World Darts Championship 2026: Schedule, Times & TV Info

Few sporting events command pub-chatter intensity like the PDC World Darts Championship. The 2026 edition at Alexandra Palace (11 Dec 2025–3 Jan 2026) featured a record £5 million prize fund, an expanded 128‑player field, and champion Luke Littler – but the real story is the schedule, broadcast, tax, and future details.

Event: 2026 PDC World Darts Championship ·
Dates: 11 Dec 2025 – 3 Jan 2026 ·
Venue: Alexandra Palace, London ·
Champion: Luke Littler ·
Runner-up: Gian van Veen ·
Prize fund: £5,000,000

Eight key facts at a glance — one pattern: the 2026 edition was the biggest in history, with a record prize fund and a new 128‑player format.

What time will the World Darts Championship start?

2026 event dates and start times

• The tournament ran from Thursday 11 December 2025 to Saturday 3 January 2026 (Wikipedia).
• Afternoon sessions generally began at 12:30 PM GMT, evening sessions at 7:00 PM GMT (Sky Sports).
• The first evening session on 11 December kicked off at 7 PM with Luke Littler’s 3‑0 win over Darius Labanauskas (ESPN).

What time does the final start?

• The grand final on 3 January 2026 started at 8:00 PM GMT (Alexandra Palace).

What time are the semi‑finals?

• The semi‑finals took place on Friday 2 January 2026 at 7:30 PM GMT (Alexandra Palace).

The pattern: early rounds spread across afternoon and evening double sessions, with the marquee matches reserved for evening slots. For fans planning to watch, the final is the only single‑session day on the calendar.

What TV channel is showing darts tonight?

Sky Sports Darts and Main Event coverage

• All sessions were broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Darts and Sky Sports Main Event (Radio Times).
• Live streaming was available via NOW (Now TV) with a sports pass (Radio Times).
• International viewers could follow via PDC TV (the official streaming platform) (PDC (governing body) official site).

How to watch darts live on NOW

• NOW’s sports pass costs £34.99 per month (no contract) and includes all Sky Sports channels (NOW (streaming service)).

What channel is darts on tonight?

• Match times and channel assignments change daily; the Sky Sports schedule is updated each afternoon for the evening sessions (Sky Sports).

What is the PDC World Darts Championship 2026 schedule?

Full match schedule and results

• The 33rd PDC World Championship featured 128 players, all entering from round one (no byes) — a format change from previous years (Radio Times).
• First round: 11–18 December; second round: 19–22 December; third round: 27–29 December after the Christmas break (Sky Sports).
• Fourth round: 30 December; quarter‑finals: 1 January 2026 (Sky Sports).

Key dates: rounds, semi‑finals, final

• Semi‑finals: 2 January 2026 at 7:30 PM GMT (Alexandra Palace).
• Final: 3 January 2026 at 8:00 PM GMT (Alexandra Palace).

When is the bracket released?

• The tournament draw was announced in October 2025 by the PDC (Wikipedia).
• The official bracket is published on PDC.tv and Sky Sports (Sky Sports).

What this means: the two‑week Christmas break creates a unique rhythm — early round results set up the table for a frantic final week. Players who survive the first block have a week to reset.

What time is Littler vs. van Veen?

Luke Littler vs Gian van Veen final start time

• The 2026 final between Luke Littler and Gian van Veen started at 8:00 PM GMT on 3 January 2026 (Alexandra Palace).
• Littler defeated van Veen to claim the world title (Sky Sports).

How did the Littler–van Veen rivalry start?

• The rivalry stems from previous matches and on‑stage incidents; neither player has issued an official statement about the cause (ESPN).
• Van Veen later credited Littler for playing “unbelievable” darts in the final (ESPN).

Why did Littler and van Veen fall out?

• The precise trigger remains unclear — no public statements from either player explain the tension (ESPN).

Does Luke Littler have to pay tax on his winnings?

Tax implications for UK‑based darts players

• Yes, UK residents who are professional darts players must pay income tax on prize money under standard HMRC rules (HMRC).
• Luke Littler is a UK resident professional darts player (Wikipedia (player biography)).
• Prizes from non‑UK tournaments may be subject to local tax treaties, but the £1 million from the PDC is UK‑based.

Is prize money from darts taxed in the UK?

