The 2027 season of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) is set to be a landmark year, highlighted by the debut of the European Open and the first ever PDC European Tour stop in France. These additions not only broaden the sport’s footprint across the continent but also raise the stakes for players chasing historic achievements, especially rising star Luke Littler, who now faces an even tougher path to a complete major‑tournament sweep. ### A Fresh Highlight: The European Open in Salzburg From June 18 to June 20, the historic city of Salzburg will host the inaugural European Open, a three‑day competition that slots neatly between two other marquee events. The World Cup of Darts will return to Frankfurt from June 10‑13, and the World Matchplay will follow in Blackpool’s Winter Gardens from July 17‑25.
The European Open will be open to every PDC Tour Card holder and will boast a prize fund of £750,000, pushing the total number of PDC majors from eleven to twelve. ### What This Means for Luke Littler World number one Luke Littler has already made headlines by skipping several European circuit stops earlier in the year.
The addition of another major raises the bar for his ambition to match Michael van Gerwen’s exclusive record of winning every premier televised PDC event. Littler’s recent controversy—his threat to boycott Dutch tournaments after being booed and whistled at the World Series of Darts Finals—adds another layer of drama to his quest. With twelve majors now on the schedule, the margin for error shrinks, and each title becomes even more crucial for anyone hoping to claim a clean sweep.
### Expanded European Championship and Tour The European Championship will also be revamped for 2027, expanding to a 48‑player field and stretching across six days of competition. The prize pool will rise to £1 million, offering a significant financial boost for players who excel on the continent.
Meanwhile, the European Tour will break new ground by traveling to France for the first time. The town of Lievin will host the fourth event of a 15‑tournament season from March 19‑21, just before the Easter holidays.
This French stop follows earlier tour dates in Kiel (Germany), Krakow (Poland), and Riesa (Germany), and will be followed by a series of stops in established darts‑friendly nations such as Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belgium, Switzerland, Hungary, and the Netherlands. ### PDC Leadership’s Vision Matt Porter, the PDC’s chief executive, praised the schedule’s expansion as a sign of the sport’s continued growth across Europe. He emphasized that the new European Open, the enlarged European Championship, and the increased prize money across the Tour reflect both the strength of darts and the organization’s commitment to creating more opportunities for players at every level. Porter also highlighted upcoming investments in the Challenge and Development Tours, which will see higher payouts and more events, helping to nurture the next generation of talent.
### Full 2027 Calendar Overview - **January 4‑10:** Qualifying Schools in Milton Keynes (UK) and Kalkar (Germany) to award new Tour Cards. - **January 27‑31:** Winmau World Masters in Milton Keynes. - **February 4:** Premier League kicks off in Glasgow, beginning a 17‑night league that will travel across the UK and Europe, culminating in Finals Night at The O2 in London on May 27.
- **February (throughout the year):** Players Championship series, featuring 34 events across the UK and Europe. - **February 12‑14:** European Tour opens in Kiel, Germany.
- **March 19‑21:** First European Tour event in France, held in Lievin. - **June 10‑13:** World Cup of Darts returns to Frankfurt. - **June 18‑20:** Inaugural European Open in Salzburg, Austria.
- **July 17‑25:** World Matchplay at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, alongside the Women’s World Matchplay. - **July (mid‑season):** European Tour resumes in Leverkusen, Germany, then moves to Bratislava (Slovakia), Ghent (Belgium), Basel (Switzerland), Budapest (Hungary), and Maastricht (Netherlands). - **September 27‑October 3:** World Grand Prix in Leicester.
- **October 26‑31:** Expanded European Championship in Dortmund, Germany. - **November 6‑14:** Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton. - **November 26‑28:** Players Championship Finals in Minehead.
- **December (end of year):** World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace, London, concluding the season. ### Challenge and Development Tours Revamped Both the Challenge Tour and the Development Tour will adopt a six‑weekend format, with each weekend comprising three days of competition and a single tournament per day. Prize money for each event will be raised to £30,000, and payouts will extend down to the last 128 participants, ensuring that even lower‑ranked players receive meaningful financial rewards for their performances.
### Broadcast and Streaming Details Sky Sports will continue to be the primary broadcaster for the sport’s flagship events, including the World Grand Prix (late September to early October), the Grand Slam of Darts (mid‑November), and the World Darts Championship (early December into January). Fans can also stream live darts via the NOW platform, which offers contract‑free access to all major tournaments.
### Implications for the Darts Landscape The 2027 schedule reflects a strategic push to deepen darts’ presence in Europe, offering more tournaments, larger prize pools, and greater exposure for both established stars and up‑and‑coming talent. For Luke Littler, the expanded calendar represents both an opportunity and a challenge: more chances to add titles to his résumé, but also more hurdles to clear if he hopes to join Michael van Gerwen as the only player to have captured every major televised PDC event.
As the sport continues to grow, fans can expect an increasingly competitive environment, richer storylines, and a broader geographic reach that will bring darts to new audiences across the continent.