2026 PDC Qualifying School - PDPA Information

Once you have entered the 2026 PDC Qualifying School:

WHAT NEXT

Just prior to the event, and after the entry deadline the PDC will send you the full and final details for the event in an ‘Event Brief’. These will be sent to you direct on the email you provided on entry, so if you’re a new member/current member, make sure the email address on your online account is correct and up to date. All event details will also be on our website.

ADD YOUR EMERGENCY CONTACT No ON YOUR ONLINE ACCOUNT: Make sure you add your ‘Emergency Contact Tel No’ on your online account in the area provided – This is a requirement. And tick the Terms & Conditions box for the PDPA Rules at the bottom.

Make sure you enter all other required information, if someone is filling this out for you make sure they add all your information correctly, it’s your account you are responsible. 

DAILY REGISTRATION (Both Venues local time)

First Stage - Players need to register daily in the venue from 0900-1100 GMT. Play is expected to start at approximately 1200 GMT.

Timings:

• 0900 - Doors open

• 0900-1100 - Registration

• 1100 - Registration closes, and the draw is made

• 1200 approx. - Play commences

Players must register themselves and their guest with PDC Officials at the Security Desk in the foyer at the venue entrance. It is your responsibility to ensure you have registered at the correct location before 1100 GMT. Failure to do so will result in you being omitted from the draw.

Final Stage - Players need to register daily in the venue from 0900-1100 GMT with play to start at 1200 GMT.

• 0900 - Doors open

• 0900-1100 - Registration

• 1100 - Registration closes, and the draw is made

• 1200 - Play commences

Players must register themselves and their guest with PDC Officials at the Security Desk in the foyer at the venue entrance. It is your responsibility to ensure you have registered at the correct location before 1100 GMT. Failure to do so will result in you being omitted from the draw.

Q-SCHOOL RULES, STAGES AND WHAT THEY MEAN:

5.1 Both the UK and European Q Schools shall comprise a First Stage of three one-day Events played over a best of 9 leg format followed by a Final Stage of four separate one-day Events, played over a best of 11 leg format. Players from the UK, Republic of Ireland and Gibraltar shall play in the UK Q School.

Players from all other European Nations shall play in the European Q School. Players from other nations may choose in which Q School to participate. Players who lost their Tour Card at the end of 2025, along with players from the Top 16 of each of the final 2025 Challenge and Development Tour Orders of Merit who do not have a Tour Card for 2026 will be exempt to the Final Stage in either the UK or European Q Schools, depending on their eligibility by nationality.

Should a player who has lost their Tour Card at the end of 2025 only wish to participate in the Challenge Tour in 2026, they may do so by entering Q School without the requirement to participate. However, they would then not be eligible for any Players Championship top up places, Premier Event qualification or Tour Card qualification for 2027 through the Challenge Tour during 2026.

The top 8 eligible players from the 2025 Women’s Series Ranking and Affiliate Tour Rankings will receive free entry to First Stage of Q School. The highest ranked Q School entrant from 2025 Affiliate Tours shall receive an exemption to the Final Stage. For clarity, players eligible for exemptions or entries under this criteria must still enter via the online registration system and, where relevant, pay their entry fee.

Players who qualify for this exemption may choose which Q School to enter and must inform the Tournament Director in advance of the entry deadline, other than the representatives from the PDC Nordic & Baltic Tour, who would play in the European Qualifying School. If any eligible player rejects this invitation or is otherwise not eligible, the runner-up in the Ranking shall be invited. If they reject the invitation or are otherwise not eligible, the invitation shall be withdrawn.

The First Stage of Q School will be played across three days, with the last 16 players from each day qualifying automatically for the Final Stage and the remaining places being decided by a Points List with one point being awarded per win from the first full round drawn without byes.

5.2 Tour Cards shall be awarded to the last two players of each day’s play in Final Stage at both the UK and European Q School. Once a player has been awarded a Tour Card they shall not play in the remainder of Q School Final Stage and the next highest ranked players from the relevant First Stage Ranking will be invited to play The remaining Tour Cards will be awarded to the players who occupy the qualifying positions in the Q School Ranking List which shall be comprised of points as awarded in 5.3.

Places will be allocated to the relevant UK & European Q School Points Lists on a pro-rata basis from the final number of players who compete in at least one day of Q School. Entrance to Q School constitutes acceptance of a Tour Card, if so earned by a player’s performance.