• Under the Income Tax (Trading and Other Income) Act 2005, professional sport prize money is treated as trading income (HMRC).

How much does Luke Littler actually keep from £1,000,000?

• The exact net amount depends on personal allowances, training expenses, and other deductions — no public figures are available (HMRC).
• At the highest marginal tax rate (45% for income over £125,140), a rough estimate is that Littler could keep around £550,000 after tax, but this is speculative and depends on his specific circumstances (GOV.UK (UK tax rates)).

The trade‑off: winning £1 million publicly sounds like a life‑changing sum, but for a young professional with no previous wealth, the tax bill will take a large bite. High earners in darts are increasingly turning to accountants who specialise in sports income.

Timeline of the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship

• October 2025 — Tournament draw announced by PDC (Wikipedia).
• 11 Dec 2025 — First night of first round action at Alexandra Palace. Luke Littler beats Darius Labanauskas 3‑0 (ESPN).
• 23 Dec 2025 — Christmas break begins after third round (Sky Sports).
• 27 Dec 2025 — Third round matches resume (Sky Sports).
• 30 Dec 2025 — Fourth round matches (Sky Sports).
• 1 Jan 2026 — Quarter‑finals, afternoon and evening sessions (Sky Sports).
• 2 Jan 2026 — Semi‑finals at 7:30 PM GMT (Alexandra Palace).
• 3 Jan 2026 — Grand final: Luke Littler vs Gian van Veen at 8 PM GMT. Littler wins (Sky Sports).

What we know for sure

• 2026 event dates (11 Dec 2025 – 3 Jan 2026) — confirmed from official schedule (Alexandra Palace).
• Venue = Alexandra Palace (Wikipedia).
• Champion = Luke Littler (Sky Sports).
• Broadcaster = Sky Sports (UK) (Radio Times).
• Semi‑finals and final start times (7:30 PM and 8 PM GMT) (Alexandra Palace).

What is still unclear

• Exact tax treatment of Luke Littler’s prize money depends on personal tax situation — not publicly itemised (HMRC).
• Specific cause of Littler–van Veen ‘beef’; no official statement from either player (ESPN).
• 2027 ticket release date and prices — not yet announced (Alexandra Palace).
• Full broadcast schedule for 2027 event — to be confirmed (Sky Sports).
• 2027 prize fund details not announced (PDC).

The pattern: the PDC is transparent about dates and broadcast but opaque about personal finances and off‑stage disputes. Fans are left piecing together narratives from player interviews and social media.

Quotes from the Ally Pally stage

“The PDC World Darts Championship returns to Alexandra Palace with an expanded field and record prize fund — this is the biggest event in darts history.”

— PDC official statement, October 2025 (PDC (governing body))

“To win this title at Ally Pally is a dream come true. The crowd was incredible.”

— Luke Littler, post‑final interview (Sky Sports)

“Luke played unbelievable darts tonight; he was the better player. I gave it my best but he was on another level.”

— Gian van Veen, post‑final interview (ESPN)

“Professional sportspeople in the UK are liable for income tax on their prize earnings in the same way as any other self‑employed income.”

— HMRC guidance (HMRC)

The implication: the players’ own words confirm the on‑stage dominance, while the regulator’s dry statement highlights the financial reality behind the glamour.

What’s next for the World Darts Championship?

• The 2027 PDC World Darts Championship is expected to run from December 2026 to January 2027, again at Alexandra Palace (Alexandra Palace).
• Official ticket sales have not yet been announced as of early 2026 (PDC).
• Watch for early bird and hospitality packages — previous years saw them sell out within hours (PDC).
• The tournament will move from the West Hall to the Great Hall at Alexandra Palace from 2027 onward (Wikipedia).

Why this matters: the venue upgrade means more capacity and potentially more tickets, but the demand for the world’s biggest darts event shows no sign of cooling. For UK‑based fans, the early booking window is the only reliable route to a seat.

For UK darts fans planning their 2027 trip to Ally Pally, the early booking window is likely to open in autumn 2026 — missing it could mean paying resale prices three times face value. The PDC’s growing prize fund and the Littler effect mean the championship is no longer a niche sport: it’s a ticket that everyone wants.

For a detailed breakdown of the 2026 tournament results and prize money, fans can refer to the full coverage from Alexandra Palace.

Frequently asked questions