News Beat
Premier League Darts 2026 lineup confirmed as Luke Littler learns opponents
There are two debutants within the ranks – Gian van Veen and Josh Rock – who are both rewarded for their strong 2025 seasons.
Two-time world champion Littler, who defended his crown in style in north London, is back as he tops the Order, while former world No1 and defending Premier League champion Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen are also in the mix, with the top four all guaranteed a place.
The wildcard selections are Bunting, Rock, Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton, who complete the eight-man field, as Nathan Aspinall drops out.
Aspinall, the current world No14, reached Finals Night last year, while Bunting lost his opening eight games before a fairytale win in Berlin on the ninth night.
Bunting, 40, won two World Series titles in the first half of last year, plus a Euro Tour tournament, but he lost form towards the back end, and was stunned by world No63 James Hurrell 4-3 at the World Championship.
Debutant: Gian van Veen was brushed aside by Littler in one-sided Alexandra Palace showpiece
Getty Images
Rock will make his Premier League bow after the Northern Irishman’s strong end to 2025, reaching the last four at the UK Open and World Matchplay before being shocked by Justin Hood at Ally Pally.
Price was dumped out in the second round of the World Championship, but keeps his place in the Premier League after reaching the play-offs last year.
Clayton is back in the eight for the first time in three years, climbing to world No5 after semi-final finishes at the UK Open, World Matchplay and World Grand Prix, before a quarter-final exit at the World Championship.
How does Premier League Darts work?
Between February and May, matches take place every Thursday night in different venues across Europe.
It is an eight-player knockout bracket every night, and each player meets each other once across the first seven weeks, before they go around again in weeks 9-15.
Weeks 8 and 16 are drawn based on how the league table looks. The night’s winner receives five points, the losing finalist takes home three, and beaten semi-finalists are given two.
The top four in the table converge on the O2 Arena to play in Finals Night after the conclusion of week 16.
The table-topper takes on fourth place, while second and third face off in a best-of-19 leg semi. The final is best of 21 legs.
