The 2026 PDC World Darts Championship is underway at Alexandra Palace in London, with recently crowned world number one Luke Littler returning as the defending champion. The sport’s flagship event once again brings together the biggest names in darts alongside emerging talents from around the world.
This year’s tournament marks a historic milestone, with a record 128 players taking part – an increase of 32 from last year. The expanded field includes five players from the Women’s Series, also the highest number ever to feature at the World Championship, underlining darts’ continued growth and global reach.
Littler, just 18 years old, is one of nine previous world champions in the draw. He began his title defence in commanding fashion, defeating Lithuania’s Darius Labanauskas 3–0 on the opening night of the competition.
When Does the 2026 World Darts Championship Take Place?
The tournament began on Thursday, 11 December 2025, with an opening evening session featuring four first-round matches.
From there, the competition follows a packed schedule:
- Most days feature two sessions (afternoon and evening), with four matches per session
- A three-day Christmas break runs from 24 to 26 December
- There is an additional rest day on 31 December
- Match numbers reduce in later rounds as matches become longer
Key Dates
- Start date: 11 December 2025
- Semi-finals: Friday, 2 January 2026 (evening session)
- Final: Saturday, 3 January 2026 (evening session)
The final will decide who lifts the Sid Waddell Trophy and claims darts’ biggest prize.
Draw and Seedings Explained
The top 32 ranked players were seeded for the 2026 tournament. In a change from recent years, all seeded players entered in the first round, rather than receiving byes into round two.
The draw is split into four quarters, each containing a mix of seeded stars, qualifiers, and debutants.
Notable First-Round Results
- Luke Littler (1) bt Darius Labanauskas 3–0
- Stephen Bunting (4) bt Sebastian Bialecki 3–2
- Luke Humphries (2) bt Ted Evetts 3–1
- Peter Wright (30) bt Noa-Lynn van Leuven 3–0
- Gary Anderson (14) bt Adam Hunt 3–2
Several high-profile players, including Michael van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price, James Wade, and Raymond van Barneveld, are still to begin their campaigns.
What Is the Prize Money at the World Darts Championship?
The 2026 event features a record-breaking £5 million prize fund, making it the most lucrative tournament in darts history.
Prize Breakdown
- Winner: £1,000,000
- Runner-up: £400,000
- Semi-finalists: £200,000
- Quarter-finalists: £100,000
- Fourth round: £60,000
- Third round: £35,000
- Second round: £25,000
- First round: £15,000
Any player who hits a nine-darter will earn a £60,000 bonus, while one lucky fan in attendance will also receive £60,000, alongside a donation to Prostate Cancer UK.
Who Is Favourite to Win the 2026 World Darts Championship?
Defending champion Luke Littler enters the tournament as the clear favourite after winning six major finals in 2025. His consistency, scoring power, and composure have established him as the sport’s dominant force despite his age.
Close behind is Luke Humphries, the former world number one and 2024 world champion, who has faced Littler in multiple major finals over the past year.
Three-time champion Michael van Gerwen remains a major contender, aiming to reclaim the title he last won in 2019, while younger players such as Josh Rock and Gian van Veen are widely tipped for deep runs after breaking into the world’s top 12.
Which Women Are Competing in the Tournament?
Five women qualified for the 2026 World Darts Championship – a tournament record.
- Beau Greaves, the Women’s Series winner, faces Daryl Gurney and is hoping to become only the second woman to win a match at the event
- Fallon Sherrock, famous for her historic wins in 2019, returns once again
- Lisa Ashton, the Women’s Matchplay champion, was beaten 3–0 by Michael Smith
- Noa-Lynn van Leuven and Gemma Hayter also qualified through the series
Greaves qualified independently via the Development Tour, allowing additional places for women further down the rankings.
What Is the Match Format?
Matches are played in a set format, rather than a straight race to legs.
- Each set is best of five legs
- Players must win by two clear legs only if the deciding set reaches 2–2
Round Formats
- First & second rounds: Best of five sets
- Third & fourth rounds: Best of seven sets
- Quarter-finals: Best of nine sets
- Semi-finals: Best of 11 sets
- Final: Best of 13 sets
Previous World Darts Champions
Legendary Englishman Phil Taylor remains the most successful player in World Championship history, winning 14 titles.
The past five years have produced five different champions, highlighting the competitiveness of the modern era.
Recent Winners
- 2025 – Luke Littler
- 2024 – Luke Humphries
- 2023 – Michael Smith
- 2022 – Peter Wright
- 2021 – Gerwyn Price
Only six players in PDC history have won multiple world titles, a club Littler and Humphries are aiming to expand.
How Many Nine-Darters Were Hit Last Year?
Two nine-darters were recorded at the 2025 World Darts Championship, both coming in losing efforts:
- Christian Kist (first round)
- Damon Heta (third round)
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