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the Players Championship Order of Merit compete for £750,000 in total prize money – defending champion Luke Littler has withdrawn from the last two Players Championships in Leicester and will not be taking part in Minehead.

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; what counts is the prize money won there. In 2026 the series is played in Hildesheim, Wigan, Leicester, Milton Keynes and, for the first time, in Den Bosch. The cut-off date for the places is 5 November 2026, the conclusion 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 – apart from the 2020 pandemic edition at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry – has been the tournament's home. It is played as a knockout, with the number of Legs needed rising from round to round: rounds 1 and 2 are Best of 11 Legs, the last 16 and quarter-finals Best of 19 Legs, the semi-finals and final Best of 21 Legs. Since 64 players have taken part since 2016, the matches in the first three rounds are split across two stages (main stage and second stage). The draw follows the ranking, so number 1 meets number 64 in the opener, number 2 meets number 63 and so on. The provisional bracket as of 30 October 2026 features in round 1, among others, 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 change before the cut-off. 2026 will be the last time Minehead is 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, 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 in 2025 – just a week after his Grand Slam of Darts win – beat Nathan Aspinall 11-8 in the final to claim his ninth major title; Gerwyn Price and Jermaine Wattimena reached the semi-finals back then. A title defence is out of the question in 2026: Littler has withdrawn from the last double event in Leicester, so it is now certain that the world champion will not play at the Players Championship Finals – with £10,500 he is only 128th in the relevant qualifying ranking. 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 in seventh. The biggest jump was made by Tommy Morris: the Challenge Tour player moved up to 45th by reaching the final and has all but secured a 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 bottom of the top 64: Wesley Plaisier holds the last qualifying spot with £31,750, Gerwyn Price is 58th with £34,000, just £2,250 ahead, 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 Nathan Aspinall (78th), Josh Rock (80th), Raymond van Barneveld (81st, £25,750 and £6,000 behind Plaisier), Peter Wright (86th) and Ryan Joyce (91st) – all of them are playing the final two events in Leicester. 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
  • 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 – and is he playing?

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. A title defence is off the table, though: Littler has pulled out of the final double event in Leicester, so it is now certain that he will not play at the Players Championship Finals 2026 – with £10,500 he is only 128th in the relevant qualifying ranking. The record winner of the tournament is Michael van Gerwen with seven titles.

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.

Who is still fighting for the last spots before the darts finals tournament in Minehead 2026?

After Players Championship 32, Wesley Plaisier holds the last qualifying spot with £31,750. Gerwyn Price (58th) has a lead of just £2,250 on £34,000, Mike De Decker (61st) is on £33,250, and Gary Anderson has slipped from 64th to 68th, but is only £2,000 adrift. Also outside the qualifying places are Nathan Aspinall (78th), Josh Rock (80th), Raymond van Barneveld (81st, £25,750) and Peter Wright (86th). The best German is Martin Schindler in 46th, with Ricardo Pietreczko in 73rd.

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.

Where are the PDC Players Championship Finals shown on TV and live stream?

In the UK and Ireland, ITV4 broadcasts the tournament. In German-speaking countries, DAZN shows every session live and both stages in a multi-screen feed; the paid PDC.TV live stream additionally carries all matches on the secondary stage, and the event is also free to watch on the DAZN Darts X channel on Pluto TV.

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