Luke Littler’s already crowded darts calendar is about to get even more demanding.
The PDC has unveiled a reshaped 2027 schedule, adding a brand-new televised European Open, expanding the European Championship, and taking the European Tour to France for the first time. For Littler, the changes mean more opportunities to win major titles, but also another layer of travel and competition.
The headline addition is the inaugural European Open, which will be staged in Salzburg, Austria, from June 18 to 20. It follows the World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt and comes before the World Matchplay in Blackpool, creating another major televised weekend in a packed part of the season.
A New Major For The PDC Calendar
The European Open is particularly interesting because it appears to be the new premier event PDC chief executive Matt Porter had been discussing for months.
Back in July, Porter confirmed that another premier event would be introduced in central Europe during the first half of 2027. He said the intention was partly to create more opportunities for players outside the very top group and improve the balance of the calendar.
For Littler, that is a mixed development. More major tournaments mean more chances for the reigning world champion to add silverware, but they also increase the number of events at which the world’s best players are expected to perform.
France Finally Gets A European Tour Event
The other major geographical change is France.
Liévin will host the fourth European Tour event of 2027 from March 19 to 21, marking the first time the PDC European Tour has staged an event in France.
Porter had already confirmed that another new European Tour destination would be added in 2027, saying the PDC wanted wider representation across the continent. The announcement now delivers on that promise.
The European Tour will feature 15 events, with France joining a schedule that includes Germany, Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belgium, Switzerland, Hungary and the Netherlands.
The Littler Factor
This is where the changes become especially interesting for Littler.
The 19-year-old has shown that he can handle an extraordinary workload, competing across the PDC circuit while collecting major titles. But his recent frustrations with parts of the European schedule have demonstrated that simply adding more tournaments is not automatically good news for every player.
Littler has recently threatened to avoid future events in the Netherlands if crowd behaviour does not improve. He has also spoken about the impact of booing during the Premier League, making the relationship between travel, crowds and workload a talking point around his schedule.
The 2027 calendar does not specifically target Littler. The changes apply across the professional game. But as one of the sport’s biggest stars, he will inevitably be one of the players most affected by the demands of an expanded calendar.
More Major Opportunities
There is another side to this story.
Littler’s rise has been built partly on his ability to thrive when the biggest tournaments arrive. A new televised major gives him another stage on which to build his legacy and potentially add to his growing collection of major titles.
The European Open could also become strategically important because of its position in the season. It arrives shortly after the World Cup and before the World Matchplay, meaning players who maintain form through that stretch could gain momentum.
For the wider field, the opportunity may be even more important. Porter argued that the PDC needs to look beyond the top eight, 10 or 12 players and create opportunities away from floor events.
European Championship Gets A Major Makeover
The European Championship is also changing.
In 2027, the event will expand to six days and take place in Dortmund from October 26 to 31. That gives the tournament a significantly larger footprint late in the season.
The calendar then moves into the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton from November 6 to 14, followed by the Players Championship Finals in Minehead from November 26 to 28.
And, as always, the season ultimately builds towards Alexandra Palace and the World Darts Championship.
A Packed Road Ahead
The 2027 schedule also confirms the return of the Premier League roadshow, beginning in Glasgow on February 4 and finishing with Finals Night at The O2 in London on May 27.
There will be 16 regular nights across 17 locations, including Berlin, Newcastle, Belfast, Cardiff, Dublin, Antwerp, Rotterdam and several major English cities.
Then come the European Tour, World Cup, European Open, World Matchplay and the rest of the major calendar. The volume is enormous.
Is This Really A Blow For Littler?
Calling the changes a straightforward “blow” to Littler would be too simple.
There is no indication that the PDC has changed the calendar specifically to disadvantage him. If anything, the additional major provides another opportunity for him to win a televised title.
The potential downside is the workload. Littler has already demonstrated that the physical and emotional demands of the schedule can become difficult, particularly when travel and difficult crowd environments are added to the equation.
That makes the 2027 calendar fascinating from Littler’s perspective.
He will have more stages, more trophies to chase and more chances to make history. But he will also have more reasons to manage his schedule carefully.
The PDC is clearly betting on growth, expansion and a more international sport. For fans, that means more darts and more opportunities to see the biggest names.
For Littler, it could mean another extraordinary year — but one that demands just as much away from the oche as it does on it.
What do you make of the PDC’s 2027 calendar changes? Does the expanded schedule help Littler, or could the extra workload eventually become a problem?