Premier League Darts 2026: Luke Humphries to relaunch, Josh Rock and Gian van Veen attempt to impress, while Michael van Gerwen makes his mark | Darts News

The 2026 Premier League Darts is fast approaching and with it all eyes are on what the eight players can achieve in darts' biggest roadshow.

Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Gian van Veen, Michael van Gerwen, Jonny Clayton, Stephen Bunting, Josh Rock and Gerwyn Price will compete for 16 weeks in a bid to make it to the finals night at London's O2 Arena on May 28.

Throughout these weeks, each player will experience ups, downs and everything in between, but in the end, if they find themselves in the final four, they will have had a well-run race and will know that it is up to them to win the coveted title.

There are newbies who have something to prove, old heads who want to show their worth and a few Lukes at the top of the list.

Let's take a look at the main storylines of the Premier League of Darts 2026…

Time to make that dream debut?

Two players who will definitely want to make their mark on the Premier League circuit are Van Veen and Rock who are making their debuts.

As world number 3, Van Veen automatically qualified for the Premier League following his run to the World Darts Championship final in January.

However, as a newcomer to the world's top four and Dutch number 1, snatching the crown from Van Gerwen, he will want to show that he belongs where he is ranked.

Van Veen won his first major televised title with a European Championship victory over Humphries in Dortmund, then defeated Humphries again as well as Gary Anderson to set up his world final clash with Littler.

He's shown he can be one of the greats, now it's about accepting that and doing it for at least 16 straight weeks.

Meanwhile, Rock has been chosen as the wild card and with his fast game, the 24-year-old is expected to mix it up with his seven competitors.

He was a semi-finalist at the World Matchplay and the UK Open, and inspired Northern Ireland to a maiden World Cup victory in June last year alongside Daryl Gurney.

If Wayne Mardle is right, the Premier League is a format that could help Rock shine.

“Josh is one of those players who will love it,” said the Aerial sports expert.

“He's a fiery character and he seems to thrive on competition. The Premier League is all that: it's the big stage, it's the competition, it's relentless.”

Bunting to show that he “deserves his place”

The one inclusion in the 2026 Premier League that raised the most eyebrows was Bunting.

Bunting is the current world number 7 but had a very difficult campaign in the Premier League last year. It finished bottom of the Premier League last year and failed to win more than one match in any major tournament after July's World Matchplay.

He has won two World Series events and two European Tour events, which “The Bullet” says strengthens his case for inclusion.

Indeed, many thought it was between Bunting and Nathan Aspinall for eighth place in this year's Premier League, but Bunting said he didn't like there being a question mark over his place and that he had deserved another chance in 2026.

“I'm a little disappointed that people thought it was between me and Nathan, to be honest,” Bunting said.

“I think I deserve to be there, I'm number 7 in the world, I had a great year last year, I won six tournaments and I made 10 finals.

“It’s one of them – I have a great fan base, I have a great substitute, I know people don’t talk about walk-ons.

“I honestly believe I deserve to be there and I’m going to show everyone that I deserve to be there.”

MVG to prove a point

He has won the Premier League a record seven times, but in 2025 Van Gerwen missed Finals Night for only the second time in his trophy-laden career.

Remarkably, MVG simply failed to secure a night victory in 2025 and as a result suffered a dismal campaign by their standards.

But is this the moment when the Dutchman reasserts his dominance?

After a difficult World Darts Championship, where he was eliminated before the quarter-finals for the first time since 2016 by Gary Anderson, “Mighty Mike” has had a good start to 2026.

He started by winning the Bahrain Darts Masters title, then reached the final of the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters before being beaten by Luke Littler.

He says he feels good, is in the zone and now wants to get the Premier League back. her tournament.

Humphries hopes to retain title

Humphries enters the Premier League this year as reigning champions and if he manages to retain that title it would really send a statement.

Indeed, this Premier League victory is Humphries' last major title.

He has reached numerous finals but failed to cross the finish line, with Littler usually stopping him in his tracks, and after crashing out of the World Championships in the quarters, Darts' Greatest Roadshow is a huge opportunity to reassert himself and show exactly why he is world number 2.

The talent is clearly there, the format suits his fast-paced style, it's time for Humphries to reignite the Luke vs. Luke rivalry.

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Littler loves breaking a record or two and it's no different when it comes to the Premier League.

He became the youngest winner with his victory in 2024, hitting a nine-dart in the process, and has been shaking up the statistics ever since.

Although he didn't win it all in 2025, Littler had the most dominant campaign since the format's inception.

Littler had six wins, appeared in more than half of the night finals, had more than half of the 80 points available (45), and shot 10 180s in a single match.

2026 for Littler will be about breaking his own records, but also making sure the trophy is his again.

Welsh No.1 vs Welsh No.2

Two Welsh players, two former Premier League champions and a moment for Clayton to show why he is the Welsh No.1.

Clayton and Price will face off for the first time in the quarter-finals on night three in Glasgow, but all eyes will be on them on night five when we head to Cardiff – the reception will be electric!

While Price has been a mainstay in the Premier League, 2021 champion 'The Ferret' makes his return following a pair of televised finals at the World Masters and World Cup of Darts, having also reached the semi-finals of the UK Open, World Matchplay and World Grand Prix.

The rankings put him several places above “The Iceman,” but it would be a shock if there was a bit of friendly back-and-forth between the two over who's on top over the course of 16 weeks.

There's just intrigue everywhere and that's before the action even starts!

Who will win this year's Premier League Darts? Luke Humphries will defend his title and you can watch the action every Thursday from February to May on Sky Sports. Stream darts and many other top sports with NOW.