Nina Taylor 
For decades, bass fishing fans have asked one question at the end of every season: who is truly the best angler in the world? In 2026, that question finally gets an official answer. World Bass Enterprises is bringing the top 50 professional bass anglers on the planet to Nashville, Tennessee, for a five-day event unlike anything the sport has ever seen. The format is neutral, the stakes are historic, and the prize money sets a new record for the entire sport.
Here is everything you need to know about how the tournament works.
Event Overview
The Champions tournament is organized by World Bass Enterprises (WBE), a company founded specifically to create this championship. The event runs from October 28 through November 1, 2026, across multiple locations in and around Nashville.
| Detail | Information |
| Event Name | The Champions |
| Organizer | World Bass Enterprises (WBE) |
| Dates | October 28 – November 1, 2026 |
| Competition Venue | Old Hickory Lake, Sanders Ferry Park, Hendersonville, Tennessee |
| Expo and Host Hotel | Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, Nashville |
| Total Event Days | Five |
| Competition Days | Three |
| Total Field Size | 52 anglers |
| Total Prize Purse | Over $3.25 million |
| First Place Prize | $1.25 million |
Who Qualifies to Compete
The field consists of 52 anglers total. The core 50 competitors are the top 25 anglers from the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series and the top 25 anglers from Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour. These are the two most prestigious professional bass fishing tours in the United States.
Additionally, World Bass Enterprises introduced an Average Joe Sweepstakes that gives two everyday anglers the chance to compete in the same field as the pros, chasing the same prize money, on the same water. This is the first time a professional bass championship has ever included members of the general public in its competitive field alongside elite-level professionals.
Together, the 52-angler field represents the broadest and most competitive gathering of bass fishing talent ever assembled in a single event.
The Tournament Format
Five Days, Three of Competition
The five-day event is structured to build anticipation across the full week. Not every day involves fishing on Old Hickory Lake. The schedule gives fans a layered experience with pre-tournament activities, competition days, and a final celebration event.
| Day | Date | Activity |
| Day 1 | October 28 | Media Day and Opening Ceremonies at Gaylord Opryland |
| Day 2 | October 29 | Competition Day 1 on Old Hickory Lake |
| Day 3 | October 30 | Competition Day 2 on Old Hickory Lake |
| Day 4 | October 31 | Championship Day (Competition Day 3) on Old Hickory Lake |
| Day 5 | November 1 | Pro-Am Tournament on Percy Priest Lake |
The Five-Fish Scoring Format
The tournament uses a traditional five-fish format. Each angler catches and targets their five heaviest bass during competition hours each day. At the end of the day, those five fish are weighed at the official weigh-in stage at Sanders Ferry Park.
The weight from all three competition days adds up to a cumulative total. The angler with the highest total weight across all three days wins the tournament and takes home the $1.25 million first prize.
This format is the most trusted and widely recognized scoring method in professional bass fishing. It rewards consistency across multiple days rather than a single great performance on one day.
The Neutral Rules Approach
The Champions does not follow the rulebook of either the Bassmaster Elite Series or the Bass Pro Tour. Instead, WBE created a hybrid format that borrows elements from both tours and applies them on neutral ground. This is significant because it means no tour has a structural advantage.
Anglers weigh in their five biggest bass each day, which aligns with the traditional Bassmaster weigh-in model. However, the rules governing technology and equipment ensure fairness for both groups of competitors. Competitors may use forward-facing sonar, but they must follow the limitations agreed upon under the neutral format. This balanced approach ensures the result reflects pure angling skill rather than familiarity with tour-specific rules.
The Championship Day Twist
Days 1 and 2 feature a live, real-time leaderboard. Fans following the competition online or via PPV can see exactly where every angler stands throughout the day.
Championship Day operates differently. On the third and final competition day, organizers hide the leaderboard scores from the public until they complete the final weigh-in. As a result, no one outside the weigh-in stage knows who leads the tournament until officials place the last fish on the scale. The tournament champion then appears live on stage before the full crowd at Sanders Ferry Park.
This element adds genuine drama to the final day and mirrors the atmosphere of major team sports championship events.
