Sold-out exhibition sees Gian van Veen defeat Niko Springer to win Winamax Franken Darts Gala 2026

With the inaugural Winamax Franken Darts Gala, PDC Europe celebrated a successful debut in Bamberg on Friday night. Around 4,000 spectators created a vibrant backdrop at the sold-out event and once again underlined the growing popularity of darts in Germany.

For the gala series, it was already the sixth stop in 2026 – and the tour made its first visit to the brose Arena. The excitement was correspondingly high, not only in the stands but also among the participants on stage.

German caller and referee Franz Engerer was also among those involved in the gala premiere in Bamberg. For the Bayreuth-born official, performing at the brose Arena felt like a true home game: “This is something very special. I think this is the shortest trip of any darts event I’ve ever had,” Engerer told TV Oberfranken. “I think it’s mega cool, a really awesome venue. It’s already a lot of fun, even though it hasn’t even started yet. I think it’s great that we’re here – hopefully as often as possible in the future.”

Niko Springer also clearly felt the special atmosphere. Germany’s number three received raucous support from the fans and assessed the effect of the backdrop with nuance: “The support is enormous. It’s a bit of a mixed bag – maybe sometimes even a bit too much for the player himself, because you try to stay calm. In general the atmosphere is always really good and you try to make the best of it.”

Raymond van Barneveld, one of the sport’s biggest personalities, also took to the stage. The five-time world champion was impressed by the exhibition in Franconia: “Fantastic. Events like this are always fantastic. There’s not as much pressure as usual because it’s a show event, but of course you still want to win and play well. The great atmosphere and the fans cheering you on give you an overwhelming feeling.”

The evening ultimately culminated in a thrilling final between Gian van Veen and local favorite Springer. Both produced a contest on a knife-edge before the Dutch vice world champion edged it 4-3. In the closing stages, van Veen kept his nerve and sealed the title with Springer’s own darts in hand.

After the events in Wetzlar, Frankfurt, Leipzig, at the Nürburgring and in Neu-Ulm, the Franken Darts Gala was already the sixth stop of this year’s PDC Europe gala series. While these events have no ranking or competitive status, many top players still use the evenings specifically to gain stage time and showcase themselves to the audience.

PDC Europe will also continue its gala series in 2026. Following the successful stop in Bamberg, fans can look forward to events in Magdeburg, Mannheim, Hildesheim, Bremen, Jena, Cologne, as well as a double-header in Lingen.