The UK Open Darts 2026 is set to take place from Friday, 03/06/2026 through Sunday, 03/08/2026 at Butlin’s Minehead Resort, featuring 160 players competing for a share of the £750,000 total prize fund, with the winner receiving £120,000. Nicknamed the 'FA Cup of Darts' for its open draw that includes players without a Tour Card, the tournament is known for producing upsets and breakthroughs.
The event has a rich history, having been staged at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton from 2003 to 2013 before moving to Minehead in 2014. Phil Taylor won the inaugural edition in 2003, beating Shayne Burgess 18-8 in the final, and is the record champion with five titles. Other multiple winners include Michael van Gerwen and James Wade with three each, and Raymond van Barneveld with two. Past one-time winners are Peter Wright, Gary Anderson, Roland Scholten, Robert Thornton, Adrian Lewis, Nathan Aspinall, Danny Noppert, Andrew Gilding, Dimitri Van den Bergh, and Luke Littler. Notable moments include Raymond van Barneveld's 2006 victory where he beat Phil Taylor 11-10 en route to a 13-7 final win over Barrie Bates, and Aden Kirk's 2014 shock 9-7 win over defending champion Phil Taylor. In 2018 and 2021, the tournament was held without spectators due to extreme weather and the coronavirus pandemic, with Gary Anderson winning in 2018 against Corey Cadby 11-7 in an empty arena.
The format features all 128 PDC Tour Card holders plus 32 qualifiers from amateur events and tours. The opening three rounds are best of 11 legs for lower-ranked players, with the top 32 entering in the fourth round, where matches become best of 19 legs. The semifinals and final are best of 21 legs. Players to watch include first-round starters Cristo Reyes, Charlie Manby, Jimmy van Schie, and Scott Waites, while Beau Greaves, who reached the fourth round last year, headlines the second round. Peter Wright and Raymond van Barneveld enter in the third round, alongside Justin Hood, Ricky Evans, Scott Williams, Niko Springer, and Mensur Suljovic. The elite top 32, including defending champion Luke Littler—who beat James Wade 11-2 in the 2025 final—enter in the last 64, with contenders like Gian van Veen, Luke Humphries, Jonny Clayton, Gerwyn Price, Michael van Gerwen, Nathan Aspinall, James Wade, and Wessel Nijman also in the mix.
