The 2027 Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) schedule is set to become the busiest and most diverse ever, highlighted by the debut of the European Open and the inaugural PDC European Tour stop in France. While these additions signal the sport’s rapid expansion across the continent, they also tighten the competitive landscape for rising star Luke Littler, whose ambition to capture every major televised title may now be even more challenging.
The centerpiece of the new calendar is the European Open, a three‑day tournament slated for June 18‑20 in the Austrian city of Salzburg. This event will sit directly after the World Cup of Darts, which returns to Frankfurt from June 10‑13, and before the World Matchplay in Blackpool, scheduled for July 17‑25. All PDC Tour Card holders will compete for a hefty £750,000 prize fund, pushing the total number of PDC majors from eleven to twelve. The increased tally of headline events means that players must now juggle an extra week of high‑stakes competition, and for world number one Luke Littler, the stakes are personal.
Littler, who has already amassed several major titles, is chasing a clean sweep of the PDC’s premier televised tournaments—a feat previously achieved only by Michael van Gerwen. The addition of the European Open adds another mountain to climb. Littler’s recent decision to sit out several European circuit stops, coupled with his vocal threat to boycott Dutch events after being booed and whistled at the World Series of Darts Finals, suggests he is already feeling the pressure of a packed schedule and heightened expectations.
Beyond the new major, the European Championship will be expanded to accommodate 48 players over six days, with prize money swelling to £1 million. This expansion reflects the PDC’s broader strategy of deepening its footprint across Europe. The European Tour will also break new ground by traveling to France for the first time in March 2027. The town of Lievin will host the fourth event of a 15‑tournament season from March 19‑21, positioned just before the Easter holidays.
This French stop follows earlier Tour legs in Kiel (Germany), Krakow (Poland), and Riesa (Germany), and will be followed by a return to established venues in Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belgium, Switzerland, Hungary, and the Netherlands throughout the year. PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter emphasized that these developments are a direct response to the sport’s surging popularity across the continent. He noted that the European Open, the enlarged European Championship, and the boosted prize pools across the Tour demonstrate the PDC’s commitment to providing more opportunities for professionals at every level. Porter also highlighted increased investment in the Challenge and Development Tours, which aim to nurture emerging talent and create a clearer pathway to the elite circuit.
The 2027 calendar kicks off with Qualifying Schools in Milton Keynes (UK) and Kalkar (Germany) from January 4‑10, offering aspiring players a chance to earn a Tour Card. The Winmau World Masters follows in Milton Keynes from January 27‑31, before the Premier League launches in Glasgow on February 4. The Premier League will travel across the UK and Europe for 17 nights, culminating in Finals Night at The O2 in London on May 27. Simultaneously, the Players Championship series will begin in February, featuring 34 events spread across the UK and Europe.
The European Tour will start in Kiel from February 12‑14, then head to its historic French debut the following month. After the World Cup in June and the new European Open, the World Matchplay returns to Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, concluding on July 25 alongside the 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 latter half of the season. The World Grand Prix will be staged in Leicester from September 27‑October 3, while the expanded European Championship will occupy six days in Dortmund from October 26‑31. November sees the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton (November 6‑14) and the Players Championship Finals back in Minehead (November 26‑28).
The year will close with the iconic World Darts Championship at London’s Alexandra Palace, running from early December into early January. In parallel, the Challenge and Development Tours will undergo structural changes. Both circuits will be organized over six three‑day weekends, with a tournament held each day. Prize money for each event will rise to £30,000, and payouts will extend down to the last 128 participants, providing greater financial incentive for up‑and‑coming players.
Broadcast partners remain unchanged, with Sky Sports continuing as the primary home for darts. Live coverage will include the World Grand Prix (late September‑early October), the Grand Slam (mid‑November), and the World Darts Championship (December‑January). Additionally, fans can stream matches via the NOW platform without a contractual commitment, ensuring broader accessibility.
Overall, the 2027 PDC season promises a richer, more geographically diverse slate of events, heightened prize money, and expanded opportunities for both established stars and newcomers. For Luke Littler, the added European Open and the intensified European circuit represent both a test of endurance and a chance to cement his legacy. Whether he can navigate the expanded schedule, overcome the added pressure, and join Michael van Gerwen as the only player to win every major remains to be seen, but the upcoming year will undoubtedly provide the stage for a dramatic chapter in darts history.