Darts in October kicks into high gear: majors, final Euro Tours and all-or-nothing battle for World Championship tickets

The darts calendar goes into overdrive in October. After the World Grand Prix, whose final is played on 04.10.2026, the European Championship is the next major TV tournament later in the month. In addition, the final two European Tour events take place and more crucial Players Championship tournaments are on the horizon.

October is also pivotal away from the main PDC stages. Both the Development Tour and the Women's Series reach their conclusion, with tickets for the World Darts Championship, the Grand Slam of Darts, and Tour Cards on the line. Most of the World Youth Championship will also be played. With Ally Pally drawing nearer, performances in October could have major consequences for several players’ seasons and their future on the PDC circuit.

The Development Tour will be decided on 03 and 04.10.2026. With four events left, young players have a lot at stake. Beyond World Championship spots, Tour Cards are also awarded via the final ranking.

Sebastian Bialecki starts the decisive weekend as the clear leader. The Pole has banked £21,900 in prize money so far and tops the Development Tour Order of Merit. As Bialecki already holds a Tour Card, he is not eligible for a new one. Jack Drayton sits second on £12,100 and is well placed. Cam Crabtree follows on £11,650, just £450 back, but he also already has a Tour Card. That makes the battle just behind especially interesting. Leon Weber is fourth on £11,100, while Jurjen van der Velde remains firmly in contention on £10,350.

At the end of the Development Tour, the two highest-ranked players without a Tour Card receive their ticket onto the PDC circuit. Given the current positions of Bialecki and Crabtree, those cards would go to Drayton and Weber. World Championship berths are also available via the Development Tour. The top three in the final standings qualify for Alexandra Palace. However, Bialecki has already secured his Worlds spot elsewhere, so in this case the player in fourth also claims a place at Ally Pally.

The overall Development Tour winner receives an extra reward. The number one on the Order of Merit earns an automatic invitation to the Grand Slam of Darts in November.

The PDC World Youth Championship starts on 05.10.2026. This prestigious youth event is open to players aged 16 to 24 and serves as a prime chance for emerging talent to shine on an international stage.

Most of the tournament is crammed into a single day. All matches up to and including the semi-finals are scheduled for 05.10.2026, so by close of play we will know the two finalists.

The finalists then have to wait a little for their decider. The final is staged later in the year at the Players Championship Finals. The youth showpiece gets a slot on the main stage: the World Youth Championship concludes between the semi-finals and final of the main event.

The two finalists will therefore contest the world title in front of a big crowd. The final is broadcast live, giving the youngsters a prime opportunity to present themselves to a wide darts audience.

The European Tour returns to Switzerland from 09 to 11.10.2026 for the Swiss Darts Trophy. It is the only chance this year for Swiss darts fans to see the PDC elite on home soil.

In 2025 this event was won by Stephen Bunting, who beat Luke Woodhouse 8-3 in the final. Both Englishmen return this year. Big names such as Luke Humphries, Gian van Veen, James Wade, Michael van Gerwen, and Gerwyn Price are also set to appear.

The PDC Women's Series reaches its climax that same weekend. In Wigan, the final four events of the season are on the schedule, with crucial places for the World Darts Championship and the Grand Slam of Darts, alongside the final standings, up for grabs.

Beau Greaves heads into the closing weekend with a commanding lead at the top of the Women’s Series Order of Merit. The Englishwoman has banked £34,700 in prize money so far and is firmly entrenched at the summit. For Greaves, the berths awarded via the Women’s Series now carry limited weight. She is already on course for World Darts Championship qualification via the Pro Tour ranking and, thanks to her Women’s World Matchplay triumph, has also secured a Grand Slam of Darts spot.

As a result, the available places cascade down the ranking. The Grand Slam ticket that would normally go to the Women’s Series winner will therefore pass to the player in second. For the World Darts Championship, in this scenario, the players finishing second, third, and fourth are assured of qualification. Lisa Ashton currently holds the best cards to finish runner-up. The former Lakeside champion sits on £17,050 and enjoys a comfortable cushion over the chasing pack. Fallon Sherrock is third on £11,650 and will need a particularly strong finish across the last four events to dislodge Ashton from second.

The fight is far from settled behind Sherrock. Gemma Hayter is fourth for now on £9,100, an important position. She will mainly be looking over her shoulder on the final weekend. Deta Hedman follows on £7,300, while Vicky Pruim is also within range on £7,250. For Hayter, the task in Wigan is clear: keep both rivals at bay to lock down her top-four spot.

The final European Tour event of the season takes place from 16 to 18 October. For several players it is a pivotal weekend, as it’s the last chance to clinch a European Championship berth. Once the tournament concludes, the European Tour Order of Merit is finalised. The top 32 on that list will receive invitations to the European Championship. Expect major movement around that crucial 32nd position during the closing European Tour weekend.

Last year Jonny Clayton lifted the title at the Euro Tour event in the Netherlands. ‘The Ferret’ is among the elite names returning this time. In Maastricht he faces competition from Gian van Veen, Michael van Gerwen, Danny Noppert, Wessel Nijman, Jermaine Wattimena, Dirk van Duijvenbode, Niels Zonneveld, Jeffrey de Graaf, plus four additional Dutch Host Nation Qualifiers.

International stars such as Luke Humphries, Gerwyn Price, Ross Smith, Nathan Aspinall, Kim Huybrechts, Scott Williams, Michael Smith, and Max Hopp also feature at the Dutch Darts Championship.

The next major, the European Championship, runs from 22 to 25 October. The Westfalenhalle in Dortmund hosts the battle for the European crown, with a total prize fund of £750,000 at stake.

The field consists of the top 32 players on the European Tour Order of Merit. They earned their places through performances across this season’s fifteen European Tour events.

For Luke Littler, there is a unique target in Dortmund. The European Championship is the only major title missing from his résumé. ‘The Nuke’ will be determined to add this trophy to his already imposing haul.

Last year Gian van Veen sprang a surprise by winning the European Championship. The Dutchman reached the final and defeated Luke Humphries to be crowned European champion.

October closes with two Players Championship events at the Maaspoort in Den Bosch. Each tournament carries £125,000 in prize money.

There is plenty on the line for big names such as Michael Smith, Gary Anderson, Mike De Decker, Nathan Aspinall, and Josh Rock. All are hovering around, or well below, the cut line to qualify for the Players Championship Finals later in November.

The Den Bosch double-header is one of the final chances to bank prize money for the Players Championship Order of Merit. The last two floor events of the season follow a week later.