Littler Faces New Hurdles as PDC Adds Major Event and France Hosts First European Tour Stop

The 2027 Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) schedule is set to become the busiest and most diverse ever, highlighted by the launch of a brand‑new major tournament and the historic arrival of a European Tour stop in France. While these developments underline the sport’s rapid expansion across the continent, they also add another obstacle for rising star Luke Littler, who is chasing the elusive clean‑sweep of every televised PDC title—a feat only Michael van Gerwen has managed to achieve so far. Starting on June 18‑20, Salzburg will host the inaugural European Open, a three‑day competition that will sit directly after the World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt (June 10‑13) and before the World Matchplay in Blackpool (July 17‑25).

The European Open will be open to every player who holds a PDC Tour Card, and it will boast a £750,000 prize fund. By adding this event, the PDC raises the total count of major televised tournaments from eleven to twelve, meaning Littler now has one more title to chase if he hopes to match van Gerwen’s record. Littler’s path has already been complicated by his recent decisions to skip several European circuit events and his outspoken threat to boycott Dutch tournaments after being booed and whistled at the World Series of Darts Finals. The new major therefore arrives at a moment when his relationship with the tour’s organisers and certain fan bases is already strained.

A victory at the European Open could help repair his reputation, but it also raises the stakes: another high‑profile loss would deepen the narrative of missed opportunities. The European circuit itself is undergoing a substantial overhaul. The European Championship will expand to accommodate 48 players and will stretch over six days, with a total prize pool of £1 million. Meanwhile, the European Tour will mark its first ever visit to France in March 2027, with the town of Lievin slated to host the fourth event of a 15‑tournament season from March 19‑21, just before the Easter holidays.

This French stop follows earlier Tour legs in Kiel (Germany), Krakow (Poland) and Riesa (Germany), and it will be followed by further stops across Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belgium, Switzerland, Hungary and the Netherlands throughout the year. PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter emphasized that these changes reflect the sport’s “continued growth across Europe” and its commitment to creating more opportunities for players at every level.

He highlighted that the expanded European Championship, the new European Open, and the increased prize money on the Tour demonstrate the PDC’s confidence in the market and its desire to reward both established stars and emerging talent. Porter also announced a boost in investment for the Challenge and Development Tours, which will now run six three‑day weekends with daily tournaments, each offering £30,000 in prize money and payouts extending down to the last 128 players. The full 2027 calendar kicks off with Qualifying Schools in Milton Keynes (England) and Kalkar (Germany) from January 4‑10, allowing aspiring professionals to earn Tour Cards. The Winmau World Masters follows in Milton Keynes from January 27‑31.

The Premier League then launches in Glasgow on February 4, beginning a 17‑night tour that will travel across the UK and Europe before culminating in a Finals Night at The O2 in London on May 27. February also sees the start of the Players Championship circuit, which will feature 34 events spread throughout the UK and Europe. The European Tour begins in Kiel (February 12‑14) before moving to its groundbreaking French venue the following month.

After the World Cup and European Open in June, the World Matchplay returns to Blackpool’s Winter Gardens for a nine‑day showdown that ends on July 25, alongside the inaugural Women’s World Matchplay. The Tour resumes in July with an event in Leverkusen (Germany) and continues with stops in Bratislava (Slovakia), Ghent (Belgium), Basel (Switzerland), Budapest (Hungary) and Maastricht (Netherlands) during the second half of the season. September 27‑October 3 sees the World Grand Prix back in Leicester, while the expanded European Championship will run 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 from November 26‑28.

The year wraps up with the iconic World Darts Championship at London’s Alexandra Palace in December, broadcast live on Sky Sports. For fans, Sky Sports will continue to be the primary broadcaster, covering the World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts and the World Darts Championship. In addition, the NOW streaming service will offer live darts coverage without a contract, ensuring that viewers can follow the action across multiple platforms.

In summary, 2027 promises a landmark year for professional darts, with a richer calendar, larger prize pools and a historic French debut on the European Tour. For Luke Littler, the added European Open represents both a fresh opportunity to cement his legacy and an extra hurdle on the road to a complete set of major titles. His decisions regarding participation, his handling of recent controversies, and his performance on the expanded stage will be closely watched by supporters and critics alike as the sport continues its rapid ascent across Europe and beyond.