Who Wins the 2026 World Darts Championship? Odds, Form, and the Real Contenders

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The 2026 PDC World Darts Championship (officially the 2025/26 World Championship) is almost here, and the big question is already buzzing: who lifts the Sid Waddell Trophy at Alexandra Palace in early January?

The tournament starts on December 11, 2025 and runs through to the final on January 3, 2026 at Ally Pally in London.

Every major betting agency has Luke “The Nuke” Littler as the runaway favorite to go back-to-back after winning the last championship. Behind him is Luke Humphries, the 2024 champion, with the rest of the field priced as outsiders.

On recent form, that looks fair. But darts—and sport in general—rarely follows a script. Here at Bullseye Darts, we see a few genuine “bolters” who can disrupt the Luke-dominated storyline.

Tournament Snapshot: Dates, Format, and a Bigger Field

This year’s World Championship is the biggest ever: 128 players for the first time (up from 96), with 32 seeds and a record £5 million prize fund, including £1 million to the winner.

That expanded field brings more international qualifiers, more dangerous early-round matchups, and less room for slow starts. In other words: more chaos, more upsets, and more chances for a surprise run.

The Favorite: Luke Littler Is the Man to Beat

Let’s not dance around it—Luke Littler enters as the defending champion and world No. 1, and he’s earned every bit of favoritism. In 2025 he’s stacked major titles and beaten top players in big-stage finals. He’s also developed that scary Ally Pally skill: finding another gear when the pressure is nuclear.

Two facts matter most:

1. Littler rarely loses at Ally Pally.

2. Even when he’s in trouble, his ceiling is untouchable.

If he plays to his averages and holds his nerve on doubles, the field may be fighting for second place.

Main Challenger: Luke Humphries Wants His Crown Back

If anyone looks built to stop Littler, it’s Luke Humphries. He’s the second favorite for a reason, and he’ll be fired up after losing the No. 1 ranking and falling short against Littler in recent majors.

Humphries has already shown he can beat Littler on this stage—he did it en route to the 2024 world title. If he arrives sharp and keeps his scoring pressure high, a Littler–Humphries collision could decide the whole tournament.

The Best “Bolters” Who Can Win It All

Gerwyn Price: Still a Champion Threat

Gerwyn Price sits just behind the Lukes in the betting. The 2021 champion is still capable of ripping through a bracket—especially if his doubling clicks. LiveDarts

The concern? He’s had a rough run head-to-head with Littler lately. To win the 2026 title, Price likely needs to solve that specific puzzle at some point.

Josh Rock: Crowd Favorite With a Brutal Path

Josh Rock is a legitimate outside bet. The talent is there, and the belief is growing. But his projected route is nasty: he may have to go through Danny Noppert, then van Gerwen / Anderson / Wright-type names just to reach the semis.

If he survives that section, he’ll be battle-hardened enough to beat anyone. We like him as a high-value pick.

Danny Noppert: Form Is Real, Ceiling Maybe Not

Noppert’s scoring has been heavy and his doubles have looked class. But Ally Pally history matters, and he hasn’t yet made a truly deep run here. We can see last 16 or quarters, but not quite holding up through six rounds.

Gian van Veen: The Dangerous Dark Horse

Gian van Veen is the kind of player nobody wants in their quarter. He already proved he can beat Humphries in a major final and has the scoring power to shock seeds.

If he pushes through a likely tough mid-tournament matchup, he becomes a real spoiler—and maybe more.

The Women to Watch: Beau Greaves Headlines the Story

With the new qualification structure guaranteeing multiple women in the field, this championship feels different.

All eyes are on Beau Greaves, and for good reason. She’s got the game and she’s proved she can average with elite men on TV stages. Darts World Magazine

But the draw is unforgiving. If she gets a win early, the momentum could be electric. A deep run is possible—winning the whole thing is a bigger ask this year, but the direction of travel is obvious.

So… Who Wins the 2026 World Darts Championship?

We think this tournament is still a battle of the Lukes.

• Littler has the form, the aura, and the Ally Pally track record.

• Humphries has the experience, the motivation, and the proven ability to beat him on this stage.

If you’re picking a champion today, Luke Littler is the logical choice—but Luke Humphries is the one guy who can turn this into a different story.

Either way, the combination of a bigger field, huge prize money, and rising challengers makes this set up to be an all-time World Championship.

First dart: 7:00pm London time, December 11, 2025 (8:00am NZ time, December 12). Peacock is to stream the 2025-26 World Darts Championship Live. More info here: https://www.pdc.tv/news/2025/12/04/peacock-stream-2025-26-world-darts-championship-live

Straight arrows, everyone.