Darts News
2026 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE CONFIRMED
Published 26 November 2025
LUKE LITTLER will begin his Paddy Power World Darts Championship defence against Darius Labanauskas on Thursday, December 11.
The defending champ headlines the traditional opening-night session, with 2023 winner Michael Smith also in action against Women’s World Matchplay Champ Lisa Ashton.
Labanauskas will try to pull off a shock no one has managed since 2009, when John Part lost his opener as reigning champion.
Women’s world No1 Beau Greaves starts on Friday, December 19, taking on Daryl Gurney.
Last year’s runner-up Michael van Gerwen begins his campaign on December 18, joined on the night by Fallon Sherrock’s clash with Dave Chisnall.
2024 world champion Luke Humphries faces Ted Evetts on Saturday, December 13, with Gary Anderson bidding for a third World Crown when he takes on Adam Hunt earlier that afternoon.
Gerwyn Price will dominate the headlines on Tuesday December 16, as the 2020/21 World Champion tackles Czech qualifier Adam Gawlas for a place in round two.
Eight-time major winner Peter Wright has been handed one of the most eye-catching first-round ties when he does battle with Noa-Lynn van Leuven on Monday December 15 in the final match of the afternoon session.
Day Seven is headlined by four-time semi-finalist James Wade and German number one Martin Schindler, while five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld marks his record-equalling 33rd World Championship appearance with a tie against Switzerland’s Stefan Bellmont.
A huge £5million purse will be up for grabs at Ally Pally, including a record £1million top prize — the richest payout the sport has ever seen.
This year’s revamped event features a full 128-player field, with every competitor starting from round one.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
2025/26 Paddy Power World Darts Championship
Session Schedule & Round One Schedule
Thursday December 11 (1900 GMT)
Round One x4
Kim Huybrechts v Arno Merk
Michael Smith v Lisa Ashton
Luke Littler v Darius Labanauskas
Madars Razma v Jamai van den Herik
Friday December 12
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round One x4
Niels Zonneveld v Haupai Puha
Ian White v Mervyn King
Ryan Searle v Chris Landman
Rob Cross v Cor Dekker
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round One x4
Ross Smith v Andreas Harrysson
Ricky Evans v Man Lok Leung
Gian van Veen v Cristo Reyes
Damon Heta v Steve Lennon
Saturday December 13
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round One x4
Mario Vandenbogaerde v David Davies
Andrew Gilding v Cam Crabtree
Luke Woodhouse v Boris Krcmar
Gary Anderson v Adam Hunt
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round One x4
Jeffrey de Graaf v Paul Lim
Wessel Nijman v Karel Sedlacek
Luke Humphries v Ted Evetts
Gabriel Clemens v Alex Spellman
Sunday December 14
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round One x4
Ritchie Edhouse v Jonny Tata
Dom Taylor v Oskar Lukasiak
Richard Veenstra v Nitin Kumar
Joe Cullen v Bradley Brooks
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round One x4
Lukas Wenig v Wesley Plaisier
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Darren Beveridge
Stephen Bunting v Sebastian Bialecki
James Hurrell v Stowe Buntz
Monday December 15
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round One x4
Brendan Dolan v Tavis Dudeney
Cameron Menzies v Charlie Manby
Mensur Suljovic v David Cameron
Peter Wright v Noa-Lynn van Leuven
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round One x4
Martin Lukeman v Max Hopp
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Andy Baetens
Jonny Clayton v Adam Lipscombe
Connor Scutt v Simon Whitlock
Tuesday December 16
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round One x4
Alan Soutar v Teemu Harju
Nick Kenny v Justin Hood
Scott Williams v Paolo Nebrida
Chris Dobey v Xiaochen Zong
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round One x4
Ricardo Pietreczko v Jose de Sousa
Danny Noppert v Jurjen van der Velde
Gerwyn Price v Adam Gawlas
Niko Springer v Joe Comito
Wednesday December 17 (1900 GMT)
Round One x4
Matt Campbell v Adam Sevada
Raymond van Barneveld v Stefan Bellmont
James Wade v Ryusei Azemoto
Martin Schindler v Stephen Burton
Thursday December 18
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round One x4
Callan Rydz v Patrik Kovacs
Thibault Tricole v Motomu Sakai
Ryan Joyce v Owen Bates
Mike De Decker v David Munyua
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round One x4
Jermaine Wattimena v Dominik Gruellich
Dave Chisnall v Fallon Sherrock
Michael van Gerwen v Mitsuhiko Tatsunami
Krzysztof Ratajski v Alexis Toylo
Friday December 19
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round One x4
Kevin Doets v Matthew Dennant
Ryan Meikle v Jesus Salate
Mickey Mansell v Leonard Gates
Josh Rock v Gemma Hayter
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round One x4
William O’Connor v Krzysztof Kciuk
Daryl Gurney v Beau Greaves
Nathan Aspinall v Lourence Ilagan
Keane Barry v Tim Pusey
Saturday December 20
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round Two x4
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round Two x4
Sunday December 21
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round Two x4
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round Two x4
Monday December 22
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round Two x4
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round Two x4
Tuesday December 23
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round Two x4
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round Two x4
Saturday December 27
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round Three x3
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round Three x3
Sunday December 28
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round Three x3
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round Three x3
Monday December 29
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round Three x3
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round Three x1, Round Four x2
Tuesday December 30
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round Four x3
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round Four x3
Thursday January 1
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Quarter-Finals x2
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Quarter-Finals x2
Friday January 2 (1930 GMT)
Semi-Finals
Saturday January 3 (2000 GMT)
Final