The 2027 Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) schedule is set to become one of the busiest and most diverse ever, highlighted by the debut of the European Open and the first-ever PDC European Tour stop in France. While these additions underline the sport’s rapid expansion across the continent, they also tighten the competition for rising star Luke Littler, who is already eyeing a historic clean sweep of all major televised titles. The European Open will launch in Salzburg, Austria, from June 18 to June 20, marking the newest three‑day major on the PDC calendar. The tournament will feature every holder of a PDC Tour Card and will boast a prize fund of £750,000, pushing the total number of televised majors from eleven to twelve.
This extra major arrives just after the World Cup of Darts, which returns to Frankfurt for a four‑day stint from June 10 to 13, and before the World Matchplay returns to Blackpool’s iconic Winter Gardens for its traditional July run. For world number one Luke Littler, the European Open represents another hurdle on his quest to match Michael van Gerwen’s singular achievement of winning every PDC flagship event.
Littler has already demonstrated a willingness to be selective about his schedule, recently opting out of several European circuit stops. His decision follows a tense episode at the World Series of Darts Finals, where he was met with boos and whistles from the Dutch crowd, prompting him to threaten a boycott of future Dutch tournaments.
The addition of a new major therefore compresses the window in which he can claim the elusive Grand Slam of titles. The European circuit itself is also undergoing a major overhaul. The European Championship will expand to a 48‑player field and stretch across six days of competition, with a £1 million prize pool on offer. Meanwhile, the European Tour will break new ground in France, with the fourth event of the 15‑tournament season scheduled for March 19‑21 in the town of Lievin.
This French stop follows earlier tour stops in Kiel (Germany), Krakow (Poland), and Riesa (Germany), and will be followed by a series of events across established darts hubs 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 growth, saying the sport’s expansion across Europe is “hugely exciting” and that the new events provide “greater opportunities for players at every level of the professional game.” He highlighted the simultaneous increase in prize money on the Challenge and Development Tours, which will now offer £30,000 per event and pay down to the last 128 participants, reinforcing the PDC’s commitment to nurturing talent from the grassroots to the elite. The 2027 calendar kicks off with Qualifying Schools in Milton Keynes (UK) and Kalkar (Germany) from January 4‑10, offering aspiring professionals a pathway onto the Tour Card. The Winmau World Masters follows in Milton Keynes from January 27‑31, and the Premier League launches in Glasgow on February 4, beginning a 17‑night tour that will traverse the UK and Europe before culminating in the Finals Night at London’s O2 Arena on May 27.
February also sees the start of the Players Championship circuit, with 34 events slated across the UK and Europe. The European Tour begins in Kiel from February 12‑14, then heads to its inaugural French venue the following month. After the World Cup and European Open in June, the World Matchplay returns to Blackpool, running nine days and concluding on July 25 alongside the Women's World Matchplay.
The tour resumes in July with an event in Leverkusen, Germany, before moving to Bratislava (Slovakia), Ghent (Belgium), Basel (Switzerland), Budapest (Hungary) and Maastricht (Netherlands) in the second half of the season. September brings the World Grand Prix back to Leicester, while October sees the expanded European Championship in Dortmund, stretching over six days from October 26‑31. The Grand Slam of Darts will be staged in Wolverhampton from November 6‑14, and the Players Championship Finals will close out the autumn schedule in Minehead from November 26‑28. The year ends with the sport’s marquee event, the World Darts Championship, held at London’s Alexandra Palace in December.
Throughout the season, Sky Sports will continue to be the primary broadcaster for the Grand Prix, Grand Slam and World Championship, while NOW offers a contract‑free streaming option for fans worldwide. Overall, 2027 promises a landmark year for darts, with an expanded slate of tournaments, larger prize funds, and a clear signal that the PDC is committed to growing the game across Europe and beyond. For Luke Littler, the added European Open and the crowded French schedule mean that his path to a complete major sweep will be even more demanding, demanding consistency, resilience, and perhaps a few strategic choices about which events to prioritize.
The sport’s fans, however, can look forward to an unprecedented volume of high‑quality darts action, new venues, and the chance to see emerging talents challenge established stars on a truly continental stage.