About the World Darts Championship
The PDC World Darts Championship is a darts tournament that has been held annually in London since 1994. The tournament is organized by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). And the WilliamHill.com bookmaker organization is the championship sponsor. This tournament is the most prestigious competition in this sport. It is also known that the prize fund of the tournament is £1.5 million. The current champion is Michael Smith.
2026/2027 World Darts Championship
The 2026/2027 World Darts Championship is the main tournament of the season organised by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), bringing together the best players from around the world. The competition is played in a knockout format, with the winner claiming the sport's most prestigious professional darts title.
When and where will the 2026/2027 World Darts Championship take place?
The 2026/2027 World Darts Championship will take place from December 11, 2026, to January 3, 2027, in London. Alexandra Palace will remain the traditional venue for the tournament, although this season the championship will move to the arena's Great Hall for the first time.
The tournament will begin on December 11 with first-round matches. After the Christmas break, the competition will resume in London. The quarter-finals will take place on January 1, the semi-finals on January 2, and the final will be held on January 3, 2027.
Who will participate in the championship?
The 2026/2027 PDC World Darts Championship will feature 128 players. The field is made up of players qualifying through the PDC world rankings, the ProTour and various qualifying tournaments.
Among the leading players in modern darts are Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price, Stephen Bunting, Gary Anderson and other well-known competitors. The final list of participants will be determined at the end of the qualifying cycle.
History of the Championship
The modern PDC World Darts Championship has been held since 1994, following the split of the Professional Darts Corporation from the BDO. The first PDC title was won by Dennis Priestley, who defeated Phil Taylor in the final.
The tournament's record holder is Phil Taylor, who won the PDC World Championship 14 times. Other champions over the years include Dennis Priestley, John Part, Raymond van Barneveld, Adrian Lewis, Gary Anderson, Michael van Gerwen, Rob Cross, Luke Humphries and Luke Littler.
Previous World Champions
| Year | Venue | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2025/2026 | Alexandra Palace, London, England | Luke Littler |
| 2024/2025 | Alexandra Palace, London, England | Luke Littler |
| 2023/2024 | Alexandra Palace, London, England | Luke Humphries |
In 2025/2026, Luke Littler won the PDC World Championship for the second consecutive year. In the final, he defeated Gian van Veen 7–1. The tournament also became the first PDC World Championship to feature an expanded field of 128 players.
2027/2028 World Darts Championship
The next PDC World Darts Championship after the 2026/2027 tournament will take place across 2027 and 2028. The exact dates and further details will be announced later. Alexandra Palace will remain the host venue for the championship until at least 2031.
Keep an eye on the dates of darts tournaments and other events in our Sporting Events Calendar.
