Darts' World Grand Prix: Format, results and prize money

The 2026 Darts World Grand Prix commenced on Monday, 28 September, marking one of the Professional Darts Corporation's major championships. This tournament employs a double in, double out format, distinguishing it from other major titles. The field consists of 32 players, comprising the top 16 ranked players from the PDC's Order of Merit and the top 16 from the past 12 months who were not already qualified. A total prize pool of £750,000 is on offer, with the champion earning £150,000.

Luke Littler, the reigning champion from 2025, encountered an early exit, being defeated by Luke Woodhouse in the opening round. Littler's victory in 2025 was a dominant 6-1 win over Luke Humphries. The double in, double out format requires players to commence each leg on a double, as opposed to any scoring area on the dartboard. This rule has been integral to the World Grand Prix since its inception in 1998.

Matches are determined by sets, with each set being the best of five legs. The first round is a best-of-three-sets match, escalating to five sets in the subsequent rounds. The quarter-finals continue as the best of five sets, while the semi-finals expand to nine sets. The final is a race to six sets, or a best-of-11 legs.

The tournament's schedule unfolds over five days, commencing on Monday, 28 September. The first round takes place each day, followed by the second, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and culminating in the final on Sunday, 4 October. The prize fund has been increased to £750,000 for 2026, a 25% rise from last year's £600,000. The winner is set to pocket £150,000, while the runner-up takes home £80,000. Other prizes have also seen an increase, with the first round loser earning £7,500.