Simon Whitlock makes comeback as Australian icon returns to the TV stage

Australian darts legend Simon Whitlock will make his long-awaited return to the big international stage this summer. The 57-year-old former major winner is set to compete in August at the Oceanic double-header of the World Series of Darts, as the PDC once again heads to Australia and New Zealand for two prestigious exhibition tournaments.

The annual trip Down Under begins on 14/8/2026 and 15/8/2026 with the SkyCity New Zealand Darts Masters in Auckland. A week later the roadshow moves on to Australia for the KenoGO Australian Darts Masters, held on 21/8/2026 and 22/8/2026 at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong.

As is customary during World Series of Darts events, the field consists of sixteen players. Eight are PDC stars, while the remaining eight places go to representatives from Oceania. The names of the international stars are yet to be announced, but Whitlock’s inclusion is already generating plenty of extra buzz around the event.

For the now 57-year-old Australian, this marks his first appearance at a major televised tournament since the 2026 World Darts Championship. Whitlock has endured a tougher spell on the ProTour in recent years and lost his PDC Tour Card, but remains a huge crowd favorite in his homeland. With his distinctive look, long beard, and iconic nickname “The Wizard,” he has become one of the most recognizable faces in darts over the past fifteen years.

Whitlock’s peak years are some way behind him, but his résumé remains impressive. In 2012 he won the European Championship and also reached multiple finals at televised events, including the 2010 World Championship final. He also spent many years firmly inside the world’s top ten on the rankings.

Whitlock proved he is still competitive by recently winning the ANZ Premier League. That title also earned him a spot at the World Series events in August.

Alongside Whitlock, Adam Leek will also get the chance to showcase himself on the big stage. The 27-year-old Australian secured his PDC Tour Card earlier this year via UK Qualifying School and has since produced several promising results on the ProTour circuit.

Leek is regarded as one of the new talents in Australian darts and will represent Australia next month alongside Damon Heta at the World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt.

The remaining six Oceanic participants for the World Series events will be announced in the coming months. The list of PDC stars traveling to Oceania will also follow at a later date. With Whitlock’s return, the organizers have already secured a true crowd-puller for the summer darts festivals on the other side of the world.