World Darts Championship start date, TV channel and prize money | Other | Sport
Christmas is looming and the best arrowsmiths on the planet are gathering in north London. It can only mean one thing – the PDC World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace is upon us.
Excitement for the 2025/26 tournament is at fever pitch following another year of excellence on the oche. This year’s Worlds will be the biggest ever after a huge increase in both prize money and the size of the field. To get you in the mood for three weeks of darting drama at Ally Pally, here’s a round-up of when the action starts, how to watch, what’s at stake and when reigning champion, the phenomenal Luke Littler, begins the defence of his crown…
When does the World Darts Championship start?
Because of the enlarged field – up to 128 from 96 – the tournament is starting a little earlier than normal, on Thursday, December 11. The first night’s action will see four first-round ties, kicking off at 7pm. Darts fans can then look forward to double sessions of first and second round action up to and including December 23.
How to watch the World Darts Championship
As ever, Sky Sports have got the rights to the big one. The broadcaster, which started showing PDC darts more than 30 years ago, will show every 180 and missed double throughout the three weeks of action.
If you’re not a Sky Sports subscriber, you can stream the action contract-free by purchasing a sports pass on the Sky-owned NOW service. A day membership is £14.99 while a month-long subscription costs £34.99. Meanwhile, a saver deal is £28 per month on a minimum six-month term. A sports pass gives you access to all Sky Sports content via your smart TV or mobile device.
Who’s playing at the World Darts Championship?
As ever, it’s a who’s who of darting royalty led by the best two players in the world, Littler and 2024 world champion Luke Humphries.
While most punters are expecting a Luke vs Luke final on January 3, former world champions Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price will have something to say. Major tournament winners like Stephen Bunting, Nathan Aspinall, Jonny Clayton and James Wade will also be in the mix.
Meanwhile, the field includes a record five female stars, led by Beau Greaves, the standout player in the women’s game, who begins her campaign against World Cup winner Daryl Gurney on December 19. They will be joined by players from developing darting nations who have made it via various regional qualifying events.
What is the prize money for the World Darts Championship?
The winner will pick up an eye-watering top prize of £1million out of a total prize pot of £5m. That’s double last year since the PDC agreed a lucrative new TV contract with Sky worth a reputed £125m over five years.
When is Luke Littler playing at the World Darts Championship?
In keeping with tradition, the champion will be in action on the opening night of the tournament. The new world number one has been drawn to face Lithuanian veteran Darius Labanauskas.
Assuming he comes through that match, the Nuke will be in action again before the Christmas break. The tournament will then resume with third-round action on December 27.
