The 2026 World Grand Prix is almost here, and darts fans do not have to wait much longer for one of the most distinctive tournaments on the PDC calendar.
From September 28, 32 of the world’s top players will descend on Leicester for a week of high-pressure darts, with Luke Littler returning to defend the title he won in spectacular fashion last year. The tournament runs through October 4, meaning the next seven days will determine who gets their hands on one of the sport’s most prestigious trophies.
For fans hoping to watch the action in person, however, there is an important detail: tickets are already in high demand, with several sessions sold out.
When does the 2026 World Grand Prix start?
The 2026 BoyleSports World Grand Prix begins on Monday, September 28, at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester.
The opening night gets underway at 6pm BST, with eight first-round matches scheduled. The first round continues on Tuesday, September 29, before the tournament moves into the second round on Wednesday and Thursday.
The quarter-finals will be played on Friday, October 2, followed by the semi-finals on Saturday, October 3. The tournament concludes with the final on Sunday, October 4.
The later sessions begin at 7pm BST for the second round and quarter-finals, while the semi-finals and final are scheduled for 8pm BST.
That gives supporters a full week of live darts, with the field gradually shrinking from 32 players to the eventual champion.
Where is the World Grand Prix being played?
The tournament is being staged at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester.
The venue has become closely associated with the World Grand Prix after the tournament moved to Leicester following its long spell at Dublin’s Citywest Hotel.
The event was held in Dublin from 2001 to 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the 2020 tournament to be staged at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena. The World Grand Prix then moved permanently to Leicester from 2021.
For darts fans, the Mattioli Arena has now become a familiar setting for one of the most unusual tournaments in the sport.
The arena is located on Memory Lane in Leicester, with the spectator entrance listed as LE1 3UL. Doors are scheduled to open 90 minutes before each session, although fans are advised to check their individual tickets because opening arrangements can vary.
How does the World Grand Prix work?
This is not just another standard PDC tournament.
The World Grand Prix is famous for its double-in, double-out format. Players must hit a double to begin a leg, as well as hitting a double to finish it.
That small change creates a completely different tactical challenge.
A player can throw brilliantly on the scoring numbers but still struggle if they cannot find the required double to get started. It is one of the reasons the World Grand Prix can produce surprises and why experienced players often approach it differently from other major tournaments.
The format also makes the early stages particularly unforgiving.
With 32 players involved, there is very little room for a slow start. One poor session on the doubles can send a major contender home before they have had the chance to build momentum.
Luke Littler returns as defending champion
All eyes will naturally be on Luke Littler.
The reigning champion claimed his first World Grand Prix title last year by beating Luke Humphries 6-1 in the final. It was a particularly impressive achievement because the double-start format had previously given Littler another difficult test.
Now he returns knowing exactly what it takes to win the tournament.
Littler’s opening match comes against Luke Woodhouse on Monday night, setting up an intriguing start to his title defence. If he gets through that contest, he will face either Nathan Aspinall or Kevin Doets in the second round.
The challenge, of course, is that defending a major title can be very different from winning it for the first time.
Who else is competing?
Littler is far from the only major name in Leicester.
Former champion Luke Humphries is among the biggest threats to his title defence. Humphries won the World Grand Prix in 2023 and will open his campaign against Dave Chisnall on Tuesday.
Michael van Gerwen is another player who cannot be ignored. The Dutchman is a six-time World Grand Prix champion and begins his campaign against Ryan Joyce.
There are also former champions Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton in the field, while players including Gary Anderson, Stephen Bunting, Josh Rock, Gian van Veen, Wessel Nijman and Nathan Aspinall will all be looking to make deep runs.
That is what makes this tournament so fascinating. The format can punish even the biggest names if they fail to settle quickly.
How much are World Grand Prix tickets?
Ticket prices vary depending on the session and seating location.
For the opening sessions on Monday and Tuesday, table tickets are £36, while tier tickets cost £31. Wednesday’s second-round session has the same pricing.
Thursday’s second-round session and Friday’s quarter-finals cost £46 for table tickets and £41 for tier tickets.
Saturday’s semi-finals are £46 for table tickets and £41 for tier tickets, while Sunday’s final costs £41 for table tickets and £36 for tier tickets.
Booking fees may also apply.
However, availability is now the bigger issue than price.
The Friday and Saturday sessions have already sold out, while only limited availability remains for some of the earlier sessions. Fans looking to attend should therefore use the official ticketing channels advertised by the PDC rather than relying on unofficial sellers.
The PDC has specifically advised supporters to purchase tickets only through official box offices advertised on its website.
A huge week for darts fans
The World Grand Prix has a special place on the PDC calendar because it offers something fans cannot get from most other major tournaments.
The double-in, double-out format changes everything, the field is packed with elite players and the short early-round formats leave almost no room for mistakes.
And with Littler trying to defend his crown, Humphries looking to reclaim the trophy and van Gerwen chasing another title, there is plenty of history waiting to be made in Leicester.
For those watching from home, the tournament promises seven days of elite darts. For those lucky enough to have tickets, the Mattioli Arena should provide an entirely different experience.
The 2026 World Grand Prix begins on September 28 and ends with the final on October 4. With tickets disappearing and the biggest names in darts ready to battle under the unique double-start rules, Leicester is set for another memorable week.
The big question now is whether Littler can do it again — or whether someone else will leave Leicester with the trophy.