When Is the Grand Slam of Darts? Dates, Venue and Schedule
If you are asking when is the grand slam of darts this year, here is the answer: the 2026 Grand Slam of Darts runs from Saturday 14 November to Sunday 22 November 2026. For nine days, the Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts takes over WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton, and every session is live on Sky Sports in the UK. Read more on World Darts Guide
On this page
- Table of Contents
- When Is the Grand Slam of Darts? The 2026 Dates and Daily Schedule
- Grand Slam of Darts Venue: WV Active Aldersley, Wolverhampton
- How the Grand Slam of Darts Format Works in 2026
- Who Qualifies for the Grand Slam of Darts?
- Luke Littler Defends the Eric Bristow Trophy
- Tickets and How to Watch the Grand Slam of Darts
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
This is a landmark edition: the 20th staging of the tournament, and for the first time in its history the field grows from 32 players to 48. The prize fund climbs to £1,000,000, Luke Littler returns as defending champion, and the group format that makes this event so ruthless has been sharpened even further. So when is the grand slam of darts at its very best? Most fans point to the closing weekend.
Table of Contents
When Is the Grand Slam of Darts? The 2026 Dates and Daily Schedule
The opening weekend is all about the group stage, with double sessions on both Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November: an afternoon session starting at 1pm and an evening session under the lights. All 48 players play two group matches across that first weekend, so nobody gets a quiet start.
The groups finish on Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 November in evening-only sessions. The knockouts take over from there: the last 16 across Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 November, the quarter-finals on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 November, and the semi-finals and final on Sunday 22 November. If you are planning around when is the grand slam of darts being played, that shape is simple: groups first, then four knockout nights.
Grand Slam of Darts Venue: WV Active Aldersley, Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton has been the home of this event for years, and WV Active Aldersley, the Aldersley Leisure Village site, has staged it since 2018. It is not the biggest arena on the circuit, and that is why players and fans love it: the crowd sits close to the stage, the noise rolls around the room, and big names have been ambushed there by qualifiers riding that support.
How the Grand Slam of Darts Format Works in 2026
The Grand Slam remains the only PDC major that starts with a group stage, but the expanded field changes the maths completely. The 48 players are drawn into 16 groups of three, each containing one seeded player. Everyone plays each other once, earning two points for a win, and here is the brutal part: only the group winner goes through.
There is no safety net anymore, because second place in the group is not enough. Group matches are played over a short best of nine legs, so a slow start is almost impossible to repair. The 16 group winners move into straight knockouts, where the matches lengthen: the last 16 is best of 19 legs, while the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final are all best of 31 legs.
Who Qualifies for the Grand Slam of Darts?
There is no open entry here; you have to earn your place. The first 40 spots are filled by merit: finalists from PDC televised events over the previous twelve months take up to 24 places, additional qualifiers such as World Youth Championship finalists and the Women’s World Matchplay winner take up to 12 more, and European Tour and Players Championship winners top the list up to 40.
The final eight places are decided at the Tour Card Holder Qualifier on Friday 6 November 2026, eight days before the first dart is thrown. Among those already assured of a place are Luke Humphries, Gerwyn Price, Michael van Gerwen, Gian van Veen and Ross Smith.
Luke Littler Defends the Eric Bristow Trophy
Luke Littler arrives chasing a third straight Grand Slam title. He won his first in 2024, then retained the Eric Bristow Trophy in 2025 with a 16-11 victory over Luke Humphries, a run that also carried him to world number one. The winner this year collects £200,000, and Littler starts as the man everyone wants to topple.
Humphries heads the list of challengers, with Price, van Veen and van Gerwen all proven winners on this stage. The short group matches are the great leveller, though: with only two group games to survive, even Littler cannot afford an off night.
Tickets and How to Watch the Grand Slam of Darts
Demand for tickets this year was huge: seats were allocated by ballot following record demand, and that ballot has now closed. If you missed out, check the official PDC channels for any returned tickets rather than trusting resale sites. Session choice matters, too: the opening weekend gives you the most matches, while the final Sunday is the hottest ticket of all.
On television, every session is shown live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, with streaming through Sky Go and NOW. Fans in many other countries can watch through the PDC’s own streaming service, and the official PDC website carries the confirmed session times and daily order of play. However you follow it, the key thing is knowing when is the grand slam of darts on, because nine days fly by.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Grand Slam of Darts 2026?
The 2026 tournament takes place from Saturday 14 November to Sunday 22 November 2026 at WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton. It is the 20th edition and the first to feature 48 players.
Where is the Grand Slam of Darts held?
The tournament is held at WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton. The venue has hosted the Grand Slam since 2018 and is known for its close, loud atmosphere.
How many players take part in the Grand Slam of Darts?
There are 48 players in 2026, up from 32 in previous years. They are drawn into 16 groups of three, and only the group winners reach the knockout stage.
Who is the defending Grand Slam of Darts champion?
Luke Littler is the defending champion. He beat Luke Humphries 16-11 in the 2025 final for his second title in a row, and he is chasing a third consecutive crown in 2026.
What channel is the Grand Slam of Darts on?
Every session is live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, with streaming via Sky Go and NOW. Viewers in many countries outside the UK can watch through the PDC’s streaming service, PDCTV.
When is the Grand Slam of Darts final?
The final is played on Sunday 22 November 2026, on the same day as the semi-finals. It is best of 31 legs, and the winner lifts the Eric Bristow Trophy and takes home £200,000.
Conclusion
Nine days, 48 players, 16 groups and only one winner per group: the 2026 Grand Slam might be the toughest edition yet to survive. The bigger field, the £1,000,000 prize fund and a champion chasing three in a row give it a storyline in almost every session.
So when is the grand slam of darts? Circle Saturday 14 November in your calendar, keep Sunday 22 November free for the semi-finals and final, and enjoy one of the most unpredictable weeks on the darts calendar.
