The BetMGM Premier League Darts Play-Offs are the one-night finale of the Professional Darts Corporation’s flagship televised league. The 2026 Play-Offs take place on Thursday 28 May at The O2 Arena in London, with the top four players from the 16-week league stage competing for the Premier League trophy.
What are the Premier League Darts Play-Offs?
Premier League Darts is an annual televised league run by the PDC, featuring eight invited players competing across 16 nights in arenas across the United Kingdom and continental Europe. Each night features a knockout mini-tournament where players earn league points, with the top four on the league table at the end of the season advancing to the Play-Offs. The Play-Offs are a single-day event held at one venue, with two semi-finals followed by the final on the same night.
The format rewards consistency across the full 16-week league stage, with the top seed playing the fourth seed in one semi-final and the second playing the third in the other. Semi-finals are typically best-of-19 legs and the final best-of-21 legs. The winner is crowned Premier League champion and takes home the Phil Taylor Trophy, named after the 16-time champion who dominated the event in its early years.
When are the Premier League Darts Play-Offs?
The 2026 BetMGM Premier League Darts Play-Offs are held on Thursday 28 May 2026. The evening session begins at 7:00pm British Summer Time, with the first semi-final opening the programme. The second semi-final follows, and the final concludes the night, typically finishing around 10:30pm local time. The whole Play-Off event is staged as a single evening of darts.
Where are the Premier League Darts Play-Offs?
The Play-Offs are held at The O2 Arena in London, the permanent home of the event since Premier League Darts began staging a Play-Off night in 2014. The O2 has a capacity of more than 20,000 and consistently sells out for the Play-Offs, creating one of the largest and most raucous atmospheres in darts outside the PDC World Championship. The O2 first hosted the event in 2014 and has been the venue every year since.
Key Contenders
Luke Humphries, the defending Premier League champion, and Luke Littler, the PDC World Champion from 2025, headline the 2026 league and are strong favourites for Play-Off qualification. Gian van Veen, Michael van Gerwen, Michael Smith, Rob Cross, Chris Dobey and Nathan Aspinall are among the other players invited to the league, with the final Play-Off line-up determined by league points after all 16 league nights are played.
Head-to-head records between the top players across the league stage can play a significant role on Play-Off night, as can the seeding and the quarter of the draw. Luke Littler became the youngest player ever to win the Premier League in 2024, and the Luke Humphries vs Luke Littler rivalry has dominated the tournament in recent years.
How to Watch
In the United Kingdom, the Premier League Darts Play-Offs are broadcast live on Sky Sports, with coverage on Sky Sports Arena and Sky Sports Main Event, streamed via Sky Go and NOW. In Germany and Austria, DAZN holds broadcast rights and streams the event live. In the Netherlands, Viaplay covers the event. In the United States, DAZN and PDCTV stream the event via subscription. PDCTV offers a pay-per-view option for territories without a local broadcaster. Highlights are posted on the PDC YouTube channel after the Play-Offs.
History and Records
Premier League Darts was launched in 2005 and was dominated in its early years by Phil Taylor, who won the event six times in seven years, including a streak of five consecutive titles from 2008 to 2012. Michael van Gerwen has since matched and surpassed Taylor’s total of Premier League titles, winning the event seven times across the 2010s and into the early 2020s. James Wade, Gary Anderson, Daryl Gurney and Glen Durrant have also lifted the trophy.
Luke Littler became the youngest player to win the Premier League at just 17 in 2024, beating Luke Humphries in the final at The O2. Humphries turned the tables in 2025 to claim his first Premier League title. The format has evolved from a fixed eight-player round robin to the current nightly mini-tournament format introduced in 2022.
Tickets and Attendance
Tickets for the 2026 Premier League Darts Play-Offs are sold via the AXS ticketing platform for The O2 and via the PDC website. Prices range from standard floor and tiered seats through to premium hospitality packages offered via The O2’s hospitality partners. Play-Off night is one of the most in-demand tickets of the darts year and typically sells out months in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the 2026 Premier League Darts Play-Offs?
Thursday 28 May 2026, with the evening session beginning at 7:00pm British Summer Time.
Where are the Premier League Darts Play-Offs held?
At The O2 Arena in London, the home of the event since 2014.
How can I watch the Premier League Darts Play-Offs?
Live on Sky Sports in the UK, DAZN in Germany and the US, Viaplay in the Netherlands and PDCTV worldwide.
Who won the 2025 Premier League Darts?
Luke Humphries won the 2025 Premier League Darts, claiming his first Premier League title at The O2.