September immediately puts the PDC circuit under pressure. Following the resumption of the European Tour in Budapest, the calendar moves on to Prague, Antwerp, Amsterdam, Den Bosch and then Leicester, with ranking points, places in major tournaments and a real shift towards autumn.
This run of events matters because it’s more than just a list of dates. It marks the start of the final stretch leading up to the Grand Slam of Darts, the Players Championship Finals and the World Championship. In a month like this, a good weekend can secure a place in the finals. A poor run, on the other hand, can prove very costly.
Key dates in the PDC’s September 2026 schedule
The calendar spotted on 31 August by DartsNews confirms a packed month, featuring two European Tour events, the World Series Finals, two Players Championships, the conclusion of the Challenge Tour and the launch of the World Grand Prix. The PDC has already confirmed the line-up for the 2026 World Series of Darts Finals, with Michael van Gerwen, Luke Littler, Gerwyn Price, Luke Humphries, Jonny Clayton and James Wade among the big names.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 4–6 September | Czech Darts Open, Prague |
| 11–13 September | Flanders Darts Trophy, Antwerp |
| 17–20 September | World Series of Darts Finals, Amsterdam |
| 22–23 September | Players Championship 29–30, Den Bosch |
| 24 September | ET15 Qualifier, Den Bosch |
| 26–28 September | Challenge Tour 21–24 |
| 28 September–4 October | World Grand Prix, Leicester |
Prague and Antwerp reignite the European race
The first test comes in Prague, from 4 to 6 September, with the Czech Darts Open. Luke Humphries is expected to defend his title there following his victory last year over Josh Rock. The line-up looks strong, with Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen, Gian van Veen, Gerwyn Price and Gary Anderson among the players to watch.
A week later, the European Tour heads to Antwerp for the Flanders Darts Trophy. Here too, the stakes are clear: to pick up ranking points, stay in contention for the major TV events, and avoid going into the autumn trailing behind. Following Ross Smith’s victory at the Hungarian Darts Trophy, the European Tour arrives with the pecking order already shaken up.
Amsterdam hosts the first major televised event of the autumn
The World Series of Darts Finals will take place from 17 to 20 September at AFAS Live in Amsterdam. The tournament does not count towards the PDC Order of Merit, but it retains real sporting and media significance. Van Gerwen will defend his title in front of his home crowd, following his 2025 victory over Littler.
The 32-player format combines qualifiers from the World Series circuit, wildcards based on the world rankings and the final players to emerge from the qualifying rounds. The PDC has confirmed a prize fund of £450,000, including £100,000 for the winner. This is typically the sort of event that can build momentum ahead of the season’s most high-profile fixture.
Den Bosch and the Challenge Tour dominate the qualifiers
On 22 and 23 September, Players Championships 29 and 30 bring the Pro Tour back to Den Bosch. Each tournament offers £150,000 in prize money, with a draw of 128 players. It may not be the most spectacular setting for the general public, but this is often where the race for the majors is truly decided.
On 24 September, the ET15 qualifier will also offer a final route into the Dutch Darts Championship. Then the Challenge Tour will conclude its season from 26 to 28 September. The leader of the Challenge Tour Order of Merit stands to secure a Grand Slam place, a World Championship place and a Tour Card. The players ranked behind him are also staking part of their professional futures on these final tournaments.
The World Grand Prix kicks off a major run of events
The World Grand Prix will begin on 28 September in Leicester and run until 4 October. With a prize fund of £750,000 and its ‘double-in, double-out’ format, the tournament remains one of the most tricky events on the PDC calendar. Here, it is not enough simply to finish legs well; you must first manage to open them.
Luke Littler will arrive as the defending champion following his 2025 final victory over Humphries, 6–1 in sets. The context is clear: September isn’t just about getting back into the swing of things. It sets the stage for the major events at the end of the year, and players arriving in Leicester in fine form will already have scored an early point.
Main source: PDC September 2026 calendar published by DartsNews. Additional official source: World Series Finals line-up confirmed by the PDC.
