2026 PDC Darts World Championship: Draw, schedule, format and prize money originally appeared on The Sporting News .Preferred Source by clicking here .
The holiday season is here, which means the World Darts Championship is back at the Alexandra Palace.
Almost three weeks of darts action will take place in London, with 128 players looking to make a run at the coveted Sid Waddell Trophy.
What to know about the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship
Let’s take a look at some of the specifics of the tournament.
MORE: Every darts player who’s qualified for the 2026 PDC World Championship
Bracket/draw
Here is the bracket for the first round.
Quarter #1
(1) Luke Littler vs. Darius Labanauskas
Mario Vandenbogaerde vs. David Davies
(32) Joe Cullen vs. Bradley Brooks
Mensur Suljovic vs. David Cameron
(16) Damon Heta vs. Steve Lennon
Raymond van Barneveld vs. Stefan Bellmont
(17) Rob Cross vs. Cor Dekker
Ian White vs. Mervyn King
(8) Chris Dobey vs. Xiaochen Zong
Andrew Gilding vs. Cam Crabtree
(25) Luke Woodhouse vs. Boris Krcmar
Martin Lukeman vs. Max Hopp
(9) Gerwyn Price vs. Adam Gawlas
Lukas Wenig vs. Wesley Plaisier
(24) Ryan Joyce vs. Owen Bates
Krzysztof Ratajski vs. Alexis Toylo
Quarter #2
(4) Stephen Bunting vs. Sebastian Bialecki
Richard Veenstra vs. Nitin Kumar
(29) Dirk van Duijvenbode vs. Andy Baetens
James Hurrell vs. Stowe Buntz
(13) Martin Schindler vs. Stephen Burton
Keane Barry vs. Tim Pusey
(20) Ryan Searle vs. Chris Landman
Brendan Dolan vs. Tavis Dudeney
(5) Jonny Clayton vs. Adam Lipscombe
Dom Taylor vs. Oskar Lukasiak
(28) Michael Smith vs. Lisa Ashton
Niels Zonneveld vs. Haupai Puha
(12) Ross Smith vs. Andreas Harrysson
Thibault Tricole vs. Motomu Sakai
(21) Dave Chisnall vs. Fallon Sherrock
Ricardo Pietreczko vs. Jose de Sousa
Quarter #3
(2) Luke Humphries vs. Ted Evetts
Jeffrey de Graaf vs. Paul Lim
(31) Wessel Nijman vs. Karel Sedlacek
Gabriel Clemens vs. Alex Spellman
(15) Nathan Aspinall vs. Lourence Illagan
Mickey Mansell vs. Leonard Gates
(18) Mike De Decker vs. David Munyua
Kevin Doets vs. Matthew Dennant
(7) James Wade vs. Ryusei Azemoto
Ricky Evans vs. Man Lok Leung
(26) Cameron Menzies vs. Charlie Manby
Matt Campbell vs. Adam Sevada
(10) Gian van Veen vs. Cristo Reyes
Alan Soutar vs. Teemu Harju
(23) Dimitri Van den Bergh vs. Darren Beveridge
Madars Razma vs. Jamai van den Herik
Quarter #4
(3) Michael van Gerwen vs. Mitsuhiko Tatsunami
William O’Connor vs. Krzysztof Kciuk
(30) Peter Wright vs. Noa-Lynn van Leuven
Kim Huybrechts vs. Arno Merk
(14) Gary Anderson vs. Adam Hunt
Connor Scutt vs. Simon Whitlock
(19) Jermaine Wattimena vs. Dominik Grullich
Scott Williams vs. Paolo Nebrida
(6) Danny Noppert vs. Jurjen van der Velde
Nick Kenny vs. Justin Hood
(27) Ritchie Edhouse vs. Jonny Tata
Ryan Meikle vs. Jesus Salate
(11) Josh Rock vs. Gemma Hayter
Niko Springer vs. Joe Comito
(22) Daryl Gurney vs. Beau Greaves
Callan Rydz vs. Patrik Kovacs
Here is the bracket for the second round.
