There will be a record 925 players competing in the 2026 PDC Qualifying Schools next week, as a number of high-profile names aim to secure their spots on the professional circuit.
Following a compelling Paddy Power 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.
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.
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.
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.
Matches in First Stage will be played over the best of nine legs, while Final Stage encounters will be contested over the best of 11 legs.
Click here to see the First Stage entries for UK Qualifying School and European Qualifying School.
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