The 2027 Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) schedule is set to become one of the most densely packed and geographically diverse line‑ups in the sport's recent history, highlighted by the debut of the European Open and a historic first‑time European Tour stop in France. While these additions signal continued growth for darts across the continent, they also introduce fresh challenges for the sport’s rising star, world number one Luke Littler, whose ambition to claim every major televised title could become even more demanding. The centerpiece of the new calendar is the inaugural European Open, slated for June 18‑20 in Salzburg, Austria. This three‑day tournament will sit directly after the World Cup of Darts, which returns to Frankfurt from June 10‑13, and before the traditional World Matchplay in Blackpool, scheduled for July 17‑25.
The European Open will be open to all PDC Tour Card holders and will feature a substantial prize fund of £750,000, thereby raising the total count of PDC majors from eleven to twelve. For Luke Littler, the extra major represents a direct obstacle to achieving a clean sweep of all premier televised events—a rare accomplishment previously only managed by Michael van Gerwen. Littler’s path to that elite club has already been complicated by his decision to sit out several European circuit events earlier in the year and by his recent public threat to boycott Dutch tournaments after being booed and whistled at during the World Series of Darts Finals.
The addition of another high‑stakes tournament means Littler must now plan his season even more carefully, balancing rest, practice, and travel while aiming to peak at each major. The European circuit itself is expanding beyond the new Open.
The European Championship will be broadened to accommodate 48 players over six days, with a prize pool climbing to £1 million. Meanwhile, the European Tour will break new ground by traveling to France for the first time in 2027. The town of Lievin will host the fourth stop of the 15‑event tour from March 19‑21, strategically placed just before the Easter holidays.
This French leg follows earlier stops in Kiel (Germany), Krakow (Poland), and Riesa (Germany), and will be followed by a series of events across established venues in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belgium, Switzerland, Hungary, and the Netherlands throughout the season. PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter emphasized that these developments reflect the sport’s robust expansion across Europe and its commitment to providing more competitive opportunities at every professional level. He noted, "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.
The introduction of the European Open, alongside an expanded European Championship and increased prize money across the European Tour, reflects the strength of the sport and our commitment to creating more opportunities for players. We're also delighted to be increasing investment in the Challenge and Development Tours, providing greater opportunities and rewards for players throughout the professional pathway.
2027 promises to be another hugely exciting year for the PDC and we look forward to continuing the sport's growth across Europe and around the world." The 2027 calendar will kick off with Qualifying Schools in Milton Keynes (UK) and Kalkar (Germany) from January 4‑10, giving aspiring professionals a chance to earn Tour Cards. The Winmau World Masters will follow in Milton Keynes from January 27‑31, offering a prestigious non‑ranking title early in the season. February will see the start of the Premier League in Glasgow on the 4th, launching a 17‑night tour that travels across the United Kingdom and Europe before culminating in Finals Night at The O2 in London on May 27.
Simultaneously, the Players Championship series will commence in February, featuring 34 events spread across the UK and continental Europe. The European Tour will begin in Kiel from February 12‑14, then head to its maiden French venue in March, giving French fans their first live PDC experience and providing players with a fresh competitive environment.
After the World Cup of Darts and the European Open in June, the World Matchplay will return to Blackpool’s iconic Winter Gardens for a nine‑day showdown that ends on July 25, alongside the inaugural Women’s World Matchplay. The tour will then resume in July with a European Tour stop in Leverkusen, Germany, before moving on to further destinations such as Bratislava (Slovakia), Ghent (Belgium), Basel (Switzerland), Budapest (Hungary), and Maastricht (Netherlands) in the latter half of the season. September will bring the World Grand Prix back to Leicester (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 year will close with the sport’s marquee event, the World Darts Championship, held at London’s Alexandra Palace in December, with the final matches spilling into early January. In addition to the headline events, the PDC’s Challenge and Development Tours will undergo structural changes in 2027.
Both circuits will be organized across six three‑day weekends, with a tournament scheduled each day. Prize money for each event will rise to £30,000, and payouts will be extended down to the last 128 players, ensuring broader financial support for emerging talent. Broadcast coverage remains anchored with Sky Sports, which will air the World Grand Prix (late September to early October), the Grand Slam of Darts (mid‑November), and the World Darts Championship (December to early January).
For streaming fans, the NOW platform will continue to provide live darts coverage without a contractual commitment. Overall, the 2027 PDC season promises a blend of tradition and innovation: new majors, expanded prize funds, and historic firsts such as the French European Tour stop. While these developments are a clear sign of darts’ rising popularity and commercial viability, they also raise the competitive bar for players like Luke Littler, who must now navigate an even more demanding schedule if he hopes to join the exclusive ranks of those who have won every major televised title.