centered around Discovery Bay Marina, the Big Cat Poker Run welcomes all types of boaters and continues to attract offshore performance boats, catamarans, center consoles, cruisers, and recreational family boats from throughout California and neighboring western states. Organizers describe the event as a boating-focused social weekend designed to raise money for local charities while celebrating Delta boating culture.

The 2026 event schedule begins Thursday evening with a Sponsor Appreciation Night hosted at the Discovery Bay Yacht Club featuring cocktails, dinner, dancing, and sponsor recognition activities. Friday’s activities include a lunch run and guided Delta tour followed by the official Welcome Party at Discovery Bay Marina later that evening.

Saturday’s poker run activities begin with breakfast and onsite registration before the official driver’s meeting and morning departure for the first poker run stop. Organizers stated that participants will follow one of two route options depending on boat type and performance capabilities. The shorter route is designed for slower recreational boats and travels from Discovery Bay to Sugar Barge Resort and Windmill Cove before returning to Discovery Bay. The longer route is intended for larger and faster boats and includes a run from Discovery Bay to Pittsburg Marina and Windmill Cove before returning to the marina for final festivities.

The event concludes Saturday evening with poker hand scoring, dinner, live entertainment, and the official afterparty back at Discovery Bay Marina. Organizers noted that all venues throughout the weekend include live music and social gatherings designed to create a relaxed, community-oriented boating atmosphere.

Tickets for the 2026 Big Cat Poker Run are priced at $200 per person and include Friday’s Welcome Party dinner, Saturday breakfast, seated lunch during the poker run, Saturday evening dinner, one official event T-shirt, one event hat, and one poker hand. Additional poker hands are available for $50 each.

According to the Discovery Bay Lions Club, proceeds from the Big Cat Poker Run help support charitable programs and community initiatives serving local families and residents throughout the Discovery Bay area. Organizers continue to promote the event as one of the premier boating weekends in Northern California’s Delta region.

Additional registration details, route maps, lodging information, and event schedules are available through BigCatPokerRun.org.