2026 World Darts Championship: Dates, schedule, times, matches, results, format and how to watch

The world of sport will turn its attention to London’s Alexandra Palace starting Thursday, December 11, for one of the final sporting events of 2025, which will also crown the first world champion of 2026: the Paddy Power World Darts Championship. This tournament has steadily grown in global popularity, as evidenced by its many viral moments on social media. Here are the key details ahead of the 2026 World Darts Championship.

Dates: When is the 2026 World Darts Championship?

The 2026 Paddy Power World Darts Championship marks the close of the 2025 sporting year and ushers in the first major event of 2026. It will take place at Alexandra Palace in London from December 11, 2025, to January 3, 2026, when the new world champion will be crowned.

Television: How to watch the 2026 World Darts Championship

In the United States, the 2026 Paddy Power World Darts Championship can be watched live on Peacock, which will broadcast daily coverage of the matches throughout the tournament.

Format of the 2026 World Darts Championship

The 2026 Championship will follow the traditional legs-and-sets format. A player wins a set by winning three legs, with each set played to the best of five legs.

• First and second round matches: best of five sets (first to three)
• Third round and round of 16 matches: best of seven sets (first to four)
• Quarter-finals: best of nine sets (first to five)
• Semi-finals: best of eleven sets (first to six)
• Grand final: best of 13 sets (first to seven)

The PDC stipulates one exception: the deciding set must be won by two legs. If the set reaches 5-5, the winner is determined by a sudden-death leg, where hitting the Bull is not allowed.

Favourites for the 2026 World Darts Championship

England’s Luke Littler, the reigning world champion and current world number one in the PDC rankings, enters the tournament as the favourite to claim his second World Championship at just 18 years old.

He will face stiff competition from former world champions such as England’s Luke Humphries, the Netherlands’ Michael van Gerwen, Wales’ Gerwyn Price, and Scotland’s Peter Wright and Gary Anderson. Other notable players to watch include Stephen Bunting, Jonny Clayton, Danny Noppert, James Wade, Chris Dobey, Josh Rock, and the promising Gian van Veen, a former junior world champion.

For the first time in this stage, four women will compete: Lisa Ashton, Noah-Lynn van Leuven, Fallon Sherrock, and Beau Greaves.

