World Grand Prix 2026 prize fund | How much money is on offer?
The World Grand Prix carries a record prize fund in 2026 – we take a look at how much is up for grabs in Leicester.
The World Grand Prix is one of darts’ majors, but is unique in that a double-in format is used, so players need to be strong on the outer ring to prevail. Every leg must start and finish with a double.
The seven-day event takes place at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester. The tournament was formerly staged at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin, but moved behind closed doors to Coventry during the covid period in 2020, then on to Leicester in 2021.
Record prize money will be paid out at this year’s World Grand Prix, with the total prize pot being increased to £750,000 and a winner’s cheque of £150,000.
Breakdown of Current Prize Money Structure
The prize fund has gone up from £600,000 to £750,000 this year, reflecting the increased popularity of the game of darts.
Even a first-round defeat in the World Grand Prix is enough for £7,500. Luke Woodhouse, who faces Luke Littler in round one, will still get a handsome cheque if he loses to the world number one. A second-round defeat yields £20,000, a losing quarter-finalist gets £35,000, a semi-finalist pockets £50,000, the runner-up gets £80,000, and the winner banks £150,000.
There is no bonus for a nine-dart finish. There have been only three in the tournament’s history, but the PDC is focusing their financial power on generous prize money.
| Position | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| Winner | £150,000 |
| Runner-up | £80,000 |
| Semi-final losers | £50,000 |
| Quarter-final losers | £35,000 |
| Second round losers | £20,000 |
| First round losers | £7,500 |
Comparison Over Time
The prize money for the inaugural World Grand Prix in 1998 was a total of £38,000, with the champion, Phil Taylor, awarded £9,000. By 2004, the prize fund had increased to £100,000, with the winner, Colin Lloyd, getting £20,000. The pot had doubled to £200,000 by 2007, when James Wade took home a winner’s cheque for £50,000, then huge rises in rewards have come since.
Growth in darts over the last two decades has been enormous – the popularity of the sport made sponsors desperate to be a part of it, while broadcasting deals have been extremely lucrative for the PDC. From 2022 onwards, £600,000 was up for grabs at the Grand Prix, with the winner getting £120,000.
Financial Impact on Players
The modern PDC professional can become a millionaire quickly if they perform well in the biggest events. Luke Littler is a multi-millionaire at the age of 19 because he has been banking so much prize money.
A darts professional can also make income from sponsorship deals, performing in exhibitions and various other endorsements, including on social media.
Global Context
The World Championship has the biggest prize fund, with £5m on the table and the winner getting £1m. Premier League Darts, the World Matchplay and the Grand Slam of Darts are the next three most lucrative events for players, with £1m or more in the pot for each of them.
The World Grand Prix is the fifth biggest tournament in darts in terms of prize money – in both total prize fund and winner’s share.
