The 2026 World Grand Prix is set to commence from September 28 to October 4 at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester, but the tournament's long-term future at the venue is under scrutiny. Luke Littler will arrive in the Midlands as the reigning champion and huge title favourite, desperate to show his worth in the doubles-in, double-out format despite his World Series of Darts Finals blip. The 2023 winner Luke Humphries is the biggest threat on paper, with Gerwyn Price, Jonny Clayton, Gian van Veen, Michael van Gerwen, Josh Rock, Gary Anderson, Stephen Bunting, Nathan Aspinall, Wessel Nijman and Ross Smith all title candidates.
However, the main talking point may not be the action on the oche. The crowds have not been as strong as other tournaments, with players coming out and criticising them last year. Josh Rock was one of the players very critical, venting his frustration in an interview with The Metro last year. "It's meant to be a major. So I think maybe they need to find somewhere that they know they're going to get the fans from Monday all the way to Sunday. That's my opinion, they need to change the venue," Rock said. Only 90% of the capacity was filled last time out, an increase from the year before's woeful 70%, leading to a depleted atmosphere and criticism over the venue.
The World Grand Prix has had numerous homes. First competed in 1998, the first two years were hosted at the Casino Rooms in Rochester before moving to Crosbie Cedars Hotel, Rosslare, in 2000. From 2001-2019, the event was held at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin, where Irish darts fans would come in their numbers and watch the best players in the world compete for major glory. One of its most defining features was the crowds, with the support regularly getting lavishly praised. Once the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Coventry stepped in for the 2020 event before it found a new home in Leicester.
Dublin is the clear choice if the PDC moves away from the Mattioli Arena. Ireland is starving for darting action, with Premier League Darts events in Belfast and Dublin simply not enough. The World Grand Prix was held in Dublin for 19 editions, synonymous with cracking atmospheres. There is also a lot of hype around Irish darts. Northern Ireland won the 2025 World Cup of Darts, seeing a lot of attention go the way of Rock and Daryl Gurney. Also, one of the Republic of Ireland's own, William O'Connor, has gone up a gear in 2026. He qualified for the event for the first time since 2015 and was a fan favourite in Dublin, with his walk-on always a special moment.
From the PDC's point of view, they may incline to this, but it is not that simple. They are a business, and money talks. If they can continue getting fans to attend the event at the Mattioli Arena, then there is little doubt in their mind. Being in Leicester has its positives from a travelling point of view, not just for the players but for all the staff. Leicester is fairly straightforward to get to, with a number of Players Championship events held there for that reason. Dublin is harder to get to for many, but it should not be too much of a logistical issue. If the tournament continues to work in Leicester, change may not be on the mind of the PDC. However, they have shown in the past their willingness to be open-minded and change stuff if necessary. The argument is strong to return to Dublin, and it would be a decision met with widespread positivity.
