The Grand Slam of Darts 2026 will kick off on Saturday, November 14, at WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton with a new format and an expanded prize fund of £1 million. The tournament runs through to Sunday, November 22, and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
This year’s event features 48 players split into 16 groups of three, a change from the previous eight groups of four. Each player will face two opponents in a round-robin group stage, with only the group winner progressing to the knockout rounds. This means every match carries significant weight, with two points awarded for a win and none for a loss. In the case of a three-way tie on points, tie-breakers include leg difference, legs won, legs won against the throw, highest tournament average, and highest winning match average. If players still cannot be separated, a shootout of nine-dart legs will decide the group winner.
Luke Littler, the reigning champion after back-to-back wins in 2024 and 2025, will be aiming for a third consecutive Grand Slam title. Last year, he defeated Luke Humphries 16-11 in the final. Humphries, the 2023 champion, is also competing and remains a notable name in the draw.
The prize fund has increased significantly from £650,000 in 2025 to £1 million this year. The winner will receive £200,000, while the runner-up takes home £100,000. Semi-finalists earn £60,000, quarter-finalists £35,000. Players reaching the last 16 will collect £20,000, second place in their group £12,500, and those finishing bottom of their group still receive £5,000.
The tournament’s 16 groups offer a mix of established stars and emerging players. Group A features top seed Littler alongside Niels Zonneveld and Beau Greaves. Other groups include Gerwyn Price with Sebastian Bialecki and Joe Hunt in Group E, Michael van Gerwen paired with Jeffrey de Graaf and Henry Coates in Group L, and Nathan Aspinall facing Karel Sedlacek and Maik Kuivenhoven in Group P.
Luke Humphries became the seventh player to hit a nine-darter in Grand Slam history during last year’s group stage, completing a 144 finish in his win over Michael Smith. Humphries’ perfect leg was the first at the tournament since Ryan Searle’s nine-darter in 2023. Since the Grand Slam’s inception in 2007, only nine players have won the event, with Phil Taylor holding the record for six titles. Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price have each won three. Littler has the chance to join that list with a third straight win.
The knockout phase begins with the last 16 after the group winners emerge. Quarter-finals are scheduled for November 20 and 21, with the semi-finals and final both on November 22. The event attracts large crowds at Wolverhampton, with every session expected to draw significant attendance.
Sky Sports continues as the tournament’s broadcaster, offering live coverage throughout the competition. The Grand Slam of Darts remains one of the sport’s major events, combining players from different tours and formats for a unique contest.
The tournament’s structure and prize money changes reflect its growing status, while Littler’s recent dominance adds an intriguing narrative. The full list of groups and players confirms a strong field aiming for the Eric Bristow Trophy.
According to Sky Sports.
