Everything you need to know ahead of the World Darts Championship 2026 including key dates, format, prize money and who can challenge Luke Littler.
When is the World Darts Championship 2026?
The 33rd PDC World Darts Championship runs from Thursday 11 December 2025 to Saturday 3 January 2026, staged at Alexandra Palace in London. There is play every day at the venue except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve. Coverage begins Thursday 11 December at 7pm, with afternoon sessions at 12.30pm and evening sessions at 7pm through to the quarter-finals. Semi-finals are on Friday 2 January (7.30pm) and the final on Saturday 3 January (8pm).
Where is it held?
Alexandra Palace, London — the tournament’s home since 2008 (previously at Circus Tavern 1994–2007).
How to watch
Every match is on Sky Sports Darts (Sky Sports F1 changes to Sky Sports Darts on channel 407 from 10 December), with the best action also on Sky Sports Main Event. Stream options include NOW/NowTV and the Sky Sports app for analysis and video.
Format and format change
– All 128 players now enter at the first-round stage (no byes for seeds).
– The event uses the sets format. Each set is first to three legs.
– Deciding sets must be won by two clear legs. If the final set reaches 5-5, a sudden-death leg is played (throw order continues; no bull throw-off).
Match lengths:
– Rounds 1 & 2: Best of 5 sets (first to 3)
– Rounds 3 & 4: Best of 7 sets (first to 4)
– Quarter-finals: Best of 9 sets (first to 5)
– Semi-finals: Best of 11 sets (first to 6)
– Final: Best of 13 sets (first to 7)
Defending champion
Luke Littler is the reigning champion after beating Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in 2025. Littler enters as world No.1 and pre-tournament favourite, having added World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam and Players Championship Finals to his form run.
Who can challenge Littler?
Main contenders include:
– Luke Humphries: two-time world champion (2024) and closest rival; can regain world No.1 with a win.
– Michael van Gerwen: three-time champion, No.3 seed, has beaten Littler recently at the World Series Finals.
– Gian van Veen: European Champion (October) and dangerous on TV.
– Nathan Aspinall, James Wade, Jonny Clayton: all reached TV major finals this season.
– Stephen Bunting (4th seed) and former champion Gerwyn Price are among experienced threats.
– Beau Greaves: leads the women’s contingent, has a PDC ProTour card and beat Littler en route to the World Youth final — could be a notable challenger.
Field and qualification
The field is 128 players, qualifying as:
– Top 40 from the PDC’s Werner Rankings Ladder
– Top 40 from the one-year ProTour Ranking
– 48 International qualifiers from PDC secondary/affiliate tours and qualifiers
The top 32 in the Werner Rankings are seeded; players 33–64 are drawn to the left side of the draw and players 65–128 to the right.
PDC Werner Rankings Ladder: Top 32
1. Luke Littler (England)
2. Luke Humphries (England)
3. Michael van Gerwen (Netherlands)
4. Stephen Bunting (England)
5. Jonny Clayton (Wales)
6. Danny Noppert (Netherlands)
7. James Wade (England)
8. Chris Dobey (England)
9. Gerwyn Price (Wales)
10. Gian van Veen (Netherlands)
11. Josh Rock (Northern Ireland)
12. Ross Smith (England)
13. Martin Schindler (Germany)
14. Gary Anderson (Scotland)
15. Nathan Aspinall (England)
16. Damon Heta (Australia)
17. Rob Cross (England)
18. Mike De Decker (Belgium)
19. Jermaine Wattimena (Netherlands)
20. Ryan Searle (England)
21. Dave Chisnall (England)
22. Daryl Gurney (Northern Ireland)
23. Dimitri Van den Bergh (Belgium)
24. Ryan Joyce (England)
25. Luke Woodhouse (England)
26. Cameron Menzies (Scotland)
27. Ritchie Edhouse (England)
28. Michael Smith (England)
29. Dirk van Duijvenbode (Netherlands)
30. Peter Wright (Scotland)
31. Wessel Nijman (Netherlands)
32. Joe Cullen (England)
Prize money
Total fund: £5,000,000.
– Winner: £1,000,000
– Runner-up: £400,000
– Semi-finalists: £200,000
– Quarter-finalists: £100,000
– Round Four losers: £60,000
– Round Three losers: £35,000
– Round Two losers: £25,000
– Round One losers: £15,000
Ballon d’Art (Most 180s)
The Ballon d’Art is awarded to the player with the most 180s in the tournament. Littler won it in 2025 with 76; Luke Humphries took it in 2024 with 73. There were record totals of maximums in recent seasons, and the expanded field suggests another high total is likely.
Nine-darters at the World Championship
There have been 16 nine-darters in PDC World Championship history. Key moments:
– First nine-darter: Raymond van Barneveld (2009)
– Adrian Lewis hit the first final nine-darter in 2011.
– Notable nine-darters by Dean Winstanley and Michael van Gerwen (2013), Gary Anderson (2016), William Borland/Darius Labanauskas/Gerwyn Price (2022).
– Michael Smith’s nine-darter in the 2023 final vs Van Gerwen is one of the sport’s iconic legs.
– Two nine-darters occurred at the 2025 event (Christian Kist v Madars Razma; Damon Heta v Luke Woodhouse).
PDC World Darts Championship winners (1994–2025)
1994 Dennis Priestley
1995 Phil Taylor
1996 Phil Taylor
1997 Phil Taylor
1998 Phil Taylor
1999 Phil Taylor
2000 Phil Taylor
2001 Phil Taylor
2002 Phil Taylor
2003 John Part
2004 Phil Taylor
2005 Phil Taylor
2006 Phil Taylor
2007 Raymond van Barneveld
2008 John Part
2009 Phil Taylor
2010 Phil Taylor
2011 Adrian Lewis
2012 Adrian Lewis
2013 Phil Taylor
2014 Michael van Gerwen
2015 Gary Anderson
2016 Gary Anderson
2017 Michael van Gerwen
2018 Rob Cross
2019 Michael van Gerwen
2020 Peter Wright
2021 Gerwyn Price
2022 Peter Wright
2023 Michael Smith
2024 Luke Humphries
2025 Luke Littler
Song played between sets
The break music played at the end of a set is “Chase the Sun” by Planet Funk.
Schedule highlights (Alexandra Palace, 11 December – 3 January)
– Sessions generally: afternoons at 12.30pm and evenings at 7pm (coverage starts 11 Dec, 7pm).
– Round One: 11–18 December (multiple sessions daily)
– Round Two: 20–23 December
– Round Three: 27–29 December
– Round Four: 29–30 December
– Quarter-finals: Thursday 1 January (afternoon & evening)
– Semi-finals: Friday 2 January (7.30pm)
– Final: Saturday 3 January (8pm)
Who will win?
Watch every match exclusively live from 11 December to 3 January on Sky Sports’ dedicated darts channel (Sky channel 407 from 10 December).