Players Championship Finals 2026

27 – 29 November 2026 · Butlin's Minehead Resort, Minehead

The Players Championship Finals 2026 are the 19th edition of the PDC major and take place from 27 to 29 November 2026 at Butlin's Resort in Minehead. The top 64 players in the Players Championship Order of Merit compete for £750,000 in total prize money – after the withdrawals of defending champion Luke Littler and Nathan Aspinall from the last Players Championships in Leicester, both 2025 finalists are missing.

The Players Championship Finals 2026 are the 19th edition of the major tournament organised by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and will be held from 27 to 29 November 2026 at Butlin's Resort in Minehead (England) – for the 14th time in Minehead. The title sponsor is Ladbrokes. The top 64 players in the Players Championship Order of Merit are eligible, a separate ranking that counts only the 34 non-televised Players Championship events on the PDC Pro Tour; the prize money won there decides the standings. In 2026 the series is played in Hildesheim, Wigan, Leicester, Milton Keynes and, for the first time, Den Bosch. The cut-off date for the places is 5 November 2026, i.e. the end of the last two series events in Leicester on 4 and 5 November 2026. The event was first held in 2009 at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet; since 2012 Minehead – with the exception of the 2020 pandemic edition at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry – has been the home of the tournament. The tournament is played as a knockout, with the number of Legs needed rising from round to round: the 1st and 2nd rounds are played as Best of 11 Legs, the last 16 and quarter-finals as Best of 19 Legs, and the semi-finals and final as Best of 21 Legs. As 64 players have taken part since 2016, the matches of the first three rounds are spread across two stages (main stage and secondary stage). The draw follows the ranking, so number 1 meets number 64 in the opening round, number 2 meets number 63 and so on. The provisional bracket as of 30 October 2026 features first-round ties including Wessel Nijman against Wesley Plaisier, Michael van Gerwen against Joe Hunt, Beau Greaves against Gerwyn Price, Rob Cross against Martin Schindler and Ryan Searle against Gian van Veen; the field can still shift before the cut-off. 2026 is the last time Minehead will be played with 64 participants – from 2027 there will be 128 players. For 2026 the prize money has been increased by £150,000 from £600,000 to £750,000. The winner receives £130,000 for the first time, the runner-up £70,000 and the semi-finalists £40,000 each; even a first-round appearance is worth £4,000. The prize money counts towards the PDC Order of Merit, which makes the tournament hugely important for the world ranking positions ahead of the World Championship. The event is seen as the dress rehearsal for the 2027 World Darts Championship, which starts two weeks later. The defending champion is Luke Littler, who won the 2025 final 11-8 against Nathan Aspinall – only a week after his Grand Slam of Darts victory – to claim his ninth major title; Gerwyn Price and Jermaine Wattimena reached the semi-finals back then. In 2026 both of last year's finalists are missing: Littler played only two events in the Players Championship series, sits 128th in the relevant qualifying ranking with £10,500 and has withdrawn from the closing double-header in Leicester. Nathan Aspinall pulled out of Players Championships 33 and 34 at short notice on 2 November 2026; he played only 13 of the 32 events held so far, earned £26,500 and can therefore no longer move into the top 64. After Players Championship 32 Wessel Nijman leads unassailably with £154,500 ahead of Chris Dobey (£118,750), who returned to second place with his 7-4 final win over Tommy Morris, and Kevin Doets (£113,250); Luke Woodhouse and Andrew Gilding complete the top five, with Beau Greaves seventh. The biggest climb was made by Tommy Morris: the Challenge Tour player moved up to 45th by reaching the final and has all but secured his place. Ricardo Pietreczko gained ten places with a quarter-final run and is 73rd; the best German is Martin Schindler in 46th. It is tight at the end of the top 64: Wesley Plaisier holds the last qualifying place with £31,750, Gerwyn Price is 58th with £34,000 and a lead of only £2,250, and Mike De Decker (61st) has £33,250. Gary Anderson has dropped from 64th to 68th but is only £2,000 behind. Also outside the qualifying places are Josh Rock (80th), Raymond van Barneveld (81st, £25,750 and £6,000 behind Plaisier), Peter Wright (86th) and Ryan Joyce (91st); Anderson, Rock and van Barneveld are on the entry list for the last two events in Leicester and still have qualification in their own hands. The record winner is Michael van Gerwen with seven titles.

