Players Championship Finals 2026: Dates, Minehead Schedule, Format and Prize Money
Sixty-four players, three days, one title. The Players Championship Finals 2026 runs from 27 to 29 November in Minehead — here is how qualifying, the format and the prize money work.
The Players Championship Finals 2026 takes place from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November 2026 in Minehead. It is the last televised ranking event of the PDC year before the World Darts Championship, and the only Major whose field is built entirely from the year’s Players Championship floor events.
On this page
- Dates: Friday 27 – Sunday 29 November 2026
- Venue: Butlin’s, Minehead, England
- Players: 64 — the top 64 on the Players Championship Order of Merit
- Prize fund: £750,000
- Defending champion: Luke Littler
Players Championship Finals 2026 schedule
| Dates | Event | TV (UK) | Starts (your time) |
|---|---|---|---|
28Oct
28–29 Oct 2026
|
Players Championship 31 & 32 Players Championship Den Bosch | PDCTV (stream) | Times TBC |
4Nov
4–5 Nov 2026
|
Players Championship 33 & 34 Players Championship Leicester | PDCTV (stream) | Times TBC |
27Nov
27–29 Nov 2026
|
Players Championship Finals 2026 Major Minehead | TBC (UK) | Times TBC |
Start times are converted automatically for every visitor. You are seeing: UK time
Three days means a fast schedule. Traditionally the first round takes most of Friday, the second and third rounds fill Saturday, and Sunday hosts the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final. The PDC releases the draw and order of play after the last floor events, and we will add session times here, converted to your time zone, as soon as they are confirmed.
How players qualify
There are no invitations. The top 64 players on the Players Championship Order of Merit — prize money won across the 34 Players Championship floor events of 2026 — qualify automatically. That makes the last four floor events decisive for players near the cut:
- Players Championship 31 & 32: 28–29 October, Den Bosch
- Players Championship 33 & 34: 4–5 November, Leicester
Format
The Players Championship Finals is a straight knockout played in legs. Based on the 2025 edition:
| Round | Match length |
|---|---|
| First and second round | Best of 11 legs |
| Third round and quarter-finals | Best of 19 legs |
| Semi-finals and final | Best of 21 legs |
Short early matches make this one of the most upset-prone events on the calendar: a 64-player field with best-of-11 openers gives the floor specialists a real chance against the big names.
Prize money
As part of the PDC’s record prize money increase, the Players Championship Finals prize fund rose to £750,000 from 2026. The 2026 winner receives £130,000.
2025 final: Littler lands his first title
Luke Littler won the 2025 Players Championship Finals by beating Nathan Aspinall 11–8 — his first Players Championship Finals title.
Why this event matters for Ally Pally
The Players Championship Finals is the last big ranking event before the World Darts Championship, which starts on 11 December. It starts just five days after the Grand Slam of Darts finishes in Wolverhampton.
The World Youth Championship final is also staged in Minehead during the event. And on the same weekend, the WDF World Championship gets under way at the Lakeside.
How to watch
UK TV coverage is confirmed closer to the event. Check our darts on TV guide for the latest, including streaming options outside the UK, and the live darts schedule for everything else on before Christmas.
Official dates: the PDC tournament calendar. For everything else coming up, see our live darts schedule.
Players Championship Finals FAQ
When is the Players Championship Finals 2026?
From Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November 2026.
Where is the Players Championship Finals held?
In Minehead, England.
How do players qualify for the Players Championship Finals?
The top 64 players on the Players Championship Order of Merit, based on prize money from the year’s 34 floor events, qualify automatically.
Who won the Players Championship Finals in 2025?
Luke Littler, who beat Nathan Aspinall 11–8 in the final.
How much is the Players Championship Finals prize fund?
£750,000 in 2026, with £130,000 to the winner.
