Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Luke Littler is the current defending Darts World Grand Prix champion
ByJonty ColmanBBC Sport journalist- Published27 September 2026
The 2026 Darts World Grand Prix starts on Monday, 28 September and is one of the Professional Darts Corporation's major titles.
Unlike the rest of the sport's majors, the tournament uses a 'double in, double out' format.
The 32 players featuring are made up of the 16 best-ranked players from the PDC's Order of Merit, and the best 16 from the past 12 months via the Order of Merit who had not already qualified.
A total prize fund of £750,000 is up for grabs, with the winner earning £150,000.
Teenager and current world number one Luke Littler was the winner in 2025, cruising to a 6-1 victory over Luke Humphries in the final.
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Contact formContact formWhat is 'double in, double out?'
The 'double in, double out' darts format presents a big twist to the gameplay.
It means that a player must start all legs on a double, rather than on any scoring zone on the board.
The use of 'double in, double out' has been in use in the World Grand Prix since its inaugural year in 1998.
How many sets are in each match?
The format is in set play, with each set being the best of five legs.
The first round is a best-of-three-sets match, increasing to five sets in the second round.
The quarter-finals stay at the best of five sets, before an increase to nine sets in the semi-finals.
The final is a best-of-11 match, also described as a race to six sets.
Schedule, results & order of play
First round
Monday, 28 September (18:00 BST)
(8) Danny Noppert 2-1 Niko Springer
(13) Ross Smith 2-1 Cameron Menzies
(16) Nathan Aspinall 2-1 Kevin Doets
(5) Jonny Clayton 2-1 Krzysztof Ratajski
(4) Gerwyn Price 2-0 Sebastian Bialecki
(9) Michael van Gerwen v Ryan Joyce
(1) Luke Littler v Luke Woodhouse
(12) Wessel Nijman v Rob Cross
Tuesday, 29 September (18:00 BST)
(15) Chris Dobey v Jermaine Wattimena
(14) Ryan Searle v William O'Connor
(7) Josh Rock v Niels Zonneveld
(6) James Wade v Joe Cullen
(10) Gary Anderson v Damon Heta
(3) Gian van Veen v Dirk van Duijvenbode
(2) Luke Humphries v Dave Chisnall
(11) Stephen Bunting v Andrew Gilding
Second round
Wednesday, 30 September (19:00 BST)
Order of play TBC
Littler/Woodhouse v Nathan Aspinall (16)
(8) Danny Noppert v Van Gerwen/Joyce
(4) Gerwyn Price v Ross Smith (13)
(5) Jonny Clayton v Nijman/Cross
Thursday, 1 October (19:00 BST)
Order of play TBC
Humphries/Chisnall v Dobey/Wattimena
Rock/Zonneveld v Anderson/Heta
Van Veen/Van Duijvenbode v Searle/O'Connor
Wade/Cullen v Bunting/Gilding
Quarter-finals
Friday, 2 October (19:00 BST)
Four matches
Semi-finals
Saturday, 3 October (20:00 BST)
Two matches
Final
Sunday, 4 October (20:00 BST)
One match
What is the prize money?
The prize money for the whole tournament has increased to £750,000 this year, an increase of 25% from last year's £600,000.
The winner will take home £150,000 instead of the £120,000 jackpot 12 months ago. Barring the prize money given to players who lose in the first round, every other value has also increased.
Winner - £150,000
Runner-up - £80,000
Semi-final loser - £50,000
Quarter-final loser - £35,000
Second round loser - £20,000
First round loser - £7,500
Who has previously won the World Grand Prix?
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Mike De Decker beat Luke Humphries in 2024's World Grand Prix final to win his first major title
Phil Taylor is the most successful player in World Grand Prix history, winning the tournament 11 times.
Michael van Gerwen is the next most successful player with six titles, with James Wade (twice) being the only other player to win it multiple times.
The World Grand Prix has produced six different winners in the last six years.
2025 - Luke Littler
2024 – Mike De Decker
2023 – Luke Humphries
2022 – Michael van Gerwen
2021 – Jonny Clayton
2020 – Gerwyn Price
2019 – Michael van Gerwen
2018 - Michael van Gerwen
2017 - Daryl Gurney
2016 - Michael van Gerwen
2015 – Robert Thornton
2014 - Michael van Gerwen
2013 – Phil Taylor
2012 - Michael van Gerwen
2011 – Phil Taylor
2010 – James Wade
2009 - Phil Taylor
2008 - Phil Taylor
2007 – James Wade
2006 - Phil Taylor
2005 - Phil Taylor
2004 – Colin Lloyd
2003 - Phil Taylor
2002 - Phil Taylor
2001 – Alan Warriner
2000 – Phil Taylor
1999 - Phil Taylor
1998 - Phil Taylor
This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.
