Nearly 400 entrants at UK Q-School 2026: these players set to compete for a PDC Tour Card in Milton Keynes

The PDC has announced the entry list for the UK Q-School 2026 in Milton Keynes. A total of 391 players have signed up in the hunt for a PDC Tour Card. That puts the number slightly higher than the previous two editions, though still below 2023, when over four hundred darters took to the oche.

As in recent years, the UK Q-School will again be staged in two separate phases. The first phase is scheduled from 01/05/2026 to 01/07/2026. The final phase, where the Tour Cards are actually awarded, runs from 01/08/2026 to 01/11/2026.

Players who lost their Tour Card after last season, as well as those who finished in the top eight of the Challenge Tour and Development Tour, are automatically placed into the final phase. The same status applies to the highest-ranked players from various Affiliate Tours.

All other entrants begin their Q-School campaign in the first phase. Qualification for the final phase is possible by reaching the last sixteen on any of the three matchdays in Milton Keynes. Those who fall short must rack up as many wins as possible. Every victory in a full round, without byes, yields one point for the Q-School Order of Merit. Players can still advance to the second part of the tournament via this ranking.

The first phase will feature the likes of John Part, Steve Beaton, Keegan Brown, Mark Dudbridge, Andy Hamilton, Alan Norris, Kevin Painter, Shane McGuirk, and John Henderson at the oche.

Ted Evetts, Mervyn King, Jack Tweddell, Sam Spivey, Scott Waites, Scott Campbell, Carl Sneyd, Graham Hall, Lee Cocks, Joe Hunt, Charlie Manby, Ryan Branley, James Beeton, Jenson Walker, Patrik Williams, Nathan Potter, Henry Coates, Tyler Thorpe, Fallon Sherrock, Devon Petersen, Darren Beveridge, Steve Lennon, Matthew Dennant, Dylan Slevin, Adam Hunt, Jim Williams, Rhys Griffin, Robert Grundy, Nathan Rafferty, William Borland, Brett Claydon, George Killington, and Stephen Burton will go straight into the final phase.

Tour Cards are awarded exclusively in the final phase. Of the 29 cards available in total, sixteen will be handed out directly. Both in Milton Keynes and at the European Q-School, four tournament days are played in this decisive stage. The sixteen day finalists automatically secure a Tour Card.

The remaining thirteen Tour Cards will be allocated via the Q-School Order of Merit. Based on wins in the main events, with preliminaries not counting, players can collect points for this ranking.

Darters who maintain a consistent level over multiple days can still book their place on the Pro Tour circuit without a tournament win. At the UK Q-School, five or six Tour Cards are expected to be awarded via the ranking. The PDC will confirm the final distribution in due course.