Grand Slam of Darts 2026 Field: All 48 Players Confirmed
The 2026 Grand Slam of Darts is taking shape, and this year’s edition will look very different from anything that has come before. With all 48 places now confirmed, the expanded £1 million tournament at WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton (14–22 November) is now complete — and the latest names through the door are debutants Charlie Manby (Players Championship 31 winner) and Raymond Smith (ANZ Premier League winner).
On this page
Two-time world champion Gary Anderson did not book his place at the Eric Bristow Trophy event, and with the 48-player field now complete, ”The Flying Scotsman” will not be part of the biggest Grand Slam field in history. The final two Players Championship events in Leicester (4–5 November) offered one last direct route — before the Tour Card Holder Qualifier on 6 November completed the field.
Latest Qualifiers: Manby and Smith Make It 36
Charlie Manby is the story of the autumn. The 21-year-old Englishman won Players Championship 31 with an 8–2 victory in the final — his first PDC ranking title — earning direct entry to the Grand Slam and his Wolverhampton debut.
Raymond Smith’s route was longer: the Australian won the ANZ Premier League in Brisbane to book his own debut. They follow Martin Schindler (European Championship finalist) and Henry Coates (Players Championship 25 winner) into the field.
Twelve places remain. The final two Players Championship events in Leicester (4–5 November) offer one last direct route, then the Tour Card Holder Qualifier on Friday 6 November completes the 48-player field — eight days before the first group match. The £1 million prize fund makes every place worth fighting for.
A new era: 48 players, £1 million
The 2026 Grand Slam is undergoing the biggest transformation in its history. The field has been expanded from 32 to 48 players — the first field-size change the tournament has ever seen — with the group stage restructured into 16 groups of three, replacing the eight groups of four used in 2025.
The prize money has jumped accordingly. The total fund rises from £650,000 to £1,000,000, with the champion taking home £200,000 — up £50,000 on last year.
Qualification has been overhauled too. Up to 24 automatic places go to the winners and runners-up of PDC televised events across a twelve-month window, up to 12 further places are invited, and the remainder are topped up from 2026 European Tour and Players Championship winners. The final eight places will come from a Tour Card Holder Qualifier, with the entry deadline on Friday 6 November — just eight days before the tournament begins.
Littler leads the confirmed names
Reigning champion Luke Littler will naturally be there. ”The Nuke” qualified through several televised tournaments and will arrive in Wolverhampton chasing a third consecutive Grand Slam title, having won the event in both 2024 and 2025 — including a 16–11 final victory last year.
He will be joined by last year’s runner-up Luke Humphries, who secured his place by winning the World Grand Prix. Gerwyn Price is also guaranteed his spot after reaching three major televised finals this season — the World Matchplay, the World Grand Prix and the World Series of Darts Finals.
James Wade earned his place by reaching the UK Open final, and it will be a remarkable 19th Grand Slam appearance for ”The Machine”. Ross Smith qualified by winning the World Series of Darts Finals, while Nathan Aspinall’s place comes courtesy of reaching last year’s Players Championship Finals.
European Tour winners Josh Rock, Luke Woodhouse and Krzysztof Ratajski have all done enough to book their spots, as have Players Championship winners Chris Dobey, Cameron Menzies, Ryan Searle, Rob Cross, Andrew Gilding, Gabriel Clemens and Karel Sedlacek — with Dobey and Menzies both winning two floor titles this year.
The latest qualifiers: Clayton, Ashton and Zonneveld
The field grew to 31 in recent days with two more names confirmed. Jonny Clayton secured his place in emphatic fashion by winning the Swiss Darts Trophy — his first ranking title of the season — booking an eighth Grand Slam appearance for the Welshman.
Lisa Ashton, meanwhile, qualified through the PDC Women’s Series rankings and is heading back to Wolverhampton, joining Beau Greaves, who will make a fourth consecutive Grand Slam appearance after reaching the final of the 2025 World Youth Championship.
They join Niels Zonneveld, whose maiden European Tour title at the Dutch Darts Championship booked the Dutchman a Grand Slam debut — a remarkable rise for a player who only lifted his first senior PDC title days ago.
Anderson heads the list of the missing
With 12 places still to be decided, several established names are yet to book their tickets — and none is more notable than Gary Anderson. The two-time world champion’s absence from the confirmed list is the biggest talking point of the qualification race so far.
There are still routes in. The final two Players Championship events in Leicester (4–5 November) provide further chances. The last eight spots will be decided at the Tour Card Holder Qualifier on 6 November. But the clock is ticking: the field will be complete just eight days before the first dart is thrown on 14 November.
When and where to watch
The 2026 Grand Slam of Darts runs from Saturday 14 to Sunday 22 November at WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton. The tournament will be shown live on Sky Sports in the UK, with every match also streamed worldwide on PDC TV.
FAQ
When is the Grand Slam of Darts 2026?
The tournament takes place from 14 to 22 November 2026 at WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton, England.
How many players are in the Grand Slam of Darts 2026?
The field has been expanded to 48 players for the first time in the tournament’s history, playing in 16 groups of three.
What is the prize money for the Grand Slam of Darts 2026?
The prize fund is £1,000,000 — up from £650,000 — with £200,000 going to the champion.
Who is the defending Grand Slam of Darts champion?
Luke Littler, who won in 2024 and 2025 and is chasing a third consecutive title in Wolverhampton.
Has Gary Anderson qualified for the Grand Slam of Darts 2026?
Not yet. The two-time world champion is the most notable name still missing from the confirmed field, with 12 places left to be decided — his remaining routes are the Leicester double-header and the 6 November qualifier.
How do players qualify for the Grand Slam of Darts?
Up to 24 places go to winners and runners-up of PDC televised events, up to 12 are invited, and the rest come from European Tour and Players Championship winners plus an eight-place Tour Card Holder Qualifier.
Conclusion
The 2026 Grand Slam of Darts is shaping up to be a landmark edition: the biggest field in the tournament’s history, the first £1 million prize fund, and a defending champion chasing three titles in a row. With 36 places confirmed and 12 still to be decided – including whether Gary Anderson makes the cut – the road to Wolverhampton promises plenty more drama before the first dart is thrown on 14 November.