Draw and results of the 2026 World Darts Championship

First quarter

Luke Littler (1) vs Darius Labanauskas

Mario Vandenbogaerde vs David Davies

Joe Cullen (32) vs Bradley Brooks

Mensur Suljovic vs David Cameron

Damon Heta (16) vs Steve Lennon

Raymond Van Barneveld vs Stefan Bellmont

Rob Cross (17) vs Cor Dekker

Ian White vs Mervyn King

Chris Dobey (8) vs Xiaochen Zong

Andrew Gilding vs Cam Crabtree

Luke Woodhouse (25) vs Boris Krcmar

Martin Lukeman vs Max Hopp

Gerwyn Price (9) vs Adam Gawlas

Lukas Wenig vs. Wesley Plaisier

Ryan Joyce (24) vs Owen Bates

Krzysztof Ratajski vs Alexis Toylo

Second quarter

Stephen Bunting (4) vs Sebastian Bialecki

Richard Veenstra vs Nitin Kumar

Dirk Van Duijvenbode (29) vs Andy Baetens

James Hurrell vs Stowe Buntz

Martin Schindler (13) vs Stephen Burton

Keane Barry vs Tim Pusey

Ryan Searle (20) vs Chris Landman

Brendan Dolan vs Tavis Dudeney

Jonny Clayton (5) vs Adam Lipscombe

Dom Taylor vs Oskar Lukasiak

Michael Smith (28) vs Lisa Ashton

Niels Zonneveld vs Haupai Puha

Ross Smith (12) vs Andreas Harryson

Thibault Tricole vs Motomu Sakai

Dave Chisnall (21) vs Fallon Sherrock

Ricardo Pietreczko vs José de Sousa

Third quarter

Luke Humphries (2) vs Ted Evetts

Jeffrey de Graaf vs Paul Lim

Wessel Nijman (31) vs Karel Sedlacek

Gabriel Clemens vs Alex Spellman

Nathan Aspinall (15) vs Lourence Ilagan

Mickey Mansell vs Leonard Gates

Mike Decker (18) vs David Munyua

Kevin Doets vs Matthew Dennant

James Wade (7) vs Rysei Azemoto

Ricky Evans vs Man Lok Leung

Cameron Menzies (26) vs Charlie Manby

Matt Campbell vs Adam Sevada

Gian Van Veen (10) vs Cristo Reyes

Alan Sotar vs Teemu Harju

Dimitri Van der Bergh (23) vs Darren Beveridge

Madars Razma vs Jamai Van den Herik

Fourth quarter

Michael Van Gerwen (3) vs Mitsuhiko Tatsunami

William O’Connor vs Krzysztof Kciuk

Peter Wright (30) vs Noa-Lynn Van Leuven

Kim Huybrechts vs Arno Merk

Gary Anderson (14) vs Adam Hunt

Connor Scutt vs Simon Whitlock

Jermaine Wattimena (19) vs Dominick Gruellich

Scott Williams vs Paolo Nebrida

Danny Noppert (6) vs Jurjen Van der Velde

Nick Kenny vs Justin Hood

Ritchie Edhouse (27) vs Jonny Tata

Ryan Meikle vs Jesus Salate

Josh Rock (11) vs Gemma Hayter

Niko Springer vs Joe Comito

Daryl Gurney (22) vs Beau Greaves

Callan Rydz vs Patrik Kovacs

Calendar, schedules and results of the 2026 World Darts Championship

Thursday, December 11

• From 2:00 PM ET – Kim Huybrechts vs Arno Merk
• From 2:00 PM ET – Michael Smith (28) vs Lisa Ashton
• From 2:00 PM ET – Luke Littler (1) vs Darius Labanauskas
• From 2:00 PM ET – Madars Razma vs Jamai Van den Herik

Friday, December 12

• From 7:30 AM ET – Niels Zonneveld vs Haupai Puha
• From 7:30 AM ET – Ian White vs Mervyn King
• From 7:30 AM ET – Ryan Searle (20) vs Chris Landman
• From 7:30 AM ET – Rob Cross (17) vs Cor Dekker
• From 2:00 PM ET – Ross Smith (12) vs Andreas Harryson
• From 2:00 PM ET – Ricky Evans vs Man Lok Leung
• From 2:00 PM ET – Gian Van Veen (10) vs Cristo Reyes
• From 2:00 PM ET – Damon Heta (16) vs Steve Lennon

Saturday, December 13

• From 7:30 AM ET – Mario Vandenbogaerde vs David Davies
• From 7:30 AM ET – Andrew Gilding vs Cam Crabtree
• From 7:30 AM ET – Luke Woodhouse (25) vs Boris Krcmar
• From 7:30 AM ET – Gary Anderson (14) vs Adam Hunt
• From 2:00 PM ET – Jeffrey de Graaf vs Paul Lim
• From 2:00 PM ET – Wessel Nijman (31) vs Karel Sedlacek
• From 2:00 PM ET – Luke Humphries (2) vs Ted Evetts
• From 2:00 PM ET – Gabriel Clemens vs Alex Spellman

Sunday, December 14

• From 7:30 AM ET – Ritchie Edhouse (27) vs Jonny Tata
• From 7:30 AM ET – Dom Taylor vs Oskar Lukasiak
• From 7:30 AM ET – Richard Veenstra vs Nitin Kumar
• From 7:30 AM ET – Joe Cullen (32) vs Bradley Brooks
• From 2:00 PM ET – Lukas Wenig vs Wesley Plaisier
• From 2:00 PM ET – Dimitri Van der Bergh (23) vs Darren Beveridge
• From 2:00 PM ET – Stephen Bunting (4) vs Sebastian Bialecki
• From 2:00 PM ET – James Hurrell vs Stowe Buntz

