European Championship Darts 2026: Results, Preview, Draw, Schedule, Field, Format, History and Predictions

The European Championship is due to take place between 22-25 October, 2026 at the Westfalenhallen in Dortmund, Germany. It will be the 19th staging of the tournament with the prize fund being £750,000. The winner gets £150,000.

Unlike normal tournaments, it will feature the top 32 players from the Order of Merit based on ranking money earned in the 15 European Tour events that were held as part of the 2026 PDC ProTour season. Gian van Veen looks to defend his title.

Kevin Doets and Niels Zonneveld are debutants, while Luke Littler, Gerwyn Price lead the way. Results, predictions, draw, schedule, field and format all in one place.

A very interesting complexion ahead of us on Sunday evening as Luke Littler again has failed to win the one title that he hasn't won yet and Krzysztof Ratajski was the foil.

Ratajski won 10-6 on Sunday afternoon and now faces off against Martin Schindler who is going through a resurgence this weekend and has been undeniable. But as have the two parts of the opening semi-final.

Ross Smith and Gerwyn Price have to now be favourites for the title. Smith for his second title in a month after winning the World Series Finals, Price would end his major drought after his World Grand Prix disappointment and they face off in semi-final one. The winner has to go into the final knowing they will likely win. But as Ratajski proved vs Littler this afternoon, it is anything but predictable.

The schedule will be confirmed in short order for the tournament, but Gian van Veen, as defending champion, will play on the opening night.

Samuel Gill, Head Editor for DartsNews.com has picked Ross Smith for glory.

I see another strange winner on the horizon. Well, not strange in the context of who it is, but more so because Luke Littler won't win.

Littler's season now for me is very much going to be; he might win one or two more than the big one, and the other top names share it. So I pick Ross Smith as one of the most in-form players and as a former winner of this format.

Also see Luke Humphries, Gerwyn Price and Nathan Aspinall having good runs. As well as a good one for Wessel Nijman who will throw himself back into the public consciousness again ahead of Premier League chatter that no doubt will dominate pre-Christmas.

*** Ross Smith

** Luke Humphries, Gerwyn Price

* Nathan Aspinall, Wessel Nijman, Jonny Clayton

Pieter Verbeek, editor for DartsNieuws.com, still picks Luke Littler as his firm favourite for the title.

Although Luke Littler doesn't seem to have been at his absolute best in recent weeks, he remains the clear favourite to win the European Championship in my eyes. Motivation certainly won't be an issue, as this is now the only major title missing from 'The Nuke's' trophy cabinet.

Littler's biggest challenger is the man who has given him the most trouble over the past few years: Luke Humphries. The world number two received a welcome confidence boost earlier this month by winning the World Grand Prix. Humphries came close to winning the European Championship last year, only to fall short in the final.

One player who has already lifted the European Championship trophy is James Wade. For me, 'The Machine' is much more than just an outsider for the title. Wade has been enjoying an excellent autumn, winning titles on the World Series and European Tour, while also reaching the semi-finals of the World Grand Prix.

Defending champion Gian van Veen, on the other hand, is more of an outsider in my opinion. The Dutchman still shows flashes of his very best form, but 'GVV The Giant' has been more inconsistent than he was twelve months ago. His results certainly haven't been bad, but there has been a recurring pattern of him running out of steam around the quarter-final or semi-final stage of tournaments.

Gerwyn Price also deserves to be considered among the title contenders, although he faces a difficult route to the final. My dark horse is Jonny Clayton, who has a favourable draw and a good opportunity to make a deep run. He could come up against Littler in the semi-finals, but the Welshman showed at the World Series of Darts Finals that beating 'The Nuke' is certainly within his capabilities.

*** Luke Littler

**Luke Humphries, James Wade**

* Gerwyn Price, Gian van Veen, Jonny Clayton

Oliver Ried, editor for DartsNews. DE picks Gerwyn Price to break his major hoodoo.

The European Championship is the next major on the calendar, with Dortmund set to crown a new European champion. Gian van Veen claimed last year’s title after beating Luke Humphries in a deciding leg.

This year, I’m backing Gerwyn Price to finally end his wait for another major title. The Welshman is arguably playing the best darts of his life and has reached the final of the last three majors. This time, I believe he will go all the way and end his frustrating run of near misses.

