World Darts Championship 2025/26 draw: Date, start time, live stream, TV channel, format as Littler and Co learn fate

WE are edging closer to the opening day of this year’s World Darts Championship – but the all-important draw has to be made first!

Teen sensation Luke Littler became the youngest ever winner after demolishing Dutch superstar Michael van Gerwen during the 2024/25 final.

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Luke Littler beat Michael van Gerwen in last campaign’s finalCredit: PA

And the new World No1 will be determined to retain his crown when he heads the list of a whole host of superstars, including Luke Humphries, Stephen Bunting and Gerwyn Price.

But before the action gets underway in December, names will be picked out of a hat for what will be a historic draw.

A record-breaking 128 players will descend on Ally Pally to compete for the £5million prize fund – 32 up from the usual 96 participants.

SunSport can provide all details about the draw and how it will work.

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When is the World Darts Championship 2025/26 draw?

• The World Darts Championship 2025/26 draw will take place on Monday, November 24.
• It is scheduled to get underway from 4:30pm GMT.

What TV channel is it on and is there a live stream?

• The World Darts Championship 2025/26 draw will be broadcast live on Sky Sports News.
• It can also be streamed on NOW TV through a compatible mobile device or tablet.
• Alternatively, SunSport will have coverage of the entire draw through our LIVE blog.

How does the draw work?

In a slight change from previous years, all players will enter the tournament at the first round stage.

The top 32 seeded players and players ranked 33-64 are drawn at random into the left hand side of the draw against the remaining 64 qualifiers.

Who are the top 40 seeds that have qualified?

1. Luke Littler
2. Luke Humphries
3. Michael van Gerwen
4. Stephen Bunting
5. Jonny Clayton
6. James Wade
7. Gian van Veen
8. Chris Dobey
9. Danny Noppert
10. Josh Rock
11. Ross Smith
12. Gerwyn Price
13. Gary Anderson
14. Damon Heta
15. Martin Schindler
16. Rob Cross
17. Mike de Decker
18. Dave Chsinall
19. Ryan Searle
20. Jermaine Wattimena
21. Nathan Aspinall
22. Dimitri Van den Bergh
23. Daryl Gurney
24. Ryan Joyce
25. Cameron Menzies
26. Ritchie Edhouse
27. Luke Woodhouse
28. Dirk van Duijvenbode
29. Peter Wright
30. Michael Smith
31. Joe Cullen
32. Wessel Nijman
33. Ricardo Pietreczko
34. Andrew Gilding
35. Raymond van Barneveld
36. Scott Williams
37. Krzysztof Ratajski
38. Martin Lukeman
39. Brendan Dolan
40. Kevin Doets