The Winamax French Darts Festival 2026 returns to the Caen Exhibition Centre from Thursday 3 to Saturday 5 December 2026. Following a first edition that made a significant impact on the darts scene in France, the Normandy event is clearly stepping up a gear: the organisers have announced over 1,600 players, more than 1,700 matches, a 12,500 m² venue and 128 dartboards spread across Halls 2 and 3.
If you’re looking for a reliable overview, here’s the guide to keep to hand: the full programme, the amateur tournament, the gala evening, ticketing, access, parking and useful information to help you plan your weekend.
Key dates and general format
The festival runs over three days, from 3 to 5 December, and is divided into two main sections:
- the amateur sporting section, open to adults, with various formats depending on the day;
- the grand gala evening on Saturday night, designed as the highlight of the weekend.
The organisers are presenting the event as the festival’s second edition. Logistically, the festival village, catering, exhibitors and competition area are all located on the same site, making the experience much more straightforward for visitors than a standalone tournament would be.
The 2026 programme, day by day
Thursday 3 December: the festival village is open from 5 pm to 10.30 pm, with a DJ from 7 pm to 10.30 pm. As for the gaming, the evening kicks off with the Ultimate Pairs Challenge from 6.00 pm to 10.30 pm and the Work’N’Play Challenge from 7.00 pm to 10.30 pm.
Friday 4 December: the village is open from 8.30 am to 10 pm. The day will be dominated by the All Stars Challenge (individual), alongside three specific Cups: Ladies, Legends and Paradarts. The official programme runs from 9.40 am to 10 pm, with a mini concert from 8.30 pm to 10 pm.
On Saturday 5 December, the village opens from 8.00 am to 10.30 pm. The sporting programme features the Battle Royal, played in teams of four, from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. Then it’s time for the gala: doors open at 6.30 pm, with the evening’s programme scheduled to begin at 7.30 pm, followed by a mix of amateur exhibitions, the awards ceremony, DJ sets and professional matches.
The amateur tournament: what you need to know before signing up
The amateur section is open to everyone, whether licensed or not, with one simple rule: you must be over 18. Each player is allowed one entry per day, i.e. one daily event depending on the format chosen.
The announced schedule is as follows:
- Thursday: Ultimate Pairs Challenge, in pairs.
- Friday: All Stars Challenge, Ladies Darts Cup, Legends Cup, Para Darts Cup and a second-chance tournament for those eliminated in the first round.
- Saturday: Battle Royal, in teams of four.
The formats for Friday and Saturday are set as 501 double out. The official website also provides detailed competition rules and the general tournament regulations for each event.
Prize money: the distribution of the announced €10,000
The total prize money for the amateur section is announced as €10,000, subject to the minimum number of entrants required by the regulations. The breakdown published on 28 June 2026 is as follows:
- Ultimate Pairs Challenge: €900 for the winners, €400 for the runners-up, €200 for the semi-finalists.
- All Stars Challenge: €1,500, €700 and €350.
- Ladies Darts Cup: €400, €200 and €100.
- Legends Cup: €700, €300 and €150.
- Paradarts Cup: €200, €100 and €50.
- Battle Royal: €1,500, €700 and €350.
This isn’t the only reason to come, but for a French festival, the level of organisation and prize money remains frankly ambitious.
Saturday’s gala evening: the headliners already announced
The gala on Saturday 5 December is billed as the main event for the general public. The organisers have already released a line-up featuring Thibault Tricole, Michael Smith, Peter Wright and Kim Huybrechts. As for the atmosphere, the venue promises a real show, with a DJ, stage entertainment and a format that’s more of a spectacle than just a series of matches.
The published programme notably states that doors open at 6.30 pm, with the first amateur match at 7.45 pm, an awards ceremony at 8.20 pm, followed by two professional semi-finals starting at 8.35 pm and 9.15 pm. Whilst the detailed timetable may still be subject to change, the general structure of the gala is already clear.
Ticketing and registration: how it works
The ticketing website sets out several stages. An initial promotional window was open from 27 May to 8 June for gala tickets, offering a special rate and an access code allowing early registration for the amateur tournament from 5 to 8 June. Since 9 June, remaining tickets have been on sale at the standard rate.
For competitors, the website states that a player’s ticket grants access to the village and the competition area over the three days. For visitors, access is limited to the village and the competition area on the day indicated on the ticket. The amateur tournament also states that children under 16 are entitled to free access to the public competition area.
Access, parking and practical information in Caen
The main venue remains the Caen Exhibition Centre, with access signposted via Boulevard des Baladas. The official website recommends following the suggested route due to roadworks in the city. The parking arrangements specify car park P1 for people with reduced mobility and car park P2 for able-bodied competitors. Entry to the competition and village is via Hall 3.
For any enquiries, the organisers refer you to the FAQs, the telephone number 07 44 30 02 79 and the email address [email protected]. It’s worth keeping these to hand, especially if you’re coming to compete rather than just to watch the gala.
Why this festival really matters on the French scene
The Winamax French Darts Festival isn’t just about a gala featuring a few stars. It aims to establish in France a format that fans usually see mainly abroad: a genuine hybrid event, combining amateur competition, a festival village, a show, hospitality and a showcase for the sport. The fact that Thibault Tricole is both the French headliner and co-founder of the event further reinforces this positioning.
If there’s one thing you need to bear in mind between now and December, it’s simple: check your time slot, ticket type and the rules for your event before booking. The official information portal already provides enough detail to help you plan your trip without having to feel your way in the dark.
Sources: French Darts Festival official website, announcement of the 2nd edition published on 26 May 2026, 2026 general programme, 2026 Amateur Tournaments page, 2026 Gala Evening page, official ticketing and FAQs.