Quarter #1
Littler vs. Davies
Cullen vs. Suljovic
Heta vs. Bellmont
Cross vs. White
Dobey vs. Gilding
Woodhouse vs. Hopp
Price vs. Plaisier
Joyce vs. Ratajski
Quarter #2
Bunting vs. Kumar
van Duijvenbode vs. Hurrell
Schindler vs. Barry
Searle vs. Dolan
Clayton vs. Taylor
M. Smith vs. Zonneveld
Harrysson vs. Sakai
Chisnall vs. Pietreczko
Quarter #3
Humphries vs. Lim
Nijman vs. Clemens
Aspinall vs. Gates
Munyua vs. Doets
Wade vs. Evans
Manby vs. Sevada
van Veen vs. Soutar
Beveridge vs. Razma
Quarter #4
van Gerwen vs. O’Connor
Wright vs. Merk
Anderson vs. Scutt
Wattimena vs. Williams
Noppert vs. Hood
Tata vs. Meikle
Rock vs. Comito
Gurney vs. Rydz
Here is the bracket for the third round.
Quarter #1
Littler vs. Suljovic
Heta vs. Cross
Gilding vs. Woodhouse
Plaisier vs. Ratajski
Quarter #2
Bunting vs. Hurrell
Schindler vs. Searle
Clayton vs. Zonneveld
Harrysson vs. Pietreczko
Quarter #3
Humphries vs. Clemens
Aspinall vs. Doets
Evans vs. Manby
van Veen vs. Razma
Quarter #4
van Gerwen vs. Wright
Anderson vs. Wattimena
Hood vs. Meikle
Rock vs. Rydz
2026 PDC WC schedule
Here is the schedule for the first round.
MORE: World Darts Championship 2025/26 prize money: How much winner will earn, total prize fund for PDC event
Day 1 (evening session)
Matchup Date Time (local)
Kim Huybrechts vs. Arno Merk
Thurs., Dec. 11
7:00 p.m.
Michael Smith vs. Lisa AshtonThurs., Dec. 11
8:00 p.m.
Luke Littler vs. Darius LabanauskasThurs., Dec. 11
9:00 p.m.
Madars Razma vs. Jamai Van Den HerikThurs., Dec. 11
10:00 p.m.
Day 2 (afternoon session)
Matchup Date Time (local)
Niels Zonneveld vs. Haupai PuhaFri., Dec. 12
12:30 p.m.
Ian White vs. Mervyn KingFri., Dec. 12
1:30 p.m.
Ryan Searle vs. Chris LandmanFri., Dec. 12
2:30 p.m.
Rob Cross vs. Cor DekkerFri., Dec. 12
3:30 p.m.
Day 2 (evening session)
Matchup Date Time (local)
Ross Smith vs. Andreas Harrysson
Fri., Dec. 12
7:00 p.m.
Ricky Evans vs. Man Lok LeungFri., Dec. 12
8:00 p.m.
Gian van Veen vs. Cristo ReyesFri., Dec. 12
9:00 p.m.
Damon Heta vs. Steve LennonFri., Dec. 12
10:00 p.m.
Day 3 (afternoon session)
Matchup Date Time (local)
Mario Vandenbogaerde vs. David Davies
Sat., Dec. 13
12:30 p.m.
Andrew Gilding vs. Cam CrabtreeSat., Dec. 13
1:30 p.m.
Luke Woodhouse vs. Boris KrcmarSat., Dec. 13
2:30 p.m.
Gary Anderson vs. Adam HuntSat., Dec. 13
3:30 p.m.
Day 3 (evening session)
Matchup Date Time (local)
Jeffrey De Graaf vs. Paul Lim
Sat., Dec. 13
7:00 p.m.
Wessel Nijman vs. Karel SedlacekSat., Dec. 13
8:00 p.m.
Luke Humphries vs. Ted EvettsSat., Dec. 13
9:00 p.m.
Gabriel Clemens vs. Alex SpellmanSat., Dec. 13
10:00 p.m.
Day 4 (afternoon session)
Matchup Date Time (local)
Ritchie Edhouse vs. Jonny Tata
Sun., Dec. 14
12:30 p.m.
Dom Taylor vs. Oskar LukasiakSun., Dec. 14
1:30 p.m.
Richard Veenstra vs. Nitin Kumar
Sun., Dec. 14
2:30 p.m.
Joe Cullen vs. Bradley BrooksSun., Dec. 14
3:30 p.m.
Day 4 (evening session)
Matchup Date Time (local)
Lukas Wenig vs. Wesley Plaiser
Sun., Dec. 14
7:00 p.m.
Dimitri van den Bergh vs. Darren Beveridge
Sun., Dec. 14
8:00 p.m.
Stephen Bunting vs. Sebastian BialeckiSun., Dec. 14
9:00 p.m.
James Hurrell vs. Stowe BuntzSun., Dec. 14
10:00 p.m.
Day 5 (afternoon session)
Matchup Date Time (local)
Brendan Dolan vs. Tavis DudeneyMon., Dec. 15
12:30 p.m.
