PDC Darts Calendar 2026: 135 days of PDC ranked action with main expansion confirmed on two fronts

The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) has announced the 2026 calendar, and it shows once again how fast the sport is growing internationally. More than £25 million in prize money will be distributed next year and the European Tour will include fifteen tournaments for the first time. In addition, there are several new destinations on the calendar, showing the PDC that the circuit will be bigger and more international than ever.

The 2026 darts year traditionally begins with the PDC Qualifying School, which takes place from Jan. 5 through Jan. 11. Like previous years, the Q-School will be divided between two venues: Milton Keynes in England and Kalkar in Germany. Here, hundreds of darters compete for a coveted Tour Card, the gateway to the highest level of the PDC ProTour.

Further World Series tournaments will be played in January, before the first major ranking tournament of the year kicks off at the end of January. Milton Keynes will then host the Winmau World Masters from January 28 to February 1. Defending champion Luke Humphries will do everything possible to retain his crown at the traditional opening of the major season, preceded by the preliminaries. For many, the tournament is considered the ultimate season opener and sets the tone for the long darting year.

Starting in February, the PDC circus really bursts into life. Both the Premier League Darts, the Players Championships and the European Tour kick off then. It is immediately clear that the sport will have even more international allure this year.

One of the most striking innovations is the arrival of the Premier League to Belgium. On Thursday, Feb. 12, the AFAS Dome in Antwerp will be the setting for a historic evening where the very biggest names will be in action. It is the first time that the prestigious roadshow will visit Belgium, a logical step given the popularity of the sport and the rise of top players such as Dimitri Van den Bergh and Mike De Decker.

A week later, the European Tour is also making history. From Feb. 20 to 22, the first edition of the Polish Darts Open is scheduled in Krakow. Poland has proven to be a darts mecca in recent years with sold-out World Series events. The choice of Krakow is therefore a crowning achievement for the growth of the sport in Central Europe.

March traditionally features the UK Open at Butlin's Minehead Resort, a tournament known for its open nature and surprising draws. Anyone can be paired up here, which often makes for memorable matches and surprising players in the final stages of the tournament. The Premier League, meanwhile, runs through May and has another exciting climax heading into Finals Night at The O2 in London. There it will be seen if players such as Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen and Humphries live up to their reputation, or if there is room for an outsider.

After spring, the focus shifts to country teams. From June 11 to 14, the World Cup of Darts will take place in Frankfurt. This tournament remains wildly popular because of the unique team format and national pride involved.

Just five days later, from June 19 to 21, a new chapter in PDC history awaits: the first European Tour in Slovakia, with Bratislava as host. As with its expansion into Poland, the PDC sees this as a strategic move to further grow the sport in Central Europe.

In July, the sport returns to one of its most iconic venues: the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. From July 18 to 26, the World Matchplay and Women's World Matchplay are scheduled there. For many, next to the World Cup, this is the most prestigious tournament on the darts calendar.

In September, international attention shifts to Amsterdam, where the World Series of Darts Finals will be played from Sept. 17-20. The Netherlands, with its rich darts tradition and fanatical audience, has been a mainstay of the sport for years.

The autumn is kicked off with the World Grand Prix in Leicester (Sept. 28-Oct. 4), famous for its double-in, double-out format. The European Championship in Dortmund (Oct. 22-25), where the best players on the European Tour will compete, follows in late October.

First on the menu in November is the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton, a unique tournament that brings together the PDC year's champions. Shortly after that comes the Players Championship Finals in Minehead, traditionally the last major stepping stone toward the World Championship.

The 2026 darts year will reach its climax with the World Darts Championship, although the exact date and playing venue is not yet known. A field of 128 players will compete for the Sid Waddell Trophy and a record £1 million for the winner.

In addition to the major tournaments, the PDC continues to invest in the breadth of the sport. There will be another 24 events in 2026 within the Women's Series, Challenge Tour and Development Tour.

These circuits provide opportunities for emerging talents and players without Tour Cards to gain experience and qualify for major televised tournaments. This ensures the continued flow of new talent.

PDC director Matt Porter stressed the importance of expanding the darts calendar. "2025 has been a huge year on the PDC circuit, and we look forward to continuing that growth next year with the expansion of the European Tour, including the addition of two new venues in Poland and Slovakia,” said PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter.

"This is such an exciting time for the sport, and we’re delighted that we can provide further opportunities for all players on the PDC circuit throughout 2026.

"Alongside our planned prize money increases next year, we're also pleased to be able to take the European Tour to two new destinations and the Premier League to Belgium, consolidating our continued growth in Europe."

With more than 135 playing days on the PDC calendar, 2026 will be the most intense darts year ever. The increase in prize money to more than £25 million reflects not only the financial health of the PDC, but also the global growth of darts in sport and entertainment.