How to Watch Winmau World Masters for Free on TV and Live Stream as Event Starts Today
Darts fans can enjoy the 2026 Winmau World Masters across multiple platforms this week, with free-to-air coverage available in the UK as the first major tournament of the new season gets underway at Arena MK in Milton Keynes.
The action begins today (January 28) with preliminary rounds before the main televised event kicks off Thursday through Sunday, featuring world champion Luke Littler, defending champion Luke Humphries, and 30 other top players battling for the £100,000 first prize.
UK Viewers – Free Coverage on ITV4
British darts fans are in for a treat with completely free coverage throughout the tournament on ITV4 and the ITVX streaming platform. This continues the PDC’s three-year deal with ITV, ensuring free-to-air access until at least 2028.
The coverage features a revamped presentation team, with Pete Graves anchoring the broadcasts for the first time and Gabbie Partington hosting select sessions. Sky Sports regulars Wayne Mardle and Glen Durrant join the punditry lineup alongside familiar ITV voices Mark Webster, Dan Dawson, and Chris Mason.
UK Schedule (All Times GMT):
- Thursday, January 29 – First Round (7:00 PM – 11:00 PM)
- Friday, January 30 – First Round (7:00 PM – 11:00 PM)
- Saturday, January 31 – Second Round (1:00 PM – 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM)
- Sunday, February 1 – Quarter-Finals (1:00 PM – 6:00 PM), Semi-Finals and Final (7:00 PM – 11:00 PM)
Saturday afternoon coverage may shift to ITV3 due to football highlights scheduling, though this has yet to be confirmed.
Today’s Preliminary Rounds
Before the main event begins Thursday, 122 players are competing today for the final eight spots in the tournament. Former world champions Peter Wright and Michael Smith headline the preliminary action, alongside 2022 Masters winner Joe Cullen, Cameron Menzies, and World Championship quarter-finalists Krzysztof Ratajski and Justin Hood.
The preliminary rounds are being streamed live on PDCTV from 12:00 GMT, with coverage from two boards available worldwide.
US Viewing Options
American viewers will need a subscription to PDCTV, the PDC’s dedicated streaming platform, priced at $12.99 per month or $74.99 annually. Some PDC events have appeared on Peacock in the past, though this is subject to change.
Australian Coverage
Darts fans Down Under will also require PDCTV to watch the tournament, with the subscription costing AU$17.99 monthly or AU$111.99 for a full year. While Stan Sport has carried select PDC tournaments, the World Masters is exclusively on PDCTV in Australia.
Worldwide Streaming
For viewers outside the UK, US, and Australia, PDCTV remains the primary option. The service is available globally through the PDC’s worldwide broadcast partners, including DAZN and Viaplay in select territories.
Note that PDCTV subscriptions are not available to viewers in the UK, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, where different broadcast arrangements are in place.
The Tournament
The 2026 Winmau World Masters represents the first ranking major of the new season and only the second edition since the tournament’s complete revamp last year. The event now carries the Winmau sponsor name and features a sets format throughout, played over the best of three legs per set.
World number one Luke Littler enters as the favorite but has never won this particular major, with his best result being a quarter-final exit to Jonny Clayton last year. The 18-year-old recently defended his World Championship title and secured victory at the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters, but the World Masters remains one of just two PDC majors he has yet to conquer.
Littler faces Mike De Decker in the first round, while Luke Humphries begins his title defense against two-time runner-up Dave Chisnall. Other contenders include recent World Championship finalist Gian van Veen, five-time Masters champion Michael van Gerwen, and two-time world champion Gary Anderson.
The tournament’s top 24 players based on the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder are automatically seeded into the main draw, with today’s preliminary rounds determining the final eight qualifiers who will join them.
Prize Money
The champion will collect £100,000, with £50,000 going to the runner-up. The total prize fund for the tournament stands at £500,000, making it one of the most lucrative events on the PDC calendar outside of the World Championship.
Whether you’re watching for free on ITV4 in the UK or streaming worldwide via PDCTV, this week promises compelling darts action as the sport’s elite battle to claim one of the most prestigious titles in the game.
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