The World Grand Prix returns to the Mattioli Arena in Leicester from September 28 to October 4, 2026, with its unique double-in, double-out format. Luke Littler arrives as defending champion after defeating Luke Humphries 6-1 in last year's final to claim his first ever title in the format. Gian van Veen also broke the record for the highest average in a losing cause, going down 2-0 to Littler in the first round with a 106.47 average.
The tournament begins the road towards the PDC World Darts Championship and stands out for its double-in, double-out format. The first round takes place on Monday and Tuesday, the second round on Wednesday and Thursday, and the quarter-finals on Friday, all with 19:00 BST starts. The semi-finals follow on Saturday and the final on Sunday, both commencing at 20:00 BST. The 2026 edition moves from its traditional slot to late September instead of the first week of October.
Qualification sees the top 16 automatically qualify, with Luke Humphries, Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen among those resting easy. The other 16 slots have been determined by the PDC Order of Merit, with money accumulated from events such as the Pro Tour and European Tour building up over the year. The cut-off is September 28.
The Mattioli Arena, based in Leicester, first opened in 2016 and was primarily purposed for the Leicester Riders basketball team. It has hosted snooker, handball and wheelchair basketball, and can hold around 3,000 people for concerts. The first darts event there came in 2019, hosting the now extinct Champions League of Darts when it was known as the Morningside Arena. The Grand Prix has been in Leicester every year since 2021. Previously, it was held at the Casino Rooms in Rochester in 1998 and 1999, the Crosbie Cedars Hotel in Rosslare in 2000, the Citywest Hotel in Dublin from 2001 to 2019, and the Ricoh Arena in Coventry in 2020.
Tickets are usually on sale in May with a PDCTV membership for priority, costing £49.99 a year, which gives pre-sale access for numerous events plus live coverage of Pro Tour, European Tour and World Series events. A second window sale is then held with a general sale for remaining seats, which have gone very quickly. The Mattioli Arena is easily commutable, with numerous bus routes from the railway station and the closest stop at St Margaret's bus station, a 10-15 minute walk away. Taxi services can get you right outside the Arena, and car-parking spaces are available but fill up fast, with nearby pay and display car parks including St Margaret's car park and ones in the city centre. The main train station is a 20 minute walk.
In 2025, a total of £600,000 was up for grabs in Leicester. The winner received £120,000, the runner-up £60,000, and the semi-finalists £40,000. Quarter-finalists got £25,000, last-16 appearance earned £15,000, and a first-game loss brought a consolation prize of £7,500. In 2026, the prize money will go up to £750,000 on offer, with the winner taking home £150,000. The increases are: winner +£30,000, runner-up +£20,000, semi-finalists +£10,000, quarter-finalists +£10,000, and last 16 losers +£5,000.
Only three nine-darters have been thrown in the history of the World Grand Prix. The first came in 2011 from Brendan Dolan in his semi-final against James Wade. Dolan opened with double 20, followed by two treble 20s to start with 160, then a perfect 180, and finished with triple 20, triple 17 and the bullseye. It earned him the nickname 'The History Maker' and a place in the final. Three years later, in 2014, James Wade and Robert Thornton both threw nine-darters in the same match – the first and still only time this has happened live on television. Wade started his perfect leg with 160, then threw 180 and completed via triple 20, triple 17 and the bullseye. Thornton later repeated the same feat in exactly the same way.
Phil Taylor has the most World Grand Prix titles with 11 (1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013). Michael van Gerwen is second with 6 (2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2022). Other winners include Alan Warriner (2001), Colin Lloyd (2004), James Wade (2007, 2010), Robert Thornton (2015), Daryl Gurney (2017), Gerwyn Price (2020), Jonny Clayton (2021), Luke Humphries (2023), Mike De Decker (2024) and current champion Luke Littler (2025).
The double-in, double-out format requires a player to hit a double to start scoring, meaning any points scored before a double do not count. To win the leg, a player must finish on a double, as in most PDC events. The first round is best of 3 sets, the second round and quarter-finals best of 5 sets, the semi-finals best of 7 sets, and the final best of 11 sets. The double-in requirement adds extra pressure at the start of each leg, making it possible for a player to score heavily yet still be unable to win until they hit a starting double. It starts on 501 like a normal leg of darts, but the only difference is you finish on a double.
