The 2027 Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) schedule is set to become even more crowded and competitive, highlighted by the debut of the European Open and the landmark inclusion of a PDC European Tour stop in France. While these developments signal the sport’s continued expansion across the continent, they also add another obstacle for world number one Luke Littler, whose ambition to win every major televised PDC title could become even more elusive.
The most eye‑catching addition to the 2027 calendar 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 four‑day run 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 boast a prize fund of £750,000, pushing the total number of PDC majors from eleven to twelve. For Luke Littler, the new major represents a fresh hurdle in his quest to complete a clean sweep of all the PDC’s flagship televised events – a distinction that, to date, has only been achieved by Michael van Gerwen.
Littler’s path to that historic feat has already been complicated by his decision to sit out several European circuit events earlier in the season, and by a recent controversy in which he threatened to boycott Dutch tournaments after being booed and whistled at the World Series of Darts Finals. The addition of the European Open means he now has one more high‑stakes title to chase, and the competition will be fiercer than ever with the full complement of Tour Card players vying for the lucrative prize pool. The European circuit itself is also undergoing a substantial upgrade.
The European Championship will expand to feature 48 competitors and will be stretched over six days, with a total prize fund of £1 million on offer. Meanwhile, the European Tour will break new ground by visiting France for the first time in its history.
The French leg will be hosted in the town of Lievin from March 19‑21, positioned just before the Easter holiday weekend. This event will be the fourth stop of a 15‑tournament European Tour season, following stops in Kiel (Germany), Krakow (Poland), and Riesa (Germany). Throughout 2027 the tour will also return to established venues across Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belgium, Switzerland, Hungary and the Netherlands, reinforcing the PDC’s strategy of deepening its footprint throughout Europe. PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter praised the schedule changes as evidence of darts’ growing popularity on the continent.
He explained that the expanded European Open, the enlarged European Championship and the increased prize money across the tour reflect both the sport’s strength and the organization’s commitment to offering more opportunities for players at every level. Porter also highlighted increased investment in the Challenge and Development Tours, which will feature higher prize money and more events, thereby strengthening the professional pathway for emerging talent. The 2027 season will kick off with the traditional Qualifying Schools, held in Milton Keynes (UK) and Kalkar (Germany) from January 4‑10.
Those schools determine who will earn a Tour Card for the upcoming year. Shortly thereafter, the Winmau World Masters will be staged in Milton Keynes from January 27‑31, followed by the start of the Premier League in Glasgow on February 4.
The Premier League will run for 17 nights, taking the players on a tour of venues across the United Kingdom and Europe, before culminating in Finals Night at The O2 Arena in London on May 27. The Players Championship series will also begin in February, with 34 events scheduled across the UK and Europe throughout the year, providing ample chances for players to earn ranking points and prize money. The European Tour will launch in Kiel from February 12‑14, then head to France for its historic first appearance in March, before returning to the World Cup and the new European Open in June.
After the European Open, the World Matchplay will return to Blackpool’s iconic Winter Gardens for its nine‑day edition, concluding on July 25 alongside the inaugural Women’s World Matchplay. The tour will then resume in July with a stop in Leverkusen (Germany) and continue with events in Bratislava (Slovakia), Ghent (Belgium), Basel (Switzerland), Budapest (Hungary) and Maastricht (Netherlands) during the latter half of the season. September will see the World Grand Prix back in Leicester from September 27‑October 3, while the European Championship will expand to a six‑day format in Dortmund from October 26‑31.
The Grand Slam of Darts will be contested 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 calendar will close with the World Darts Championship at London’s Alexandra Palace, running through December and into early January.
In addition to the main tour, the Challenge and Development Tours will each be contested over six three‑day weekends in 2027, with one tournament scheduled each day. Prize money for these events will rise to £30,000 per tournament, with payouts extending down to the last 128 players, thereby providing a more substantial financial incentive for up‑and‑coming competitors. Broadcast coverage will remain anchored by Sky Sports, which will air the World Grand Prix, the Grand Slam of Darts and the World Darts Championship live.
Fans can also stream matches and related content via the NOW platform without a long‑term contract, ensuring that the sport remains accessible to a global audience. Overall, the 2027 PDC agenda promises a record‑breaking number of tournaments, larger prize funds and a broader geographic reach. While the expanded schedule offers more opportunities for players to showcase their talent, it also raises the bar for established stars like Luke Littler, who must now navigate an even more demanding calendar if he hopes to join the elite ranks of those who have captured every major title on the PDC circuit.