Stephen Bunting is the controversial inclusion among the confirmed eight-player roster for the 2026 Premier League Darts.
There will be debuts for Darts World Championship finalist Gian van Veen and Northern Ireland’s World Cup Winner Josh Rock.
But it is the inclusion of Bunting ahead of the likes of Danny Noppert, Nathan Aspinall and James Wade that has raised a few darting eyebrows.
Premier League Darts Line-Up For 2026
Title sponsor BetMGM announced the 2026 line-up with the top four players in the world rankings already guaranteed a place.
That sees world No 3 Van Veen join recently crowned back-to-back PDC world champion Luke Littler, along with defending Premier League champion and world No 2 Luke Humphries.
Mighty Michael van Gerwen makes up the four automatic selections.
The remaining four players are chosen by the PDC, usually based on form from the previous year.
Northern Ireland’s World Cup winner Josh Rock has earned the chance to make his first appearance and will play alongside returning players Gerwyn Price and Johnny Clayton in the 17-week tournament.
Bunting is the surprise inclusion after a below average 2025.
People’s Champion With No Trophies
The self-proclaimed People’s Champion failed to reach even the quarter-final stages of any major tournament through 2025 and finished rock bottom on his return to the Premier League.
Bunting has been granted a place ahead of the likes of Danny Noppert, who reached five major finals through 2025.
Also missing out is 2025 Players Championship finalist Nathan Aspinall, who finished fourth in last season’s Premier League.
James Wade didn’t take the news well, jumping onto twitter to express his frustration at missing out.
“Hard work pays off… really?” he wrote.
“Disappointed, but proud of the work I put in this year chasing one goal getting back to the Premier League.
“Missing out hurts, but that’s part of the journey.”
Popular Sky Sports darts commentator Wayne Mardle expressed his shock at Bunting’s selection.
“I’m slightly surprised at Stephen Bunting,” he said.
“He’s had a decent enough year but not as good as some.
“He can consider himself a little fortunate.
“He’s the one who will breathe a huge sigh of relief.”
Will We See Another Luke Double?
World No 1 Luke Littler, who has over 1.9 million followers on Instagram, will be a man on a mission.
Littler will be looking to avenge his 11-8 defeat in last year’s final to great rival and world No 2 Luke Humphries.
Littler won the Premier League on his debut in 2024, beating Humphries 11-7 at the O2 Arena showdown.
So we have both Lukes searching for their second Premier League title as the action gets underway in February.
2026 PDC Premier League Darts Schedule
Matches will take place every Thursday evening from February 5 to May 28.
The League is played at various venues around the UK, Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands, with finals night being hosted by the O2 Arena in London.
- February 5: Night 1 – Newcastle
- February 12: Night 2 – Antwerp
- February 19: Night 3 – Glasgow
- February 26: Night 4 – Belfast
- March 5: Night 5 – Cardiff
- March 12: Night 6 – Nottingham
- March 19: Night 7 – Dublin
- March 26: Night 8 – Berlin
- April 2: Night 9 – Manchester
- April 9: Night 10 – Brighton
- April 16: Night 11 – Rotterdam
- April 23: Night 12 – Liverpool
- April 30: Night 13 – Aberdeen
- May 7: Night 14 – Leeds
- May 14: Night 15 – Birmingham
- May 21: Night 16 – Sheffield
- May 28: Finals Night – O2 Arena, London