If a player earns a Tour Card by virtue of their performance at Q School but declines a Tour Card, or is eligible for Final Stage either by exemption or qualification and does not participate on all days (unless they are a daily winner), they are not eligible to appear on the Q School Ranking List or play in ProTour (including European Tour qualifiers) or Secondary Tour Events in 2026.

A player who resigns their PDC Tour Card is not permitted to enter the following calendar year’s Qualifying School, but would be permitted to enter UK Open Amateur Qualifiers and any qualifying event which is not restricted to PDPA Full Members, provided that they satisfy any local qualification criteria.

5.3 A Ranking List for each Q School shall be compiled with players awarded one point per win from the first full round played without byes to determine the allocation of any additional Tour Cards as necessary.

In First Stage, players will receive one point per victory from the first full round onwards on each day (defined as a round played without byes caused by the draw) to provide a Ranking List from which players will qualify for Final Stage, and the respective three-day blocks will operate their own Ranking List to provide further qualifiers for Final Stage.

In Final Stage, players will receive one point per victory from the Last 64 onwards on each day of Final Stage to form the Final Stage Ranking List. The split of the required additional Tour Cards across both Qualifying Schools will be allocated pro-rata based on the final number of players who participate at each Qualifying School, and will be confirmed ahead of the commencement of the Final Stage.

Wins by virtue of a walkover in any round shall be counted as a 5-0 win in First Stage and a 6-0 win in Final Stage. If a player withdraws midway through a match their opponent shall be awarded the win by five (First Stage) or six (Final Stage) legs to however many legs the withdrawing player has won at the time of withdrawal.

At any point during Q School, if two or more players are tied on points, they will be separated in the Ranking List by (in order until they can be split): leg difference, legs won, Dart Connect average based on their totals in their matches.

Results in all matches played at the relevant stage are included in this countback. If the players cannot be split, a play-off will be organised. In the event of a discrepancy with Dart Connect meaning averages cannot be verified then they will be disregarded.5.4 Entry to Q School shall cost £400 plus a £75 2026 DRA Sanction Fee (plus VAT for UK Q School) and be paid in advance via www.pdcplayers.com. The player shall then be deemed to be an Associate Member of the PDPA for the year providing the player participates in at least one day of Q School. Players who achieve their Tour Card must upgrade to Full PDPA membership at a cost of an additional £100 to be granted their Tour Card.

ENTRIES:

The UK entry fee is subject to VAT which is a legal requirement, the European QS entry fee is not subject to this. Both entry fees include your DRA sanction Fee. 

PDPA:

All Q-School Entrants MUST inform the PDPA of their contact details. if you have filled in your PDC Online Account fully we will get the info from there, if you do not fill this in correctly, you will need to do this before you play. Don't leave it until last minute. 

ALCOHOL

You are NOT allowed to bring your own alcohol into the venue, anyone found to be bringing in their own alcohol will receive an automatic DRA referral - Bag searches will be in force. 

DRA PLAYING RULES:

CLICK HERE DRA playing rules - You are now subject to the DRA Rules by virtue of your payment for entry, so make sure you are always professional including social media posts, not bet on any darts matches (See Below) and follow the PDPA Respect Campaign, which is on each playing board.

GAMBLING & BETTING INTEGRITY:

You are now as a PDPA Member NOT ALLOWED to bet on any Darts Matches FULL STOP, don’t think you can get away with it, as the integrity unit can check anyone’s account. It may be fun to bet on yourself to get a Tour Card but you will be breaking the rules and receive a DRA referral. 

If you have anyone asking you to fix a match – Inform us immediately.

See CLICK HERE Appendix A on DRA betting rules 2.1.1

GUESTS:

Only 1 guest per player due to the amount of entries and space with names required by security on entering the events, this will be fully confirmed in your event brief. 

PDPA MEMBERSHIP:

Entry alone does not give PDPA membership; you are required to have played at least once at QS to be a PDPA associate member and be eligible to play on the CT if you do not win a Tour Card. You may also be asked for more information for our records while at QS, so check with the PDPA that your details are correct. 

COMMUNICATION:

Make sure you keep checking the website, your emails, and social media for up-to-date information. If you don’t check it and you get it wrong, it will be your fault.

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