Fallon Sherrock during 1.Mannheim Darts Gala at SAP Arena, Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany on 2022-12-03, Photo: Sven Mandel
Popular veteran star Steve Beaton will headline the list of First Stage entrants at UK Qualifying School, with three-time World Champion John Part and former Players Championship Finals winner Kevin Painter also set to feature.
There will be a record 925 players competing in the 2026 PDC Qualifying Schools starting today, as a number of high-profile names aim to secure their spots on the professional circuit.
Charlie Manby – who reached round four on his World Championship debut – will headline the list of Final Stage entries in UK Qualifying School, where he will be joined by former Women’s World Matchplay winner Fallon Sherrock, South African star Devon Petersen and darting stalwart Mervyn King.
Following a compelling World Darts Championship, the focus now switches to Arena MK in Milton Keynes and Wunderland in Kalkar, as players from around the globe set their sights on a coveted two-year Tour Card.
Qualifying School will again feature concurrent events being staged in the UK and Germany, and is split into First Stage and Final Stage across seven days of action from January 5-11.
First Stage will be held across three days, with the last 16 players from each day qualifying automatically for Final Stage, while the remaining places in Final Stage – featuring 128 players at each venue – are decided from a Ranking List, with one point being awarded per win.
Players who lost their Tour Card at the end of 2025 will be exempt through to Final Stage in either the UK or European Qualifying School.
They will be joined at Final Stage by leading players from the 2025 Winmau Challenge Tour, Development Tour and Women’s Series rankings, who do not already have Tour Cards for 2026.
In a change to last year, Tour Cards shall be awarded to the last two players of each day’s play in Final Stage at both the UK and European Qualifying School, while the remaining Tour Cards will be awarded to the players who occupy the qualifying positions in the Qualifying School Ranking List.
Swedish star Andreas Harrysson will compete in Final Stage at European Qualifying School, alongside 2020 Grand Slam champion Jose de Sousa and 2015/16 World Championship semi-finalist Jelle Klaasen, who are both eyeing immediate returns to the professional circuit.
Former World Matchplay semi-finalist Jeffrey De Zwaan will headline First Stage at European Qualifying School, with returning Spanish trailblazer Cristo Reyes and Mason Whitlock – son of Australian icon Simon – among a series of notable names in action.
2026 PDC Qualifying Schools
UK Final Stage Exempt Players: Ted Evetts, Mervyn King, Jack Tweddell, Sam Spivey. Scott Waites, Scott Campbell, Carl Sneyd, Graham Hall, Lee Cocks, Joe Hunt, Charlie Manby, Ryan Branley, James Beeton, Jenson Walker, Patrik Williams, Nathan Potter, Henry Coates, Tyler Thorpe, Fallon Sherrock, Devon Petersen, Darren Beveridge, Steve Lennon, Matthew Dennant, Dylan Slevin, Adam Hunt, Jim Williams, Rhys Griffin, Robert Grundy, Nathan Rafferty, William Borland, Brett Claydon, George Killington, Stephen Burton
EU Final Stage Exempt Players: Michael Unterbuchner, Alexander Merkx, Danny van Trijp, Jamai van den Herik, Jurjen van der Velde, Adam Gawlas, Jannis Barkhausen, Adam Sevada, Jesus Salate, Ben Robb, Tomoya Goto, Andreas Harrysson, Levy Frauenfelder, Bradly Roes, Chris Landman, Florian Hempel, Andy Baetens, Jose de Sousa, Patrick Geeraets, Jitse Van der Wal, Radek Szaganski, Jelle Klaasen, Martijn Dragt, Danny Lauby, Benjamin Reus, Michele Turetta, Mario Vandenbogaerde, Matt Campbell
