“I think that’s the next big step” – Luke Littler excited by talk of £1million top prize at 2026 PDC World Darts Championship
PDC World Darts Championship Prize Money Set for Major Increase
Since Michael van Gerwen’s third world title victory in 2019, the PDC World Darts Championship winner has taken home a staggering £500,000. However, it appears that Luke Littler’s recent triumph could be the last at this prize level, as speculation grows that future champions will receive an even bigger payout.
Rumors have circulated that the 2026 World Darts Championship winner could pocket £1 million—a claim recently hinted at by former world champion Luke Humphries. Despite the growing buzz, Littler himself remains in the dark about any official confirmation.
“I’ve not been told anything,” the teenage world champion told SportsBoom. “But it’s been talked about for years. The prize has been stuck at £500,000 for a long time, so I think this [£1m prize] is the next big step for us players.”
If the PDC does indeed double the championship prize money, it could have a major impact on the PDC Order of Merit, dramatically shifting the rankings. Littler, currently world number two, believes the prize boost will all but guarantee the champion secures the top spot.
“Whoever wins it will go straight to number one,” he added. “If it’s this year or next, I’m 99.9% sure it’s going to happen.”
Luke Humphries Fuels Speculation
Humphries, who currently holds the world number one ranking, seemed to confirm the rumored increase during a recent TalkSport interview.
“I’m not desperately chasing the world number one ranking,” he said. “I’d rather be world champion—like Luke [Littler] is. At the end of the day, we all know that the world champion is going to get a million quid.”
He added, “Whoever wins that will be world number one. If I win, I’ll be number one for a long time. If Luke wins, he’ll be number one for a long time.”
With prize money set to rise, the stakes have never been higher, and the battle between Littler and Humphries for darts supremacy looks set to define the coming years.
