The elite summer showpiece of professional darts is back as the World Matchplay 2026 prepares to take over Blackpool. Organized by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), the 9-day major tournament will take place from Saturday, July 18 to Sunday, July 26, 2026.
What is the prize money at World Matchplay Darts 2026?
The stakes have never been higher in Blackpool. The PDC has boosted the total prize fund to a massive £1,000,000, with the ultimate champion set to pocket a staggering £225,000 top prize.
All eyes are fixed on teenage sensation Luke Littler, who arrives as the defending champion looking to retain his coveted Blackpool crown. Littler will anchor the opening night of action.
However, the field is absolutely star-studded. World No. 1 Luke Humphries, former champions Michael van Gerwen and Rob Cross, alongside heavyweights like Gerwyn Price, Nathan Aspinall, and Michael Smith are all in the mix. Notably, German star Niko Springer, Kevin Doets, William O’Connor, and Niels Zonneveld are all set to make their highly anticipated tournament debuts.
Full World Matchplay 2026 Schedule
The first round is split across four action-packed sessions from Saturday to Monday, using a best-of-19 legs format. Here is the official schedule for the opening rounds:
Saturday, July 18 (Starts 19:00 BST / 23:30 IST)
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Josh Rock vs Luke Woodhouse
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Luke Littler vs Niko Springer
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Nathan Aspinall vs Joe Cullen
Sunday, July 19
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Afternoon Session (13:00 BST / 17:30 IST): Chris Dobey vs Dirk van Duijvenbode; Gary Anderson vs Ryan Joyce; Michael van Gerwen vs Andrew Gilding; Jonny Clayton vs Damon Heta.
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Evening Session (19:00 BST / 23:30 IST): Ryan Searle vs William O’Connor; James Wade vs Jermaine Wattimena; Gian van Veen vs Krzysztof Ratajski; Wessel Nijman vs Dave Chisnall.
Monday, July 20 (19:00 BST / 23:30 IST)
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Ross Smith vs Kevin Doets
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Gerwyn Price vs Martin Schindler
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Luke Humphries vs Cameron Menzies
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Danny Noppert vs Rob Cross
Knockout Stages Schedule
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Tuesday, July 21 & Wednesday, July 22 (19:00 BST): Second Round Matches
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Thursday, July 23 & Friday, July 24 (20:00 BST): Quarter-Finals
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Saturday, July 25 (20:00 BST): Semi-Finals
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Sunday, July 26 (20:00 BST): World Matchplay Grand Final
World Matchplay Darts 2026Â Live Stream Details:
For fans in the United Kingdom, the tournament will be broadcasted live on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Action, and the new Sky Sports+ channel.
Viewers in the United States can stream the live matches on Peacock. International fans across rest of the world can tune in via DAZN, Viaplay, or through the official PDCTV subscription pass.
As for fans looking to watch in India, the official television broadcast partner has not yet been confirmed by the tournament organizers.Â
