UK Open 2026 Prize Fund | How much money is on offer in Minehead?
The UK Open is one of the highlights of the darts season and any players going deep into the tournament are guaranteed to enjoy a bumper payday.
Here we look at exactly how much money is up for grabs in the tournament widely known as the ‘FA Cup of darts’.
The UK Open is the second major ranking tournament of the season, following on from the Winmau World Masters as the centrepiece of March on the PDC calendar.
The Butlins Resort at Minehead – a mecca for family holidays – has been the UK Open venue since 2014.
Darts has never been a more popular sport and prize money has been reflecting that fact. There is a whopping £750,000 on offer at the UK Open – the biggest purse in the tournament’s history.
Breakdown of Current Prize Money Structure
The total prize fund for the UK Open has increased from £600,000 in 2025 to a record £750,000 in 2026, including £120,000 to the winner.
| Stage | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| Winner | £120,000 |
| Runner-up | £60,000 |
| Semi-final losers | £35,000 |
| Quarter-final losers | £20,000 |
| Last 16 losers | £12,500 |
| Last 32 losers | £7,500 |
| Fourth Round losers | £3,000 |
| Third Round losers | £2,000 |
| Second Round losers | £1,250 |
| First Round losers | £0 |
| Nine-darter bonus | N/A |
| Total | £750,000 |
Comparison Over Time
The UK Open started in 2003 with a total prize fund of £124,000, with £30,000 going to the champion. By 2009, the pot was £200,000, with £40,000 to the winner, then 2014 saw an increase to £250,000, with £50,000 to the champion. The following year, the PDC upped the total to £300,000, with a £60,000 first prize, then 2017 saw another £50,000 added to the fund and an extra £10,000 go to the champ. From 2019 onwards, the prize money leapt upwards, with £100,000 for the champion.
For the last three years, £600,000 has been up for grabs, with £110,000 to the winner, but this year the PDC have upped the ante yet again.
Michael van Gerwen sparked a boom in darts’ popularity a decade ago, producing some of the best numbers ever seen in the sport, and Luke Littler has taken over the mantle recently in terms of providing incredible entertainment. Darts is a growth sport, with prize money, sponsorships and broadcasting deals at an all-time high.
Financial Impact on Players
The UK Open provides a wonderful opportunity for the lesser players to boost their bank balance. A 160-man field means lots of lowly-ranked arrowsmiths get the chance to play for a huge amount of money. Getting through a few rounds in Minehead can kickstart a career.
Sponsorships, exhibitions, and endorsements bolster a player’s income. The best players obviously command the most lucrative deals.
Global Context
There are only four tournaments on the PDC calendar which offer more prize money than the UK Open – the World Championship, the Premier League, the World Matchplay and the Grand Slam of Darts.
This typically bookmaker-sponsored event has always been one of the most popular on the darts calendar and will almost certainly be a mainstay of the PDC calendar for decades to come.
