The 2027 calendar for the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) is set to become the busiest and most expansive it has ever been, highlighted by the debut of the European Open and the historic arrival of a PDC European Tour stop in France. While these additions signal the sport’s growing popularity across the continent, they also create fresh obstacles for rising star Luke Littler, whose ambition to capture every major televised title may now be even more challenging.
The centerpiece of the new schedule is the inaugural European Open, which will be staged in Salzburg, Austria, from June 18 to June 20. This three‑day tournament will sit directly after the World Cup of Darts, which returns to Frankfurt for a four‑day run from June 10 to June 13, and before the World Matchplay in Blackpool’s iconic Winter Gardens, scheduled for July 17‑25. The European Open will welcome every holder of a PDC Tour Card, offering a substantial prize fund of £750,000. By adding this event, the number of recognised PDC majors rises from eleven to twelve, thereby increasing the tally of elite titles a player can chase in a single season.
For Luke Littler, currently ranked world number one, the new major represents a direct test of his resolve to achieve a clean sweep of all premier televised tournaments—a feat accomplished only once before, by Michael van Gerwen. Littler has already demonstrated a willingness to prioritize his schedule, opting out of several European circuit stops earlier in the year.
His recent comments about potentially boycotting Dutch events after a hostile reception at the World Series of Darts Finals add another layer of intrigue to his campaign. With an extra major now on the books, Littler must navigate a denser fixture list while maintaining the high level of performance required to win every headline event.
The European circuit itself is also undergoing a major overhaul. The European Championship will expand to a 48‑player field and stretch over six days, with a £1 million prize pool on offer. Meanwhile, the European Tour will break new ground by traveling to France for the first time in its history. The French leg, hosted in Lievin, will be the fourth event of a 15‑tournament season and is slated for March 19‑21, just before the Easter holidays.
This French stop follows earlier Tour stops in Kiel (Germany), Krakow (Poland), and Riesa (Germany), and will be followed by further events across Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belgium, Switzerland, Hungary and the Netherlands throughout the year. PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter emphasized that the schedule expansion reflects the sport’s accelerating growth across Europe. He highlighted the organization’s commitment to creating more playing opportunities at every level, from the elite Tour to the developmental pathways. "The continued growth of darts across Europe has been hugely exciting to see, and these developments represent another significant step forward for the PDC circuit," Porter said.
He also noted increased investment in the Challenge and Development Tours, which will now feature six three‑day weekends with daily tournaments and a raised prize fund of £30,000 per event, paying out to the last 128 competitors. The year will kick off with Qualifying Schools in Milton Keynes (England) and Kalkar (Germany) from January 4‑10, where aspiring professionals can earn a coveted Tour Card.
Shortly thereafter, the Winmau World Masters will return to Milton Keynes for a five‑day run from January 27‑31. The Premier League will launch in Glasgow on February 4, embarking on a 17‑night tour that traverses the UK and Europe before culminating in the Finals Night at London’s O2 Arena on May 27. February also marks the start of the Players Championship circuit, with 34 events spread across the UK and Europe throughout the season. The European Tour will begin in Kiel from February 12‑14, then head to its maiden French venue in March.
After the World Cup and European Open in June, the calendar will feature the World Matchplay in Blackpool, which will run for nine days and conclude alongside the Women's World Matchplay on July 25. The Tour will resume in July with an event in Leverkusen (Germany) and continue with stops in Bratislava (Slovakia), Ghent (Belgium), Basel (Switzerland), Budapest (Hungary) and Maastricht (Netherlands) during the second half of the season. The World Grand Prix will return to Leicester from September 27‑October 3, while the expanded European Championship will occupy six days in Dortmund from October 26‑31.
The Grand Slam of Darts will be staged in Wolverhampton from November 6‑14, followed by the Players Championship Finals in Minehead from November 26‑28. The season will close with the World Darts Championship at London’s Alexandra Palace, running from early December into early January. Broadcast coverage remains anchored by Sky Sports, which will air the World Grand Prix, the Grand Slam of Darts and the World Darts Championship live.
Fans can also stream matches via the NOW platform without a long‑term contract, ensuring broad accessibility for the sport’s growing global audience. In summary, the 2027 PDC schedule promises a record‑breaking slate of events, new venues, larger prize pools and an extra major that will test even the most accomplished players. For Luke Littler, the expanded calendar means an even tougher road to a historic clean sweep, while the broader darts community can look forward to an exciting year of increased competition and geographic reach across Europe.