Announced on the 31st December 2025, the PDC Rules for the forthcoming season with a review of the main changes at the bottom of this page.
The rules are reviewed throughout the season by the PDC and the PDPA, any rules that our players want us to look at are reviewed.
The final decision on all PDC Rules is with the PDC Board of Directors.
For the full PDC Rules CLICK HERE with the changes in brief as below.
A note of any major changes:
Affiliate Membership
Women’s Series players now added to Development Tour players.
Women’s World Matchplay
Inclusion of ranked eligible players ahead of the Women’s Series Rankings.
World Cup
Qualifying criteria clarified for countries without two world ranked players.
Affiliate Events or other PDC sanctioned qualifying tournaments.
Restriction on Tour Card holders removed.
Affiliate Tours
Aligned with DT/WS with the criteria for taking part based solely on being outside the Top 64 in the World Ranking at close of entry.
European Tour
Draw procedure changed such that reserves are placed in the lowest grouping .
Grand Slam
Increase to 48 players, criteria to follow.
World Championship
Precedence for qualification and draw procedures agreed for the 2025/2026 Event included.
UK and European Qualifying School.
Each First Stage play to 16 qualifiers each day.
Each Final Stage plays to two winners each day.
Final Stage winners will be replaced by the next in line from the First Stage tables such that there are 128 players each day allowing points to be awarded for wins in the last 128.
Players losing their Tour Cards may choose to take Challenge Tour Only status rather than compete at Q School.
8 highest eligible players from each Affiliate Tour earn free entry with the highest exempted to Final Stage.
Challenge Tour/Development Tour/World Youth Championship/Women's Series
DT/WS Entry Fees increase to £30 per event, CT Entry Fees to £60 per event.
DT and CT free and exempt places for 2027 QS increased to the 16 highest eligible players in each.
World Youth Finalists qualify for the 2026 Grand Slam to align with the year that they reached the final.
