The World Series of Darts has become one of the most globally recognised circuits in the sport, taking the biggest names in the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) to new audiences around the world. From the Middle East to North America and Oceania, the series blends elite competition with exhibition-style entertainment, showcasing the sport in some of the most exciting venues on the calendar.
2026 World Series of Darts schedule
The 2026 edition of the World Series of Darts once again spans several continents before culminating in the World Series of Darts Finals later in the year. The tour begins in the Middle East before moving across Europe and into the Southern Hemisphere.
The opening event of the year is the Bahrain Darts Masters, staged in Sakhir at the Exhibition World Bahrain from 15–16 January. This event has quickly become a popular addition to the calendar, with eight of the world’s top PDC stars facing eight regional qualifiers in a two-day knockout format. Last year’s champion was Michael van Gerwen, who produced a dominant display to claim the title.
Just a few days later, the action moves to Saudi Arabia for the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters, held in Riyadh at the Global Theatre from 19–20 January. This tournament continues the PDC’s expansion into new markets and attracts a passionate local crowd eager to see the sport’s biggest stars up close. In 2025, the title was claimed by Luke Littler, who reinforced his status as one of the most exciting young talents in darts.
The series then resumes in Europe during the summer with the Nordic Darts Masters, typically staged in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 5–6 June. The Nordic region has long had a strong darts following, and the event brings together PDC representatives and top players from Scandinavia and the Baltic states.
Next on the schedule is the US Darts Masters, taking place in New York from 25–26 June. The American event has become a key part of the PDC’s global expansion strategy, introducing darts to a growing fanbase across the United States. The unique atmosphere in the arena often blending traditional darts chants with American sports entertainment. It makes it one of the most distinctive stops on the tour.
The tour then heads to the Southern Hemisphere with the New Zealand Darts Masters on 14–15 August in Auckland. Fans in New Zealand consistently deliver one of the liveliest crowds on the World Series circuit, and the event has quickly established itself as a highlight of the calendar.
Just a week later comes the Australian Darts Masters, staged in Wollongong or another major Australian city from 21–22 August. Australia has produced several talented players in recent years, and the event allows regional stars to test themselves against the very best on the PDC tour.
All of these tournaments feed into the World Series of Darts Finals, scheduled for 17–20 September. The Finals bring together the best performers from the tour events, along with additional qualifiers, to battle for one of the most prestigious titles outside of the traditional ranking majors.
How the World Series ranking system works
Unlike most major PDC tournaments, the World Series events themselves do not count towards the main PDC Order of Merit, which determines the official world rankings. Instead, performances across the tour contribute to a separate World Series Order of Merit, based on points earned in each event.
Players accumulate points depending on how far they progress in each tournament. At the end of the series, the top eight players in the World Series Order of Merit qualify automatically for the Finals as seeded players. Additional qualifiers are then selected from the remaining Order of Merit positions to complete the field.
While the World Series events themselves are invitational and do not affect the main world rankings, the PDC Order of Merit remains the most important ranking system in professional darts. This system is calculated using prize money won in ranking tournaments over a rolling two-year period, meaning every pound earned in those events counts towards a player’s ranking total.
This structure ensures that consistency over multiple seasons is rewarded. Major tournaments such as the World Championship can dramatically influence the rankings due to their large prize funds, but strong performances across the calendar remain essential to staying near the top of the standings.
A truly global darts tour
What makes the World Series unique is its role as a global ambassador for darts. By taking elite players to new markets and passionate international crowds, the PDC continues to expand the reach of the sport beyond its traditional strongholds in the UK and Europe.
With emerging stars such as Luke Littler and established champions like Michael van Gerwen regularly competing, the 2026 World Series of Darts promises another thrilling journey across the globe before the best performers clash for the title at the season-ending Finals.
