ITV has unveiled its revamped broadcasting lineup for 2026 under a new agreement with the PDC. Luke Littler, the current World champion, is poised to make his return to action after a remarkable win at Ally Pally.
In anticipation of the upcoming coverage, ITV has disclosed the programming changes following the official confirmation of their fresh three-year contract with the PDC. The channel will showcase matches from various prestigious events like the World Masters, UK Open, World Series of Darts Finals, European Championship, Players Championship Finals, and global World Series of Darts events.
Leading the coverage as hosts will be Sky Sports’ Pete Graves and Gabbie Partington, with Partington already preparing for the upcoming World Series of Darts double-header in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The new ITV punditry team boasts renowned figures such as five-time World Championship semi-finalist Wayne Mardle, who transitions from his long-standing role at Sky Sports since 2011, and ex-Premier League champion Glen Durrant.
Other additions to the punditry team include former PDC star Mark Webster and ex-World Matchplay semi-finalist Chris Mason. The commentary lineup will see Dan Dawson partnering with talkSPORT commentator Mark Wilson, alongside the continuing presence of legendary broadcaster Ian Danter.
In light of the extended partnership, PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter expressed delight at the prolonged collaboration with ITV, spanning over two decades. Niall Sloane, ITV Director of Sport, also shared enthusiasm for the expanded live darts coverage on ITV Sport, highlighting the commitment to airing major professional darts events for UK viewers.
Darts enthusiasts can look forward to the Bahrain Darts Masters commencing soon, featuring reigning champion Stephen Bunting defending his title against Ryusei Azemoto. Meanwhile, Luke Littler is set to face off against Ally Pally fan favorite Paul Lim in the competition’s opening round.
Sky has enhanced its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle by including HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+, and Hayu, along with 135 channels and comprehensive Premier League and EFL coverage. With over 1,400 live matches broadcasted on Sky, including Premier League, EFL, Formula 1, darts, and golf, viewers have a wide array of sports entertainment at their disposal.