Key Points
- Luke Littler defends his PDC World Darts Championship title at Alexandra Palace from December 11, 2025, to January 3, 2026, with an expanded 128-player field and £5m prize pot, £1m to the winner.
- Chris Dobey claimed his first PDC ranking title of 2026 by beating Stephen Bunting 8-1 in the Players Championship 3 final in Wigan on February 16, 2026.
- The SuperBet Poland Darts Open, the first PDC European Tour event in Poland, takes place February 20-22, 2026, at EXPO Kraków with £230,000 prize money.
- Premier League Darts 2026 schedule confirmed: Starts February 5 in Newcastle, visits 16 nights across Europe, finals at The O2 London on May 28.
- World Championship tickets: PDCTV Annual Members early access August 4-5, 2025; public ballot from August 6, 2025.
- PDC Pro Tour calendar includes Players Championships, European Tour, and Challenge Tour events throughout 2026, with live scores available on sites like Flashscore.
- Notable World Championship openers: Littler vs Darius Labanauskas on December 11; Michael Smith vs Lisa Ashton.
- Prize money for World Championship sets new record; deciding sets require two-leg margin or sudden-death.
Inverted Pyramid News Story
Wigan (Manchester Mirror) February 16, 2026 – Chris Dobey secured his first title of the 2026 PDC Pro Tour season with a dominant 8-1 victory over Stephen Bunting in the Players Championship 3 final at Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan today, as anticipation builds for major PDC Darts events including the ongoing World Championship preparations and upcoming Premier League. The 2025/26 Paddy Power World Darts Championship concluded recently with Luke Littler defending his crown against Gian van Veen, while the 2026 calendar features expanded fields, new venues like Poland, and record prize funds across tournaments. Fans can access live scores, results, and tickets via official PDC channels amid a packed schedule.
What Happened in Players Championship 3 2026?
Players Championship 3 marked a key early-season event in Wigan, where world number one Luke Humphries made his Pro Tour debut for 2026 against Stefaan Henderyck, as reported by Darts News. Chris Dobey, a three-time winner last year, dazzled with an 8-1 demolition of Stephen Bunting in the final, claiming £15,000. As per PDC.tv coverage, Dobey reeled off five straight legs after an even start, punishing Bunting’s missed opportunities in a clinical display.
Dobey had earlier overcome Luke Littler in a quarter-final epic with a 150 checkout and thrashed Daryl Gurney 7-1 in the semis, averaging 104. Bunting, the St Helens star, levelled at 3-3 but faltered, as detailed in PDC reports. This victory positions Dobey strongly in the early Order of Merit.
When Is the PDC World Darts Championship 2026?
The 2025/26 Paddy Power World Darts Championship ran from December 11, 2025, to January 3, 2026, at Alexandra Palace, London, expanding to 128 players from 96 last year. Luke Littler began his defence against Darius Labanauskas on opening night, with Michael Smith facing Lisa Ashton, according to Sky Sports. BBC Sport noted the event’s sets format: first to three legs per set, deciding set needing two-leg margin or sudden-death.
Key dates included Round One through to finals, with sessions from 12:30 and 19:00 GMT; a £5m prize pot made it darts’ richest event. Littler beat Gian van Veen 7-1 in the final, as previewed by Yahoo Sports.
How Can Fans Get PDC Darts Tickets 2026?
PDC tickets for the World Championship went on sale via PDCTV Annual Members from 12:00 BST August 4 to 11:59 BST August 5, 2025, limited to six per session. PDC.tv stated members needed active subscription by July 20, 2025, and email opt-in; a public ballot followed from August 6. Successful ballot entrants bought in the second window August 20-21, 2025.
For Poland Darts Open (February 20-22, 2026), tickets cover first round on Friday (afternoon from 1pm, evening 7pm), second round Saturday, and knockouts Sunday. Premier League 2026 tickets are available for nights like Newcastle (Feb 5), Antwerp, Belfast, Cardiff, ending at O2 London May 28.
What Is the Premier League Darts 2026 Schedule?
Sky Sports confirmed Premier League Darts 2026 starts Thursday February 5 in Newcastle, replacing Exeter with Antwerp debut. The 16-night tour includes SSE Arena Belfast (Feb 26), Utilita Arena Cardiff (March 5), Nottingham (March 12), Dublin (March 19), Berlin (March 26), Manchester AO Arena (April 2), and finals at The O2 London May 28.
Luke Humphries defends his title in this elite event.
What Are Other Key PDC Darts Events in 2026?
The SuperBet Poland Darts Open debuts February 20-22 at EXPO Kraków, Poland’s first European Tour with 48 players and £230,000 prize, £35,000 to winner; top Order of Merit enter second round. PDC calendar lists Winmau Development Tour, New Zealand Darts Masters (Aug 14-15), Australian Darts Masters (Aug 21-22), Hungarian Darts Trophy (Aug 28-30), and Players Championships like PC27-28 in Leicester August.
Live scores track via Flashscore for Premier League and Pro Tour.
Who Are the Top Players to Watch in 2026?
Luke Littler, world number one, dominated the World Championship defence. Chris Dobey starts strong with PC3 win. Others include Humphries, Bunting, van Gerwen, Price, Wright, as per Sky Sports and PDC draws.
Where to Find Live Darts Scores and Results?
Flashscore provides real-time PDC darts scores, results for Premier League 2026 and more. PDC.tv and Sky Sports offer schedules, fixtures from Alexandra Palace Worlds.
This comprehensive coverage draws from official PDC announcements and media reports, ensuring neutral, factual reporting on PDC Darts 2026.
