The line-up for the 2026 Premier League Darts has been confirmed, underlining the competition’s status as one of the most commercially powerful and fan-focused properties in global sport, and with strong stops in Belfast and Dublin.
The 22nd edition of the elite invitational will feature eight players competing in a weekly knockout format, every Thursday night from February 5th to May 28th, as the BetMGM Premier League visits 17 venues across Ireland. Britain and Europe.
The season will begin in Newcastle before moving through a schedule that blends established strongholds with strategic growth markets. Belfast is on February 26th and Dublin on March 19th.
Two new faces headline the 2026 field. Dutchman Gian van Veen earns an automatic Premier League debut after a breakthrough run to the World Darts Championship final, finishing runner-up to Luke Littler and rising to world number three.
He is joined by Northern Ireland’s Josh Rock, who makes his first Premier League appearance following a standout year that included World Cup of Darts success and deep runs at the UK Open and World Matchplay.
They will line up alongside the sport’s biggest commercial draws. Reigning Premier League champion Luke Humphries returns seeking to become only the third player to retain the title, while back-to-back World Champion Luke Littler continues a spell of dominance that has transformed darts’ mainstream appeal.
Seven-time Premier League winner Michael van Gerwen will make his 14th consecutive appearance, reinforcing continuity at the top end of the competition.
Experience and narrative depth are further provided by Stephen Bunting, who returns despite finishing bottom of the table last season, former World Champion Gerwyn Price, and 2021 Premier League champion Jonny Clayton, who is back in the field for the first time since 2023. Nathan Aspinall, with his popular Mr Brightside walk-on, has been dropped from the line-up this year.
From an Irish perspective, the schedule once again places Belfast and Dublin among the most anticipated stops on the tour.
A February league night at the SSE Arena is expected to attract significant demand, boosted further by Rock’s inclusion, while the March visit to the 3Arena continues a run of sell-out Premier League nights in the capital. Historically, both venues have delivered some of the strongest atmospheres and fastest ticket sell-outs across the entire schedule.
Sport for Business Perspective
Premier League Darts continues to demonstrate how clarity of format, star power and fan-centric presentation can drive sustained commercial success.
The inclusion of emerging talents like Van Veen and Rock alongside established global names refreshes the product without diluting its appeal, while consistently strong demand in Dublin and Belfast highlights Ireland’s value as a live-events market.
For the PDC, venues and sponsors, the Premier League remains a compelling example of how sport can scale through experience-led engagement.
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