ITV has unveiled a fresh lineup for 2026 after securing a new agreement with the PDC. Notably, Luke Littler, the reigning world champion, is set to make his return to action this evening following his remarkable triumph at Ally Pally.
In anticipation of the upcoming coverage, ITV has revealed the programming schedule as part of their recently confirmed three-year deal with the PDC. The channel will showcase matches from various prestigious events including the World Masters, UK Open, World Series of Darts Finals, European Championship, Players Championship Finals, and global World Series of Darts competitions.
Pete Graves and Gabbie Partington from Sky Sports will lead the hosting duties for ITV’s coverage, with Partington already gearing up for the upcoming World Series of Darts double-header in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
The new punditry team on ITV features renowned figures like Wayne Mardle, a five-time World Championship semi-finalist previously seen on Sky Sports, and ex-Premier League champion Glen Durrant. Additionally, the lineup includes former PDC star Mark Webster and ex-World Matchplay semi-finalist Chris Mason. Changes are also expected in the commentary booth.
Dan Dawson will be teaming up with talkSPORT commentator Mark Wilson, while the iconic broadcaster Ian Danter will continue to play a significant role.
Following the announcement of the extended three-year deal last year, PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter expressed delight in the ongoing partnership with ITV, emphasizing the importance of providing free-to-air coverage of popular darts events to fans in the UK.
ITV Director of Sport, Niall Sloane, also expressed satisfaction in expanding and extending live darts coverage on ITV Sport, ensuring that major professional darts events remain accessible to the UK audience. The collaboration with the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) is set to continue through 2028.
Darts enthusiasts can look forward to the Bahrain Darts Masters commencing on Thursday evening, featuring reigning champion Stephen Bunting defending his title against Ryusei Azemoto. Meanwhile, Luke Littler will face off against Paul Lim in the opening round of the competition.
Sky has enhanced its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle by adding HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+, and Hayu, along with 135 channels and comprehensive coverage of the Premier League and EFL. With over 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL, Formula 1, darts, and golf, Sky continues to be a prime destination for sports fans.
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