The 2027 Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) schedule is set to become one of the busiest and most diverse in its history, highlighted by the debut of the European Open and the first-ever PDC European Tour stop in France. While these additions promise to broaden the sport’s reach across the continent, they also introduce fresh hurdles for rising star Luke Littler, who is already eyeing a historic clean sweep of all major televised titles. The cornerstone of the new lineup 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 June 10‑13 run, and will precede the World Matchplay in Blackpool’s iconic Winter Gardens from July 17 to July 25.
The European Open will be open to every player holding a PDC Tour Card and will feature a lucrative £750,000 prize pool, pushing the total count of PDC majors from eleven to twelve. For world number one Luke Littler, the extra major adds another rung to the ladder he must climb to join Michael van Gerwen as the only player to have claimed every premier televised event. Littler’s campaign has already been complicated by his decision to sit out several European circuit stops and by a recent controversy in which he threatened to boycott Dutch tournaments after being booed and whistled at during the World Series of Darts Finals.
The European Open therefore represents both an opportunity to cement his legacy and a fresh obstacle that could test his resilience. The European circuit itself is undergoing a substantial overhaul.
The European Championship will expand to accommodate 48 competitors, stretch across six days, and boast a £1 million prize fund. Meanwhile, the European Tour will break new ground by travelling to France for the first time in its history.
The French leg, scheduled for March 19‑21, will be hosted in the town of Lievin and will be the fourth event of a 15‑tournament season, fitting neatly into the calendar 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 events across established venues in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belgium, Switzerland, Hungary, and the Netherlands throughout the remainder of the year. PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter praised the expansion, saying it reflects the sport’s rapid growth across Europe and underscores the organization’s commitment to creating more competitive opportunities at every level.
He highlighted that the increased prize money, the addition of a new major, and the broader European footprint all signal a healthy, expanding ecosystem that benefits both seasoned professionals and emerging talent. The 2027 calendar kicks off with Qualifying Schools in Milton Keynes (England) and Kalkar (Germany) from January 4‑10, providing a pathway for aspiring pros to earn Tour Cards. The Winmau World Masters follows in Milton Keynes from January 27‑31, offering a historic platform for both men’s and women’s competition.
February sees the start of the Premier League in Glasgow on the 4th, launching a 17‑night tour that will swing across the United Kingdom and Europe before culminating in a Finals Night at London’s O2 Arena on May 27. Simultaneously, the Players Championship series will commence in February, delivering 34 events spread across the UK and continental Europe over the course of the year.
The European Tour will get underway in Kiel from February 12‑14, then head to its maiden French venue a month later. After the World Cup and European Open in June, the World Matchplay will return to Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, concluding on July 25 alongside the inaugural Women’s World Matchplay. The Tour will resume in July with an event in Leverkusen (Germany) and will continue through a string of stops in Bratislava (Slovakia), Ghent (Belgium), Basel (Switzerland), Budapest (Hungary), and Maastricht (Netherlands) during the latter half of the season.
September 27‑October 3 will see the World Grand Prix back in Leicester, 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, and the Players Championship Finals will return to Minehead for a three‑day showdown from November 26‑28. The year will close with the marquee World Darts Championship at London’s Alexandra Palace, running from early December into early January.
In addition to the headline events, the PDC’s Challenge and Development Tours will receive a boost in 2027. Both circuits will now feature six three‑day weekends, with a tournament on each day, and prize money will rise to £30,000 per event, extending payouts down to the last 128 participants. These enhancements are designed to nurture the next generation of darts talent, offering clearer progression routes and more financial incentive for up‑and‑coming players.
Broadcast coverage remains anchored with Sky Sports, which will air the World Grand Prix (September 28‑October 4), the Grand Slam of Darts (November 14‑22), and the World Darts Championship (December 10‑January 3). For fans preferring streaming, the NOW platform will provide live darts action without a contract, ensuring accessibility for a global audience. Overall, the 2027 PDC agenda reflects a sport in ascendance, with a richer calendar, higher stakes, and a broader geographic footprint than ever before.
While the expanded schedule offers more chances for players to showcase their skill and earn significant rewards, it also means that elite competitors like Luke Littler must navigate a denser field of high‑pressure events if they hope to achieve a historic clean sweep of all major titles.