Cameron Menzies vs. Charlie Manby
Mon., Dec. 15
1:30 p.m.
Mensur Suljovic vs. David CameronMon., Dec. 15
2:30 p.m.
Peter Wright vs. Noa-Lynn van LeuvenMon., Dec. 15
3:30 p.m.
Day 5 (evening session)
Matchup Date Time (local)
Martin Lukeman vs. Max Hopp
Mon., Dec. 15
7:00 p.m.
Dirk van Duijvenbode vs. Andy BaetensMon., Dec. 15
8:00 p.m.
Jonny Clayton vs. Adam LipscombeMon., Dec. 15
9:00 p.m.
Connor Scutt vs. Simon WhitlockMon., Dec. 15
10:00 p.m.
Day 6 (afternoon session)
Matchup Date Time (local)
Alan Soutar vs. Teemu HarjuTue., Dec. 16
12:30 p.m.
Nick Kenny vs. Justin Hood
Tue., Dec. 16
1:30 p.m.
Scott Williams vs. Paolo NebridaTue., Dec. 16
2:30 p.m.
Chris Dobey vs. Xiaochen ZongTue., Dec. 16
3:30 p.m.
Day 6 (evening session)
Matchup Date Time (local)
Ricardo Pietreczko vs. Jose De SousaTue., Dec. 16
7:00 p.m.
Danny Noppert vs. Jurjen van der VeldeTue., Dec. 16
8:00 p.m.
Gerwyn Price vs. Adam GawlasTue., Dec. 16
9:00 p.m.
Niko Springer vs. Joe Comito
Tue., Dec. 16
10:00 p.m.
Day 7 (evening session)
Matchup Date Time (local)
Matt Campbell vs. Adam Sevada
Wed., Dec. 17
7:00 p.m.
Raymond van Barneveld vs. Stefan Bellmont
Wed., Dec. 17
8:00 p.m.
James Wade vs. Ryusei AzemotoWed., Dec. 17
9:00 p.m.
Martin Schindler vs. Stephen BurtonWed., Dec. 17
10:00 p.m.
Day 8 (afternoon session)
Matchup Date Time (local)
Callan Rydz vs. Patrik KovacsThurs., Dec. 18
12:30 p.m.
Thibault Tricole vs. Motomu Sakai
Thurs., Dec. 18
1:30 p.m.
Ryan Joyce vs. Owen BatesThurs., Dec. 18
2:30 p.m.
Mike De Decker vs. David Munyua
Thurs., Dec. 18
3:30 p.m.
Day 8 (evening session)
Matchup Date Time (local)
Jermaine Wattimena vs. Dominik GruellichThurs., Dec. 18
7:00 p.m.
Dave Chisnall vs. Fallon SherrockThurs., Dec. 18
8:00 p.m.
Michael van Gerwen vs. Mitsuhiko Tatsunami
Thurs., Dec. 18
9:00 p.m.
Krzysztof Ratajski vs. Alexis ToyloThurs., Dec. 18
10:00 p.m.
Day 9 (afternoon session)
Matchup Date Time (local)
Kevin Doets vs. Matthew DennantFri., Dec. 19
12:30 p.m.
Ryan Meikle vs. Jesus SalateFri., Dec. 19
1:30 p.m.
Mickey Mansell vs. Leonard Gates
Fri., Dec. 19
2:30 p.m.
Josh Rock vs. Gemma HayterFri., Dec. 19
3:30 p.m.
Day 9 (evening session)
Matchup Date Time (local)
William O’Connor vs. Krzysztof KciukFri., Dec. 19
7:00 p.m.
Daryl Gurney vs. Beau GreavesFri., Dec. 19
8:00 p.m.
Nathan Aspinall vs. Lourence IlaganFri., Dec. 19
9:00 p.m.
Keane Barry vs. Tim PuseyFri., Dec. 19
10:00 p.m.
Here is the schedule for the second round.
Day 10 (afternoon session)
Matchup Date Time (local)
Ryan Searle vs. Brendan DolanSat., Dec. 20
12:45 p.m.
Andreas Harrysson vs. Motomu SakaiSat., Dec. 20
1:30 p.m.
Dirk van Duijvenbode vs. James Hurrell
Sat., Dec. 20
2:30 p.m.
Dave Chisnall vs. Ricardo Pietreczko
Sat., Dec. 20
3:30 p.m.
Day 10 (evening session)
Matchup Date Time (local)
Michael Smith vs. Niels Zonneveld
Sat., Dec. 20
7:15 p.m.
