World Grand Prix 2026: Start Time, UK TV Channel and How to Watch Live
The wait is almost over. The World Grand Prix returns to Leicester on Monday, September 28, with 32 of the world’s best darts players ready to tackle one of the strangest and most unforgiving tournaments on the PDC calendar.
For casual fans, it can look like just another major darts event. It is anything but. The World Grand Prix is the only PDC major where players must hit a double or the bullseye to begin scoring in every leg, before also finishing on a double or bullseye. That simple difference can completely change a match.
And with Luke Littler returning as defending champion, Michael van Gerwen trying to rediscover his best form, and Luke Humphries, Gerwyn Price and Gian van Veen all in the field, there is plenty to watch over the next seven days.
World Grand Prix 2026 Start Date and Venue
The 2026 World Grand Prix begins on Monday, September 28, at Leicester’s Mattioli Arena and runs through Sunday, October 4.
The opening two nights begin at 6pm UK time, with the first round split across Monday and Tuesday. The tournament then moves into the second round from Wednesday, September 30, with play scheduled from 7pm.
The quarter-finals take place on Friday, October 2, from 7pm, followed by the semi-finals on Saturday at 8pm. The tournament concludes with the final on Sunday, October 4, also starting at 8pm.
So if you’re planning your week around the action, Monday night is the big starting point.
How to Watch the World Grand Prix in the UK
Sky Sports remains the home of darts in the UK, with the entire World Grand Prix being shown live from September 28 through October 4.
That means subscribers can follow the tournament across Sky Sports platforms, while viewers without a traditional Sky subscription can also access Sky Sports through NOW.
There is also coverage available through talkSPORT, which is providing live updates and commentary through its various platforms during the tournament.
For fans who simply want to know when to switch on, the first session begins at 6pm on Monday and Tuesday, before the scheduled start time moves later in the tournament.
Luke Littler Begins His Title Defence
The biggest name in Leicester will undoubtedly be Luke Littler.
The 19-year-old arrives as the defending champion after winning the 2025 World Grand Prix, beating Luke Humphries in the final. His first-round opponent this year is Luke Woodhouse, with the winner then facing either Nathan Aspinall or Kevin Doets in the second round.
Littler’s presence makes this tournament particularly intriguing because he has already produced an extraordinary 2026 campaign.
He has collected major titles including the World Championship, World Masters, UK Open, Premier League and World Matchplay, leaving him with the possibility of adding another major trophy to an already remarkable season.
However, Littler will not arrive in Leicester completely free of questions.
His hopes of completing a clean sweep of the year’s major tournaments were ended by Jonny Clayton at the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam, where he suffered a 10-4 quarter-final defeat.
That makes his World Grand Prix defence an interesting test.
The Double-In, Double-Out Format
The double-in, double-out format is what makes the World Grand Prix so different.
Players cannot simply step up and immediately attack the treble 20. They first have to hit a double or the bullseye before their score starts counting.
That creates opportunities for dramatic swings because a player can throw well but repeatedly fail to establish a scoring visit. At the other end, finishing is still required with a double or bullseye.
Matches are played in sets, with the first round being best of three sets. Each set is best of five legs, meaning a player needs to win three legs to take it.
The later rounds become progressively longer, with the semi-finals played over the best of nine sets and the final over the best of 11.
It is a format that rewards composure as much as raw scoring power.
The Contenders Chasing Littler
Littler may be the defending champion, but the draw is packed with players capable of stopping him.
Luke Humphries begins against Dave Chisnall and could face Chris Dobey or Jermaine Wattimena in the second round. Humphries won the World Grand Prix in 2023 and reached the final again in 2024, so he has plenty of experience with the format.
Gerwyn Price, meanwhile, faces Sebastian Bialecki, while Jonny Clayton takes on Krzysztof Ratajski.
Clayton is particularly interesting after being the player who ended Littler’s recent World Series title ambitions. Meanwhile, Ross Smith enters the tournament fresh from winning the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam, where he defeated Price 11-5 in the final.
Michael van Gerwen also has plenty to prove.
The six-time World Grand Prix champion faces Ryan Joyce in the opening round after a difficult period that included a first-round defeat to Daryl Gurney at the World Series Finals.
That could make his opening match one of the most closely watched contests of the entire first round.
A £750,000 Prize Pool
There is serious money on the line as well.
The total prize fund has increased to £750,000, with the winner taking £150,000. The runner-up receives £80,000, while the semi-finalists collect £50,000 each.
Even first-round losers receive £7,500.
But for the biggest names, the trophy is clearly the bigger prize.
This is a ranking event and another major title can reshape the conversation around a player’s season, particularly with the European Championship, Grand Slam and World Championship still ahead.
Why This World Grand Prix Matters
What makes this year’s tournament so compelling is the mixture of established champions and players pushing the next generation of darts forward.
Littler wants another trophy. Humphries wants to close the gap. Van Gerwen needs a major run. Price wants to end a four-year wait for another major crown, while Ross Smith arrives with enormous confidence after his Amsterdam triumph.
And then there is the format itself, which can turn expectations upside down.
A player who dominates standard scoring can suddenly find himself struggling if the doubles disappear. That is why the World Grand Prix often produces matches that feel completely different from ordinary PDC tournaments.
The first darts will fly from 6pm UK time on Monday, September 28, and by Sunday evening, one player will have survived the unique challenge of Leicester.
With Littler defending his crown and so many dangerous challengers waiting, this could be one of the most unpredictable majors of the year. For darts fans, the question is simple: who will handle the doubles, the pressure and the long week well enough to lift the World Grand Prix trophy?