Australian Darts Masters 2026 Preview: Who Will Win in Wollongong?
When the spotlight falls on Wollongong later this week, the 2026 KenoGO Australian Darts Masters will bring together eight PDC representatives and eight players from the Oceanic region for two nights of World Series action.
The tournament has become an important fixture on the Australian darts calendar, giving local players the chance to share the stage with some of the sport’s biggest names.
This year’s field includes established stars such as Gerwyn Price, Stephen Bunting and James Wade, alongside emerging talent including Gian van Veen and Josh Rock.
With the newly renamed Kyle Anderson Trophy being awarded for the first time, there is plenty at stake when the action begins at the WIN Entertainment Centre.
When Is The Australian Darts Masters?
The 2026 Australian Darts Masters takes place on Friday 21 August and Saturday 22 August at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong. The event is part of the PDC World Series of Darts and features a 16-player field.
The opening night on Friday features all eight first-round matches, with the winners progressing to Saturday’s final stages. The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will all be played on Saturday evening.
Unlike the 2025 edition, which was also staged in Wollongong but took place on 8–9 August, the 2026 tournament has moved later in the month. Last year’s event ended with Luke Littler defeating Mike De Decker 8–4 in the final.
What Time Does The Australian Darts Masters Start?
Both sessions are scheduled to begin at 7:00pm local time in Wollongong. Friday’s session contains the last-16 matches, while Saturday’s session features the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final. The NSW Government lists both sessions as running from 7:00pm to 10:00pm local time, although timings can be subject to change.
For viewers in the UK, Wollongong is nine hours ahead during August, so the scheduled 7:00pm starts correspond to 10:00am BST. That means UK fans can follow both sessions during the morning and early afternoon.
The event’s compact format means the Saturday session is particularly important, with the champion set to be crowned on the same night as the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
Who Won the 2025 Australian Darts Masters?
Luke Littler won the 2025 Australian Darts Masters, defeating Mike De Decker 8–4 in the final. It was Littler’s first World Series title of 2025 and his third Australian Darts Masters appearance, having finished runner-up to Gerwyn Price in 2024.
Littler’s route to the title included a deciding-leg victory over Haupai Puha in the opening round, a 6–3 quarter-final win against Australian number one Damon Heta and a 7–4 semi-final victory over Stephen Bunting. He then produced a 99.10 average in the final to beat De Decker 8–4.
The result also meant Price did not retain the trophy. The 2024 champion was beaten 6–4 by Chris Dobey in the 2025 quarter-finals.
Littler is not returning to Wollongong in 2026, while Price is back in the field and will be among the leading names looking to claim the newly renamed Kyle Anderson Trophy.
Who Is Playing In The Australian Darts Masters?
The 2026 tournament has a 16-player field made up of eight PDC representatives and eight Oceanic representatives. The PDC contingent is Gian van Veen, Jonny Clayton, James Wade, Josh Rock, Gerwyn Price, Stephen Bunting, Ross Smith and Damon Heta.
The Oceanic contingent is Adam Leek, Simon Whitlock, Raymond Smith, Brody Klinge, Tim Pusey, Joe Comito, Mal Cuming and Ben Robb. Cuming replaced Darren Penhall after Penhall withdrew with a shoulder injury.
The field therefore includes a mixture of proven World Series performers, major-title winners and players making their debut on the World Series circuit. Gian van Veen and Ross Smith are among those making their World Series debuts Down Under, while Adam Leek is also set to make his World Series debut on home soil.
Damon Heta will again have the opportunity to perform in front of a home crowd, while Simon Whitlock provides further Australian experience. The Oceanic players will be looking to produce the kind of upset that can make the World Series format so unpredictable.
What Is The Prize Money For The Australian Darts Masters?
The 2026 Australian Darts Masters carries a £100,000 prize fund. The World Series event rewards players according to how far they progress through the competition, with the largest share reserved for the eventual champion.
The prize structure is:
Winner: £30,000
Runner-up: £16,000
Semi-finalists: £10,000 each
Quarter-finalists: £5,000 each
First-round participants: £1,750 each
The event also has added significance in 2026 because the trophy has been renamed the Kyle Anderson Trophy, honouring the late Australian darts pioneer. The new trophy will be awarded for the first time in Wollongong this year.
With two nights of action, a £100,000 prize fund and a field combining PDC stars with Oceanic challengers, the 2026 Australian Darts Masters promises another lively weekend of darts in Wollongong.
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