Circa Football Contests Raise the Bar Again
Circa Sports has announced the details of its 2026 football contests, and once again, the Las Vegas operation is setting the industry standard.
The headline number is massive: $30 million in guaranteed prize money across the contest portfolio. The biggest piece is Circa Survivor, which carries a $20 million guarantee. Circa Million VIII is back with $6 million guaranteed, while the remaining prize pool sits with Circa Grandissimo, the ultra-high-stakes contest with a $100,000 entry fee that is expected to grow again this year.
These contests have become the gold standard because they combine huge prize pools, clean formats, and the old-school Las Vegas contest feel that serious football bettors still crave.
Circa Million is simple and brutal: pick five NFL sides against the spread each week, and the best record over 90 selections wins. It rewards consistency, discipline, and the ability to beat a number week after week. Last year’s contest was won by COYNEHOP, who finished with a tremendous 60-29-1 record against the spread.
Circa Survivor is a different animal. One team each week, no repeats, and a loss or tie eliminates the entry. This year’s schedule adds even more strategy with 11 international games and a Wednesday night game before Thanksgiving. The Survivor contest will now feature a five-game Thanksgiving holiday week, while Christmas Day counts as its own standalone week. Overall, that creates a 20-week Survivor schedule.
Another major change: contestants will now be able to buy up to 10 entries in both Circa Million and Circa Survivor, up from the previous limit of five. That should only increase participation, strategy, and prize-pool energy.
The contests are based in Nevada, and picks must be submitted inside the state. However, proxies are available to assist out-of-state players, which allows contestants from all over the world to participate while still following Nevada rules.
Last year showed exactly why Circa Survivor has become legendary. Five winners survived the full season and split $18.71 million.
This is Las Vegas football contest season at its highest level: massive money, sharp players, brutal formats, and no room for excuses.
