PDC announces major expansion: European Championship to 48 players and new tournament with £750,000 prize fund
PDCFriday, 25 September 2026 at 15:30
The PDC will make major investments in the European circuit from 2027. The European Championship expands to 48 players and boasts a prize fund of £1 million. In addition, the European Open is introduced as a brand-new tournament, while prize money on the Challenge Tour and Development Tour will also rise sharply.
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These changes are part of the continued growth of the PDC circuit in Europe. The sport has expanded significantly in recent years, and the organisation wants to capitalise by offering players more opportunities and more prize money.
One of the biggest changes concerns the European Championship. From 2027, the event will run over six days with a 48-player field. A total of £1 million in prize money will be at stake.
PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter views the changes as a logical step in darts’ European development. “The continued growth of darts across Europe has been hugely exciting to see, and these developments represent another significant step forward for the PDC circuit.,” said Porter.
Matt Porter
New European Open with £750,000
Another major addition is the European Open, a new major said to mirror the UK Open. This new event debuts in 2027 and is open to all players holding a PDC Tour Card at that time.
The European Open will carry a total prize fund of £750,000. It adds another lucrative fixture to the PDC calendar.
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“The introduction of the European Open, alongside an expanded European Championship and increased prize money across the European Tour, reflects the strength of the sport and our commitment to creating more opportunities for players,” Porter explained.
The PDC previously announced that the first European Open will be staged in Salzburg from 18.06.2027 to 20.06.2027.
Significant investment in Challenge and Development Tour as well
It is not only established Tour Card holders who will benefit. From 2027, changes will also be implemented on the Challenge Tour and Development Tour.
Both circuits will be split across six weekends of three days each. One full tournament will be completed on every matchday, taking both circuits to 18 standalone events.
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The financial structure will shift too. Each tournament will now pay out £30,000 in prize money. Significantly more players will be paid, with prize money awarded at every event down to the last 128.
“We’re also delighted to be increasing investment in the Challenge and Development Tours, providing greater opportunities and rewards for players throughout the professional pathway.,” Porter added.
With the expanded European Championship, the launch of the European Open, and larger financial commitments across multiple circuits, 2027 shapes up as another year of growth for the PDC schedule.
“2027 promises to be another hugely exciting year for the PDC and we look forward to continuing the sport’s growth across Europe and around the world,” Porter concluded.
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I stumbled into the world of darts quite by accident back in 2013. For a Journalism School assignment, I had to produce a live sports report and as it happened, the European Tour event in Veldhoven was the only available option. That weekend, I caught the darts bug. The post-match interviews especially appealed to me, as darts players tend to be much more open and approachable than what you usually see with footballers on television.
After a few detours, I joined Dartsnieuws.com in 2017 as editor-in-chief. I don’t have much competitive experience myself, although I once entered a PDC Development Tour weekend just to experience what it’s like from a player’s perspective. I even managed to win a leg against a Tour Card holder and, quite by accident, earned £50 in prize money.
In 2022, I was also involved in the founding of the TOTO Dart Kings, a commercial darts team, where I worked as media manager for three years. Unfortunately, due to new legislation in the Netherlands, that project came to an end in 2025.
Through my work in darts, I’ve been fortunate to travel to some incredible events, from Premier League nights at Ahoy Rotterdam, to several World Championships, and even the US Darts Masters at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Beyond darts, I’m a passionate sports fan in general. You can always wake me up for a game of tennis or padel, and I love following football, tennis, padel, cycling, Formula 1, and ice skating.
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