World Darts Championship 2025-26 Kicks Off at Alexandra Palace

The World Darts Championship 2025-26 is set to commence on December 11, 2025, at the iconic Alexandra Palace in London. This year’s tournament will run until January 3, 2026, featuring matches every day during the festive season, aside from Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Eve. With an expanded lineup of competitors and a record-breaking prize fund, this tournament promises to be a thrilling event for darts fans.

The championship has seen a significant increase in participants this year, with a total of 128 players competing, up from 96 in the previous edition. The players include the top 40 from the PDC’s Werner Rankings, 40 qualifiers from the ProTour Rankings, and 48 international qualifiers from PDC affiliate tours and qualifying events. Among the notable names are defending champion Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, and renowned players like Michael van Gerwen and Stephen Bunting.

Schedule and Format of the Championship

The tournament begins with the first-round matches on December 11. Each day will feature multiple sessions, showcasing exciting matchups. The championship employs a set format, with players entering directly into the first round, a change from previous years where seeded players received a bye into the second round.

Each match will be contested in sets, with the first player to win three legs taking the set. If a match reaches a 5-5 tie, a sudden death leg will determine the winner. The format for each round is as follows:
– First Round: Best of five sets
– Second Round: Best of five sets
– Third Round: Best of seven sets
– Fourth Round: Best of seven sets
– Quarter-Finals: Best of nine sets
– Semi-Finals: Best of 11 sets
– Final: Best of 13 sets

Prize Fund and Viewing Options

This year’s championship boasts a staggering total prize fund of £5 million, with the winner receiving £1 million, double the amount awarded to last year’s champion, Luke Littler. The distribution of prize money is as follows:
– Winner: £1,000,000
– Runner-up: £400,000
– Semi-final losers: £200,000
– Quarter-final losers: £100,000
– Fourth-round losers: £60,000
– Third-round losers: £35,000
– Second-round losers: £25,000
– First-round losers: £15,000

Darts enthusiasts in the United Kingdom can catch all the action live on Sky Sports, which will broadcast the event from start to finish. Streaming options are available via NOW TV for subscribers. Additionally, talkSPORT will provide coverage through its app and DAB digital radio.

Tickets for the 2025-26 World Darts Championship are currently sold out for all sessions. Fans looking to attend can explore a fan-to-fan resale page for any available tickets.

As the championship approaches, anticipation builds among players and fans alike, promising a festive season filled with intense competition and thrilling darts action at Alexandra Palace.