Darts continues to evolve year after year, and 2026 looks to be another milestone in that. The PDC has announced that the European Tour is expanding further to 15 tournaments (up from 14 this year) and is also moving into two new countries. This shows that the global nature of the sport is getting stronger and stronger and that its popularity in Central and Eastern Europe continues to grow.
While the European Tour consisted of thirteen tournaments for many years, a first step towards growth was taken in 2025: a fourteenth tournament was added. For 2026, the count goes up even further, as the calendar gains another venue, bringing the total to fifteen tournaments.
Most notable news: Poland and Slovakia are making their debut as host countries. The cities of Krakow and Bratislava have been added to the European Tour, responding to the PDC's growing interest in Eastern Europe. The choice of these cities is no coincidence. Poland has seen a strong growth in the number of spectators and participants at amateur tournaments in recent years, while Slovakia is looking to put itself increasingly firmly on the darts map.
Krakow in particular, known for its rich history and vibrant sports culture, promises to be an impressive stage for a European Tour event. Bratislava can also count on a lot of interest; the city has developed into a hotspot for international sporting events in recent years.
Not every country or city will be retained on the calendar. For example, Hildesheim (Germany) is disappearing as a permanent venue of the European Tour. German darts fans need not grieve, however, as Germany remains one of the pillars of the tour with several tournaments. In cities such as Munich and Trier, the sport remains hugely popular, and the European Darts Grand Prix in Sindelfingen also remains on the calendar.
The demise of Hildesheim illustrates how dynamic the tour calendar is. The PDC looks annually at growth, spread and demand from fans and sponsors. New markets thus get a chance to prove themselves, such as now in Poland and Slovakia.
The Netherlands continues to play an important role on the European Tour. The Dutch Darts Championship, organized for years in Rosmalen, will move to Maastricht in 2026. From October 16 to 18, the MECC Maastricht will be transformed into a dartshalla. For the southern darts fans this is excellent news: Limburg gets a major international tournament within its borders.
Belgium retains its foothold on the Tour calendar. Both Wieze and Antwerp will continue to host a European Tour event. The Belgian darts community has grown explosively in recent years, thanks in part to a multiple major winner such as Dimitri Van den Bergh, who has put the country on the global map.
The addition of new countries and cities shows just how big darts fever now is. Whereas it used to be mainly a British affair, in 2026 darts has become a pan-European sport. In countries such as Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, tournaments have been sold out for years, and now Poland and Slovakia are following suit.
The PDC sees in this growth an opportunity to further roll out the sport worldwide. Interest is also growing in Scandinavia, France and Southern Europe, although this has not yet led to permanent European Tour tournaments. It seems only a matter of time before events are added there as well.
For the darters themselves, the expansion of the Tour means more playing opportunities, but also more travel miles. Especially the top players who play both the European Tour and the Premier League Darts will have an intensive schedule. Yet many players are actually happy with the new opportunities: more tournaments means more prize money, more stage experience and more opportunities to qualify for the big majors such as the European Championship and the World Darts Championship.
Players from Eastern Europe, who often struggle to break through in Western Europe through qualifying tournaments, also get the chance to shine in front of their own audience. This can give a big boost to the development of new talents from Poland and Slovakia.
2026 promises to be a spectacular year for darts. The addition of Krakow and Bratislava will give the European Tour an even more international character, while the Netherlands and Belgium will further strengthen their position as darts-loving countries. The move of the Dutch Darts Championship to Maastricht gives Dutch fans a new experience.
One thing is clear: the world of darts is not standing still. The calendar is getting bigger, the players more international and the fans more enthusiastic. For fans this means even more top darts, even more spectacle and even more nights where the darts make the difference.
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— PDC Darts Europe (@PDCEurope) September 11, 2025
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