World Darts Championship 2026 Prize Money: Record £5 Million Total Fund

Historic Prize Money Increase for World Darts Championship

The 2026 PDC World Darts Championship, held at Alexandra Palace from 11 December 2025 to 3 January 2026, marked a watershed moment for professional darts with its unprecedented prize money structure. The winner received £1,000,000 from a total prize fund of £5,000,000, as part of the PDC’s biggest prize money increase in its history. This represented a significant milestone for the sport, with the winner’s share doubling from £500,000 to £1,000,000; this was the first time the tournament’s prize money increased since the 2019 edition.

Complete Prize Money Breakdown

The tournament offered substantial rewards at every stage of competition. All 128 participants start immediately in the first round and are guaranteed a minimum amount of 15,000 pounds. Those who win their opening match will receive £25,000. Upon qualifying for the last 32, that amount increases to £35,000. As players progressed deeper into the tournament, the financial stakes increased dramatically. Players who reach the last sixteen will receive £60,000, and for a place in the quarter-finals, £100,000 awaits. The semi-finalists receive £200,000. In the finals, a total of 1.4 million pounds will be paid out, with 400,000 pounds going to the losing finalist and 1 million pounds to the new world champion.

Impact on Professional Darts and Players

Luke Littler successfully defended his title, defeating Gian van Veen 7-1 in the final to claim the historic £1 million prize. He described the £1 million prize money he earned for winning his second straight World Darts Championship title as “absolutely life changing.” The expanded prize pool reflects the growing professionalization and popularity of darts as a sport. The doubling for the 2026 edition marks a new era in the professionalization of the sport. The massive increase from the first edition of the PDC World Darts Championship in 1994, the total prize money was only £64,000 demonstrates how far professional darts has come in three decades. This record-breaking prize fund establishes a new benchmark for the sport and provides life-changing opportunities for competitors at all levels of the tournament.