Monday, December 15

• From 7:30 AM ET – Brendan Dolan vs Tavis Dudeney
• From 7:30 AM ET – Cameron Menzies (26) vs Charlie Manby
• From 7:30 AM ET – Mensur Suljovic vs David Cameron
• From 7:30 AM ET – Peter Wright (30) vs Noa-Lynn Van Leuven
• From 2:00 PM ET – Martin Lukeman vs Max Hopp
• From 2:00 PM ET – Dirk Van Duijvenbode (29) vs Andy Baetens
• From 2:00 PM ET – Jonny Clayton (5) vs Adam Lipscombe
• From 2:00 PM ET – Connor Scutt vs Simon Whitlock

Tuesday, December 16

• From 7:30 AM ET – Alan Soutar vs Teemu Harju
• From 7:30 AM ET – Nick Kenny vs Justin Hood
• From 7:30 AM ET – Scott Williams vs Paolo Nebrida
• From 7:30 AM ET – Chris Dobey (8) vs Xiaochen Zong
• From 2:00 PM ET – Ricardo Pietreczko vs José de Sousa
• From 2:00 PM ET – Danny Noppert (6) vs Jurjen Van der Velde
• From 2:00 PM ET – Gerwyn Price (9) vs Adam Gawlas
• From 2:00 PM ET – Niko Springer vs Joe Comito

Wednesday, December 17

• From 2:00 PM ET – Matt Campbell vs Adam Sevada
• From 2:00 PM ET – Raymond Van Barneveld vs Stefan Bellmont
• From 2:00 PM ET – James Wade (7) vs Rysei Azemoto
• From 2:00 PM ET – Martin Schindler (13) vs Stephen Burton

Thursday, December 18

• From 7:30 AM ET – Callan Rydz vs Patrik Kovacs
• From 7:30 AM ET – Thibault Tricole vs Motomu Sakai
• From 7:30 AM ET – Ryan Joyce (24) vs Owen Bates
• From 7:30 AM ET – Mike Decker (18) vs David Munyua
• From 2:00 PM ET – Jermaine Wattimena (19) vs Dominick Gruellich
• From 2:00 PM ET – Dave Chisnall (21) vs Fallon Sherrock
• From 2:00 PM ET – Michael Van Gerwen (3) vs Mitsuhiko Tatsunami
• From 2:00 PM ET – Krzysztof Ratajski vs Alexis Toylo

Friday, December 19

• From 7:30 AM ET – Kevin Doets vs Matthew Dennant
• From 7:30 AM ET – Ryan Meikle vs Jesus Salate
• From 7:30 AM ET – Mickey Mansell vs Leonard Gates
• From 7:30 AM ET – Josh Rock (11) vs Gemma Hayter
• From 2:00 PM ET – William O’Connor vs Krzysztof Kciuk
• From 2:00 PM ET – Daryl Gurney (22) vs Beau Greaves
• From 2:00 PM ET – Nathan Aspinall (15) vs Lourence Ilagan
• From 2:00 PM ET – Keane Barry vs Tim Pusey

Saturday, December 20

• From 7:30 AM ET – Four second-round matches
• From 2:00 PM ET – Four second-round matches
  • Winner of Chris Dobey/Xiaochen Zong vs Winner of Andrew Gilding/Cam Crabtree
  • Winner of Stephen Bunting/Sebastian Bialecki vs Winner of Richard Veenstra/Nitin Kumar
  • Winner of Dirk Van Duijvenbode/Andy Baetens vs Winner of James Hurrell/Stowe Buntz
  • Winner of Ryan Searle/Chris Landman vs Winner of Brendan Dolan/Tavis Dudeney
  • Winner of Jonny Clayton/Adam Lipscombe vs Winner of Dom Taylor/Oskar Lukasiak
  • Winner of Michael Smith/Lisa Ashton vs Winner of Niels Zonneveld/Haupai Puha
  • Winner of Ross Smith/Andreas Harryson vs Winner of Thibault Tricole/Motomu Sakai
  • Winner of Dave Chisnall/Fallon Sherrock vs Winner of Ricardo Pietreczko/José de Sousa

