World Matchplay 2026 darts tournament set for July in Blackpool with 32 players

The 2026 World Matchplay darts tournament will be staged from 18 July to 26 July at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, England. The event features a 32‑player field comprising the top 16 on the PDC Order of Merit and the next 16 highest‑ranked players from the Pro Tour Order of Merit. Defending champion Luke Littler returns to defend his title after winning the 2025 edition.

The first‑round draw pits several seeded contenders against strong non‑seeded opponents. Analysts predict wins for Josh Rock over Luke Woodhouse, Stephen Bunting over Niels Zonneveld, and Luke Littler over Niko Springer, while noting the potential for early exits among six seeds. Further match‑ups include Nathan Aspinall versus Joe Cullen and Chris Dobey versus Dirk van Duijvenbode, with mixed expectations on outcomes. The tournament follows the standard World Matchplay format, with matches scheduled daily throughout the week and the final slated for 26 July.