At a glance

  • Organiser: Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)
  • Venue: Butlin's Resort, Minehead (England) – 14th edition in Minehead
  • Edition: 19th edition
  • Date: 27 to 29 November 2026
  • First held: 2009 (Circus Tavern, Purfleet)
  • Total prize money: £750,000 (increased from £600,000 in 2026)
  • Defending champion: Luke Littler (11:8 against Nathan Aspinall, 2025) – withdrew from the last double tournament in Leicester and will not play in Minehead
  • Last year's finalists: Both 2025 finalists are missing: Nathan Aspinall withdrew his entry for Players Championships 33 and 34 on 2 November 2026 and, like Luke Littler, misses out on qualification
  • Most titles: Michael van Gerwen (7 titles)
  • Sponsor: Ladbrokes
  • Significance: Seen as the dress rehearsal for the 2027 World Darts Championship starting two weeks later
  • TV: ITV4 (UK and Ireland), DAZN and PDC.TV in German-speaking countries
  • Qualification cut-off: 5 November 2026 (after Players Championships 33 and 34 in Leicester)
  • Last year with 64 players: 2026 in Minehead will be the last time with 64 participants, from 2027 there will be 128 players
  • Leader of the qualifying ranking: Wessel Nijman (£154,500 after Players Championship 32) ahead of Chris Dobey (£118,750) and Kevin Doets (£113,250)
  • Last qualifying spot: Wesley Plaisier with £31,750 in 64th place – Gerwyn Price (£34,000) is only £2,250 ahead

Related rankings

FAQ

When and where do the Players Championship Finals 2026 take place?

The Players Championship Finals 2026 take place from 27 to 29 November 2026 at Butlin's Resort in Minehead (England). Friday and Saturday each feature an afternoon session from 1.45pm and an evening session from 8pm; on Sunday the quarter-finals follow from 1.45pm, the semi-finals from 8pm and the final from 10.45pm.

Who is the defending champion at the PC Finals 2026?

The defending champion is Luke Littler, who won the 2025 final 11-8 against Nathan Aspinall and claimed his ninth major title just a week after the Grand Slam of Darts. The record winner of the Players Championship Finals is Michael van Gerwen with seven titles.

Why are Luke Littler and Nathan Aspinall missing from the Players Championship Finals 2026?

Both of last year's finalists miss out on qualification: Littler played only two events of the series in 2026, sits 128th in the Players Championship Order of Merit with £10,500 and withdrew from the closing double-header in Leicester. Nathan Aspinall pulled his entry for Players Championships 33 and 34 on 2 November 2026; with £26,500 from just 13 events he can no longer move into the top 64. It stayed tight at the bottom of the field: Wesley Plaisier took the last qualifying spot with £31,750, Gerwyn Price (£34,000) had a lead of only £2,250 and Gary Anderson dropped back to 68th.

How much prize money is there at the darts in Minehead 2026?

The total prize money for the Players Championship Finals rises by £150,000 in 2026, from £600,000 to £750,000. The winner receives £130,000 for the first time, the runner-up £70,000 and the semi-finalists £40,000 each; a first-round defeat is worth £4,000.

What format is played at the PC Finals?

The tournament is played as a knockout with 64 players. Rounds 1 and 2 are Best of 11 Legs, the last 16 and the quarter-finals Best of 19 Legs, while the semi-finals and the final are played as Best of 21 Legs. Since 64 players have been taking part since 2016, the matches in the first three rounds are split across two stages.

How do you qualify for the Players Championship Finals?

The top 64 players in the Players Championship Order of Merit qualify; only the 34 non-televised Players Championship events on the PDC Pro Tour count towards it, and the prize money won there is decisive. The cut-off date is 5 November 2026, i.e. the end of the last two events of the series in Leicester on 4 and 5 November 2026. The regular PDC Order of Merit has no bearing on who gets a spot.

Where can you watch the PDC Players Championship Finals 2026 on TV and stream?

In the UK and Ireland, ITV4 broadcasts the tournament. In German-speaking countries, DAZN shows all sessions and both stages in a conference; the Unlimited subscription costs €34.99 a month on an annual plan or €44.99 on a monthly plan, the Super Sports subscription €19.99 or €24.99. All matches on the secondary stage are additionally available on the paid livestream PDC.TV, and the tournament runs free of charge on the DAZN Darts X channel on Pluto TV.

What does the draw for the Darts Players Championship Finals 2026 look like?

The published bracket (as of 30 October 2026) features first-round ties including Wessel Nijman against Wesley Plaisier, Michael van Gerwen against Joe Hunt, Beau Greaves against Gerwyn Price, Rob Cross against Martin Schindler and Ryan Searle against Gian van Veen. What counts is the Players Championship Order of Merit on the 5 November 2026 cut-off date, so the field can still change until then.

Upcoming PDC tournaments