Grand Slam of Darts 2026: Dates, Format and How to Follow Wolverhampton

Updated November 13, 2026, 2:07 a.m. CET (UTC+01:00).

The 2026 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts begins Saturday, November 14, at WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton, with the final scheduled for Sunday, November 22. The biggest change is a first-time expansion to 48 players: 16 groups of three will compete, and only each group winner will reach the last 16. Luke Littler returns as defending champion, while the new format gives every group match extra weight because there is no second-place route into the knockout bracket.

The opening session is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m. GMT on Saturday, November 14 (13:00 UTC). Wolverhampton remains on GMT that day, so the local time and UTC time are the same. The PDC has listed the tournament dates, venue, draw and session schedule in its official event announcement.

Destaques

• The tournament runs November 14–22 at WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton.
• Its expanded field features 48 players in 16 groups of three.
• Only group winners advance; the knockout stage starts with the last 16.
• The total prize fund is £1 million, and Sky Sports is the UK broadcaster.

When and where is the 2026 Grand Slam of Darts?

The event takes place from Saturday, November 14, through Sunday, November 22, at WV Active Aldersley, part of Aldersley Leisure Village in Wolverhampton, England. The PDC calendar confirms the dates and venue, while its draw announcement lists the first session for 13:00 GMT on November 14. That is 1:00 p.m. GMT (UTC) in Wolverhampton; viewers elsewhere should check their local time conversion.

The opening Saturday is a double-session day, with group matches beginning in the afternoon. The round-robin stage continues through the early part of the week. The last-16 knockout matches begin on Wednesday evening, according to the PDC’s published schedule. The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final follow over the closing days. Check the PDC calendar and tournament hub for any schedule updates.

How does the new 48-player format work?

The field is divided into 16 groups, each containing three players. Every player meets the other two once in a short round-robin contest. Group-stage games are best of nine legs: a player needs five legs to win. The format is a significant change from the familiar four-player groups, and it places a premium on a fast start. A single defeat leaves little room for error, while leg difference can matter if players finish level on group points.

The winner of each group advances to the last 16. From there, it is a straight knockout. The second round is best of 19 legs, and the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final are each best of 31 legs. Longer matches reward consistency and give players more time to recover from a slow spell than the short group games do. The PDC lists the round lengths in its format and draw announcement.

Which players and groups should fans watch?

Luke Littler, the defending champion, headlines Group A alongside Niels Zonneveld and Beau Greaves. Three-time champion Gerwyn Price leads Group E, while 2023 champion Luke Humphries is the seeded player in Group I with Joe Cullen and Paolo Nebrida. Group L features Michael van Gerwen, another three-time winner, with Jeffrey de Graaf and Henry Coates.

The draw also brings together different routes into the tournament. The PDC says places are earned through results at televised events and other qualifying competitions, including youth, development, women’s, regional and Players Championship events. Its qualification announcement confirms the 48-player expansion and the £1 million total prize fund. The draw includes established major champions as well as debutants, making the compact group stage an early test for everyone.

What is at stake, and how can UK fans watch?

Players are competing for the Eric Bristow Trophy and a share of £1 million. The PDC has confirmed that the tournament will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK. It also lists international broadcast partners and PDCTV availability, subject to regional exclusions. Check the broadcaster’s current listings for channel and programme times; session start times can differ across the nine days.

The group format makes the most immediate storyline simple: who can win twice and secure a place in the knockout draw? Littler is aiming to extend his run after winning the 2024 and 2025 titles, while former champions Humphries, Price and van Gerwen bring their own experience of the event. Those are contenders, not guaranteed outcomes: the tournament has not started at the time of this update, and results will determine which stories develop.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Grand Slam of Darts 2026 final?

The final is scheduled for Sunday, November 22, at WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton. The PDC has not included the final’s session start time in the draw announcement cited here.

How many players qualify from each group?

One: only the group winner advances to the last 16.

Where can I watch the tournament in the UK?

The PDC lists Sky Sports as the UK broadcaster. Check Sky’s listings for the specific channel and session coverage.