Chris Dobey vs. Andrew Gilding
Sat., Dec. 20
8:00 p.m.
Stephen Bunting vs. Nitin KumarSat., Dec. 20
9:00 p.m.
Jonny Clayton vs. Dom Taylor (Clayton advances after Taylor fails drug test)
Sat., Dec. 20 10:00 p.m.
Day 11 (afternoon session)
Matchup Date Time (local)
Ryan Joyce vs. Krzysztof Ratajski
Sun., Dec. 21
12:45 p.m.
Joe Cullen vs. Mensur Suljovic
Sun., Dec. 21
1:30 p.m.
Luke Woodhouse vs. Max HoppSun., Dec. 21
2:30 p.m.
Rob Cross vs. Ian WhiteSun., Dec. 21
3:30 p.m.
Day 11 (evening session)
Matchup Date Time (local)
Martin Schindler vs. Keane BarrySun., Dec. 21
7:15 p.m.
Gerwyn Price vs. Wesley Plaisier
Sun., Dec. 21
8:00 p.m.
Luke Littler vs. David DaviesSun., Dec. 21
9:00 p.m.
Damon Heta vs. Stefan BellmontSun., Dec. 21
10:00 p.m.
Day 12 (afternoon session)
Matchup Date Time (local)
Darren Beveridge vs. Madars Razma
Mon., Dec. 22
12:45 p.m.
Wessel Nijman vs. Gabriel Clemens
Mon., Dec. 22
1:30 p.m.
David Munyua vs. Kevin Doets
Mon., Dec. 22
2:30 p.m.
James Wade vs. Ricky Evans
Mon., Dec. 22
3:30 p.m.
Day 12 (evening session)
Matchup Date Time (local)
Gian van Veen vs. Alan SoutarMon., Dec. 22
7:15 p.m.
Nathan Aspinall vs. Leonard GatesMon., Dec. 22
8:00 p.m.
Luke Humphries vs. Paul LimMon., Dec. 22
9:00 p.m.
Charlie Manby vs. Adam SevadaMon., Dec. 22
10:00 p.m.
Day 13 (afternoon session)
Matchup Date Time (local)
Jonny Tata vs. Ryan Meikle
Tues., Dec. 23
12:45 p.m.
Daryl Gurney vs. Callan Rydz
Tues., Dec. 23
1:30 p.m.
Jermaine Wattimena vs. Scott WilliamsTues., Dec. 23
2:30 p.m.
Peter Wright vs. Arno Merk
Tues., Dec. 23
3:30 p.m.
Day 13 (evening session)
Matchup Date Time (local)
Danny Noppert vs. Justin Hood
Tues., Dec. 23
7:15 p.m.
Gary Anderson vs. Connor ScuttTues., Dec. 23
8:00 p.m.
Michael van Gerwen vs. William O’ConnorTues., Dec. 23
9:00 p.m.
Josh Rock vs. Joe ComitoTues., Dec. 23
10:00 p.m.
MORE: Predicting the PDC 2026 Premier League of Darts lineup
Prize Money
*Data via Wikipedia
Position (no. of players)
Prize money(Total: £5,000,000)
Winner (1) £1,000,000
Runner-up (1) £400,000
Semi-finalists (2) £200,000
Quarter-finalists (4) £100,000
Fourth round losers (8) £60,000
Third round losers (16) £35,000
Second round losers (32) £25,000
First round losers (64) £15,000
Format
This year’s tournament will feature 128 players, 32 more than the 2025 field.
Seeded players will no longer receive a bye into the second round, with all 128 players in the draw for round #1.
The bracket is divided into four quarters, with eight seeded players per quarter in a traditional bracket format where if the seeds won, they’d start playing each other in the third round (ex: 1 v 32, 2 v 31, 3 v 30, etc).
The tournament begins on December 11 and will end on January 3 (there are some days off in between for holidays).
The World Championship is one of a handful of darts tournaments that feature a set format, with the number of sets a player has to win increasing as the tournament progresses:
First and second round: best-of-5 sets
Third and fourth round: best-of-7 sets
Quarterfinals: best-of-9 sets
Semifinals: best-of-11 sets
Final: best-of-13 sets
Each set is played to best-of-5 legs. If a match went to a last-set decider, a player must win the final set by at least two legs, or win a sudden-death leg if the players were even through 10 legs in the final set.
Here are the following dates that each round will be played:
First round: December 11 – 19
Second round: December 20 – 23
Third round: December 27 – 29
Fourth round: December 29 – 30
Quarterfinals: January 1
Semifinals: January 2
Final: January 3
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