The 2026 Ladbrokes UK Open begins on Friday and runs through Sunday at Butlin’s Minehead, with all main-stage coverage available free of charge on ITV4 and the ITVX streaming platform.
For UK viewers, that means no Sky Sports subscription, no pay-per-view fee, and no sign-up cost. ITV4 is a free-to-air channel available on Freeview, Freesat and most standard TV packages. ITVX, ITV’s digital streaming service, carries the same coverage and is free to use on phones, tablets, laptops and smart TVs.
What’s on, and when
The 24th staging of the tournament features 160 players competing across six sessions over the weekend. Each day is split into afternoon and evening blocks.
| Date | Session | Time (GMT) | Rounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, March 6 | Afternoon | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Rounds 1, 2 & 3 |
| Friday, March 6 | Evening | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM | Round 4 (top 32 enter) |
| Saturday, March 7 | Afternoon | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Last 32 |
| Saturday, March 7 | Evening | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM | Last 16 |
| Sunday, March 8 | Afternoon | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM | Quarter-finals |
| Sunday, March 8 | Evening | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM | Semi-finals & final |
Viewers should check local listings, as some sources indicate Saturday and Sunday afternoon sessions may begin at 1:00 PM rather than noon.
The catch: multi-board action
The UK Open is known for its early-round chaos, with matches running simultaneously on multiple boards. ITV4 and ITVX only show the main stage. If you want to follow the action on Stage Two and the outside boards, particularly during Friday’s opening rounds, you will need a PDCTV subscription or weekend pass.
By Sunday, the tournament narrows to a single board for the quarter-finals onwards, so everything from that point is on free-to-air television.
The open-draw format
The UK Open’s open-draw format, which earns it the nickname “the FA Cup of Darts,” means there is no seeding. Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Gian van Veen and the rest of the world’s top 32 do not enter until Round 4 on Friday evening, but once they do, any player can draw any other regardless of ranking. Littler is the defending champion after beating James Wade 11–2 in last year’s final.
The field of 160 includes 128 Tour Card holders, eight Development Tour players and 16 amateur qualifiers, meaning fans tuning in on Friday afternoon could see established names like Raymond van Barneveld or Beau Greaves drawn against relative unknowns.
International viewers
Outside the UK, the primary option is PDCTV, which offers annual subscriptions and event-specific passes. In the United States, Peacock holds rights to select PDC events and is worth checking. In Australia, Stan Sport carries some PDC coverage. Both require their own subscriptions.
Who’s on the mic
Pete Graves leads ITV’s presentation team, with Wayne Mardle and Chris Mason as the lead punditry pairing. Ian Danter and Mark Wilson are expected in the commentary box, with Mark Webster, Dan Dawson and Glen Durrant among the additional analysts.
The winner’s prize is £120,000. First darts fly at noon on Friday.
