Doubled Prize Money: World Darts Champion in 2026 Set to Win Record £1 Million

The 2026 World Darts Champion will secure a record £1 million prize – twice the current amount. Luke Littler received in January for the claim of the 2025 championship.

The largest monetary boost ever recorded in history. Professional Darts Corporation has been confirmed, featuring a larger 128-player roster at the 2026 World Championship vying for a £5 million prize pool.

Securing the largest financial reward in the sport, PDC CEO Matt Porter stated: "The £1 million championship prize for the world champion underscores darts' position as one of the most thrilling and sought-after disciplines globally. This unprecedented sum is bound to grab attention with its status as the highest payout in the history of the game."

Nevertheless, the enhanced prize money unveiled today underscores our dedication to boosting earning opportunities for athletes across various tiers within the PDC framework.

Enlarging the participant pool for the World Darts Championship, Grand Slam of Darts will provide more opportunities than ever before for players around the world to feature in televised PDC events.

The remarkable expansion of the PDC in recent years has propelled darts to unprecedented heights in terms of playing opportunities and worldwide appeal.

“This is a huge moment for all players with the ambition to make it to the very pinnacle of the sport.”

The world of darts has been abuzz recently due to discussions surrounding potential record-breaking prize money. This surge in interest can be attributed partly to the influence that 18-year-old Littler has had on the sport in the last twelve months or so.

"It has been £500,000 for the past several years, but I believe that could be the next significant milestone for us as players," Littler commented recently when questioned about the potential for the World Championship victor to receive a prize of £1 million instead.

Clearly, whichever contestant wins will undoubtedly climb right to the top spot.

The prize money for PDC events will increase to £7 million in 2026 compared to this year's amounts.

The Premier The league prize money pool will rise to £1.25 million starting in 2026, with £350,000 allocated for the champion of next season.

A £1 million prize fund will be up for grabs at both the World Matchplay and the Grand Slam of Darts. Additionally, starting from 2026, which marks the event’s 20th edition, the Grand Slam of Darts will increase its player count to 48 participants.

The four additional Premier events—the World Grand Prix, Players Championship finals, European Championship, and UK Open—will see an uptick in their prize funds to £750,000 each. Meanwhile, both the World Cup of Darts and the World Series of Darts Finals will boost their respective purses by another £50,000.

The prize money for European Tour events will go up to £230,000 per tournament for the 14 scheduled for next year, whereas the 34 Players Championship events will see an increase to £150,000 each.

Beyond the Pro Tour there will also be a £5,000 per event increase for Challenge Tour, Development Tour and Women’s Series events.

The Women’s World Matchplay will swell to a £40,000 prize fund and there will be a 50 per cent rise in funding for global affiliate tours and overseas development.

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