World Grand Prix Darts 2026: 'Double-in, double out' format, schedule, results, prize money & winners

The 2026 Darts World Grand Prix starts on Monday, 28 September and is one of the Professional Darts Corporation's major titles.

Unlike the rest of the sport's majors, the tournament uses a 'double in, double out' format.

The 32 players featuring are made up of the 16 best-ranked players from the PDC's Order of Merit, and the best 16 from the past 12 months via the Order of Merit who had not already qualified.

A total prize fund of £750,000 is up for grabs, with the winner earning £150,000.

Teenager and current world number one Luke Littler was the winner in 2025, cruising to a 6-1 victory over Luke Humphries in the final.

The 'double in, double out' darts format presents a big twist to the gameplay.

It means that a player must start all legs on a double, rather than on any scoring zone on the board.

The use of 'double in, double out' has been in use in the World Grand Prix since its inaugural year in 1998.

The format is in set play, with each set being the best of five legs.

The first round is a best-of-three-sets match, increasing to five sets in the second round.

The quarter-finals stay at the best of five sets, before an increase to nine sets in the semi-finals.

The final is a best-of-11 match, also described as a race to six sets.

(5) Jonny Clayton 2-1 Krzysztof Ratajski

(3) Gian van Veen v Dirk van Duijvenbode

Littler/Woodhouse v Nathan Aspinall (16)

Van Veen/Van Duijvenbode v Searle/O'Connor

The prize money for the whole tournament has increased to £750,000 this year, an increase of 25% from last year's £600,000.

The winner will take home £150,000 instead of the £120,000 jackpot 12 months ago. Barring the prize money given to players who lose in the first round, every other value has also increased.

Who has previously won the World Grand Prix?

Phil Taylor is the most successful player in World Grand Prix history, winning the tournament 11 times.

Michael van Gerwen is the next most successful player with six titles, with James Wade (twice) being the only other player to win it multiple times.

The World Grand Prix has produced six different winners in the last six years.