Read everything you need to know about the World Grand Prix Darts, the unique double-in, double-out event hosted at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester.
World champion Luke Littler completed a stunning title triumph at the 2025 World Grand Prix and we've got all the details you need ahead of the 2026 staging.
Dates
The 2026 World Grand Prix will be held between Monday 28th September until Sunday 4th October.
The week-long festival of darts invites 32 of the world’s best players to compete in set-play matches as Littler attempts to defend his crown.
Prize Money
Winner (1): | £150,000 |
Runner-Up (1): | £60,000 |
Semi-Final Losers (2): | £40,000 |
Quarter-Final Losers (4): | £25,000 |
Second Round Losers (8): | £15,000 |
First Round Losers (16): | £7,500 |
The 2026 World Grand Prix will feature a £750,000 prize pot, with a £150,000 share of that being allocated to the winner.
Venue & location
The 2026 World Grand Prix will be staged at the 3,000 capacity Mattioli Arena in Leicester, which has been its home since 2021.
The tournament was held at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry during the Covid-19 pandemic, with a further three venues playing host to the event in previous years, including its iconic former home, the CityWest Hotel in Dublin.
Format and Rules
The World Grand Prix is considered one of the hardest events to qualify for and follows a similar qualification structure to the World Matchplay.
The top 16 players on the PDC Order of Merit and the next top 16 players on the PDC ProTour Order of Merit make up the 32 player line-up each year.
The competition differs from any other on the PDC Tour given the fact that it is played under the unique double-start format, where players must start each leg by hitting a double.
A player will only start scoring points in a leg once they hit a double, with the points value of the double counting as the first scoring dart.
History
The World Grand Prix was first introduced into the darting calendar back in 1998, with Phil Taylor capturing the title in its inaugural year.
'The Power' went on to win a record-setting 11 titles over the following 15 years with his final victory coming in 2013.
In recent years the champions have come with slightly more variation, with five winners in the last five years featuring Michael van Gerwen, Jonny Clayton, Gerwyn Price, Luke Humphries and reigning champion Mike De Decker.
Famously, Brendan Dolan made darting history in 2011 as he became the first player to throw a televised nine-dart leg in the double-start format.
This came in a semi-final game against James Wade with the Northern Irishman adopting the nickname of ‘The History Maker’.
Similarly, in 2014, history was made when James Wade and Robert Thornton both threw nine-dart legs in their second round clash.
This remains the only time in World Grand Prix history in which two players have thrown a nine darter in a televised match.