Sunday, December 21

• From 7:30 AM ET – Four second-round matches
• From 2:00 PM ET – Four second-round matches
  • Winner of Luke Littler (1) vs Darius Labanauskas vs Winner of Mario Vandenbogaerde/David Davies
  • Winner of Joe Cullen/Bradley Brooks vs Winner of Mensur Suljovic/David Cameron
  • Winner of Damon Heta/Steve Lennon vs Winner of Raymond Van Barneveld/Stefan Bellmont
  • Winner of Rob Cross/Cor Dekker vs Winner of Ian White/Mervyn King
  • Winner of Luke Woodhouse/Boris Krcmar vs Winner of Martin Lukeman/Max Hopp
  • Winner of Gerwyn Price/Adam Gawlas vs Winner of Lukas Wenig/Wesley Plaisier
  • Winner of Ryan Joyce/Owen Bates vs Winner of Krzysztof Ratajski/Alexis Toylo
  • Winner of Martin Schindler/Stephen Burton vs Winner of Keane Barry/Tim Pusey

Monday, December 22

• From 7:30 AM ET – Four second-round matches
• From 2:00 PM ET – Four second-round matches
  • Winner of Luke Humphries/Ted Evetts vs Winner of Jeffrey de Graaf/Paul Lim
  • Winner of Wessel Nijman/Karel Sedlacek vs Winner of Gabriel Clemens/Alex Spellman
  • Winner of Nathan Aspinall/Lourence Ilagan vs Winner of Mickey Mansell/Leonard Gates
  • Winner of Mike de Decker/David Munyua vs Winner of Kevin Doets/Matthew Dennant
  • Winner of James Wade/Rysei Azemoto vs Winner of Ricky Evans/Lok Leung
  • Winner of Cameron Menzies/Charlie Manby vs Winner of Matt Campbell/Adam Sevada
  • Winner of Gian Van Veen/Christ the Kings vs Winner of Alan Soutar/Teemu Harju
  • Winner of Dimitri Van der Bergh/Darren Beveridge vs Winner of Madars Razma/Jamai Van den Herik

Tuesday, December 23

• From 7:30 AM ET – Four second-round matches
• From 2:00 PM ET – Four second-round matches
  • Winner of Michael Van Gerwen/Mitsuhiko Tatsunami vs Winner of William O’Connor/Krzysztof Kciuk
  • Winner of Peter Wright/Noa-Lynn Van Leuven vs Winner of Kim Huybrechts/Arno Merk
  • Winner of Gary Anderson/Adam Hunt vs Winner of Connor Scutt/Simon Whitlock
  • Winner of Jermaine Wattena/Dominick Gruellich vs Winner of Scott Williams/Paolo Nebrida
  • Winner of Danny Noppert/Jurjen Van der Velde vs Winner of Nick Kenny/Justin Hood
  • Winner of Ritchie Edhouse/Jonny Tata vs Winner of Ryan Meikle/Jesús Salate
  • Winner of Josh Rock/Gemma Hayter vs Winner of Niko Springer/Joe Comito
  • Winner of Daryl Gurney/Beau Greaves vs Winner of Rydz/Patrik Kovacs

Saturday, December 27

• From 7:30 AM ET – Three third-round matches
• From 2:00 PM ET – Three third-round matches

Sunday, December 28

• From 7:30 AM ET – Three third-round matches
• From 2:00 PM ET – Three third-round matches

Monday, December 29

• From 7:30 AM ET – Three third-round matches
• From 2:00 PM ET – One third-round match and two round of 16 matches

Tuesday, December 30

• From 7:30 AM ET – Three round of 16 matches
• From 2:00 PM ET – Three round of 16 matches

Thursday, January 1

• From 7:30 AM ET – Two quarter-final matches
• From 2:00 PM ET – Two quarter-final matches

Friday, January 2

• From 2:30 PM ET – World Darts Championship semifinals

Saturday, January 3

• From 3:00 PM ET – World Darts Championship grand final

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