Jonny Clayton and Ross Smith are my other leading contenders. Clayton has been playing fantastic darts again in 2026 and could make another big impression in Dortmund. He faces Germany’s Niko Springer in the opening round, but if he comes through that test, “The Ferret” could go a long way.

The same applies to Ross Smith. He won this title somewhat out of nowhere in 2022, but this time he arrives as one of the favourites. His excellent European Tour campaign and World Series of Darts Finals triumph make him a serious contender.

Of course, no prediction would be complete without the two Lukes. The European Championship remains the only major title missing from Luke Littler’s collection. He will be determined to complete the puzzle in Germany, despite his difficult relationship with the crowds there.

Luke Humphries has also been playing superbly again recently and won the World Grand Prix. He, too, is chasing his first European Championship title. However, a potential quarter-final against Gerwyn Price could prove his undoing. I’m backing the Welshman to win that encounter.

Nathan Aspinall has also produced some fantastic darts in 2026. He has a tough opening opponent in Cristo Reyes, with Luke Littler potentially waiting in the second round. Despite that difficult route, I believe Aspinall is capable of winning his first major title since 2023.

*** Gerwyn Price

** Ross Smith, Jonny Clayton

* Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Nathan Aspinall

Mats Leering, editor for DartsNieuws.com, picks Luke Littler for glory in Dortmund.

While Luke Littler's recent results may have led some people to believe he is no longer the favourite to win the European Championship, I see things differently. Although I have my doubts, I still believe the world champion will ultimately come away with the title. And that's simply because the European Championship is the only major title he has yet to win, which will surely give him extra motivation to add that final missing trophy to his collection.

But who could challenge him? For me, Luke Humphries and Gerwyn Price are his two biggest threats. Humphries recently won the World Grand Prix, finally ending his title drought, and that victory may well have kick-started another successful run. As for Price, I would argue that, alongside Littler, he has perhaps been the best player of 2026. However, that elusive major title continues to escape the Welshman. Perhaps this weekend will finally be his moment.

I also think several Dutch players have a good chance of making deep runs. Gian van Veen looks to be in outstanding form, judging by his 120 average at last weekend's Dutch Darts Championship. Niels Zonneveld, who claimed the title in Maastricht, is also riding a wave of confidence and could easily spring a surprise. Danny Noppert reached the final and generally has an excellent record at the European Championship, while Wessel Nijman is the number two seed and therefore has to be considered among the favourites as well. Unfortunately, I just don't see Michael van Gerwen challenging for the title at the moment. Other names I would keep an eye on are Ross Smith, James Wade, Krzysztof Ratajski and Cristo Reyes.

***Luke Littler

**Gian van Veen, Gerwyn Price

*Luke Humphries, James Wade, Wessel Nijman

Nicolas Gayer, Editor for DartsNews.DE also weighs in with the thoughts that Luke Littler won't be down for long.

I made my feelings clear on our Dartsnews podcast a few weeks ago: what happened to Luke Littler at the World Series of Darts Finals, the World Grand Prix and the World Youth Championship is the absolute worst-case scenario for the rest of the world's elite. I am convinced that the 19-year-old will be more motivated than ever to bounce back with some outstanding performances — and what better way to do that than by winning one of the few major titles still missing from the two-time World Champion's already remarkable collection?

Aside from my pick to lift the trophy, I believe the familiar pecking order at the very top of the sport has re-established itself in recent weeks: Luke Humphries has once again emerged as Littler's biggest rival. Following his impressive title-winning campaign in Leicester and a subsequent run to the European Tour final in Basel, I believe “Cool Hand Luke” heads to Dortmund as the clear leading challenger to the world number one. And the Order of Merit-based draw has played its part, too: Littler and Humphries have landed in opposite halves, meaning an all-English showdown in the final is very much on the cards.

Interestingly, that same draw also means three of the most in-form players among the world's leading contenders could find themselves facing each other relatively early in Dortmund. Ross Smith, James Wade and Gian van Veen have all landed in the same quarter. I fancy “Smudger” to come through that section of the draw and book his place in the semi-finals. Alongside Smith and the two Lukes, I am backing Jonny Clayton to complete the final four in Dortmund.

Favourites:

***Luke Littler

**Luke Humphries, Ross Smith

*Jonny Clayton, James Wade, Gian van Veen