Prize Structure
The purse for The Champions is the largest in the history of professional bass fishing. The prize money is fully funded by World Bass Enterprises and its commercial partners. Competing anglers do not pay entry fees.
| Finish | Prize Amount |
| 1st Place | $1,250,000 |
| 2nd Place | $500,000 |
| 3rd Place | $300,000 |
| 4th Place and below | Remaining purse distributed |
| Total Purse | Over $3,250,000 |
For context, both the Bassmaster Classic and the Major League Fishing REDCREST, the two biggest events on their respective tours, award $300,000 to the winner. The Champions first-place prize is more than four times that amount.
The winner also receives The Champion’s Cup, a trophy that will serve as the symbol of the true world bass fishing champion going forward.
The Pro-Am on November 1
After the championship concludes on October 31, the event does not end. On November 1, World Bass Enterprises hosts a Pro-Am competition on Percy Priest Lake. The field includes the top 15 finishers from The Champions tournament alongside legendary anglers, celebrities, and other notable participants.
The Pro-Am is designed as a celebration of the sport and a way to give fans one more day of competition in a lighter, more festive atmosphere. It also serves as the final chapter of the full five-day World Bass Championship Week.
Fan Experience at Sanders Ferry Park
The competition venue at Sanders Ferry Park in Hendersonville is more than a fishing spot during this event. WBE has built a full fan festival around the daily weigh-ins.
Fans can expect:
- Live fireworks shows and a flyover
- Musical performances from Riley Green, Lee Greenwood, Randy Houser, and Trace Adkins, plus a to-be-announced Friday night headline act
- A kids park featuring a petting zoo, bounce houses, casting and flipping contests, and BB gun shoots
- Aquariums, fishing activities for all ages, horseshoe contests, and a beer garden
- Food and beverage vendors throughout the park
- A boat giveaway, with one fan winning a Ranger Z521R bass boat
The official expo takes place at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville and spans 70,000 square feet of booths from leading brands across fishing, hunting, and outdoor sports.
How to Watch
World Bass Enterprises offers a Pay-Per-View streaming option through the official website at worldbassenterprises.com. The PPV pass covers all five days of the event, including Media Day, Opening Ceremonies, all three competition days on Old Hickory Lake with multi-angle live cameras and expert commentary, real-time weigh-in coverage, and the Championship Day live reveal. PPV subscribers also gain access to a real-time leaderboard on Days 1 and 2 before the Championship Day blackout goes into effect.
Conclusion
The World Bass Championship 2026 runs from October 28 through November 1 on Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville, Tennessee, with the fan festival, expo, and host hotel all anchored at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville. The tournament uses a three-day, five-fish cumulative weight format under neutral rules designed to give both Bassmaster and Major League Fishing anglers an equal competitive footing. The 52-angler field includes the top 25 pros from each tour plus two fan sweepstakes winners. A Championship Day leaderboard blackout adds live drama to the final weigh-in, where the first true world bass fishing champion will be crowned in front of thousands of fans and viewers worldwide. The $3.25 million purse, the $1.25 million first-place prize, and the awarding of The Champion’s Cup make this the most significant moment in the history of professional bass fishing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Champions and who runs it?
The Champions is the first-ever world bass fishing championship, organized by World Bass Enterprises (WBE), a company founded in 2026 specifically to create this event. It brings together the top 50 professional bass anglers in the world for a five-day event on Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
What are the exact dates and where does the tournament take place?
The event runs from October 28 to November 1, 2026. Competition takes place on Old Hickory Lake at Sanders Ferry Park in Hendersonville, Tennessee. The official expo, media day, and opening ceremonies are hosted at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville. A Pro-Am finale takes place on Percy Priest Lake on November 1.
How does the five-fish scoring format work?
Each angler catches and weighs their five heaviest bass at the end of each competition day. The weights from all three competition days combine into a cumulative total. The angler with the highest total weight after three days wins the tournament.
What makes the Championship Day format different from the first two competition days?
On Days 1 and 2, the leaderboard runs in real time so fans can follow the standings as they develop. On Championship Day, all scores are hidden until the final weigh-in is complete. The winner is revealed live on stage, creating a dramatic finish that mirrors the atmosphere of a major sports championship event.
How can fans attend or watch the event?
Fans can attend in person at Sanders Ferry Park in Hendersonville, where a full festival experience includes live music, fireworks, food vendors, kids activities, and the daily weigh-in shows. Remote viewers can purchase a Pay-Per-View pass through worldbassenterprises.com for full live coverage of all five days, including multi-angle cameras, real-time leaderboards, weigh-in coverage, and expert commentary.
