Previously pigeon-holed as a working-class game played in pubs in northern England, darts has evolved into one of the most lucrative sports worldwide.
That point is perfectly evidenced by the ongoing 2026 World Darts Championship in London, which is providing a fitting end to the annual sporting calendar.
The tournament attracts a massive in-person audience to the iconic Alexandra Palace, while viewing figures on Sky Sports are off the scale.
The global betting industry also benefits massively, with reputable operators such as Spreadex Sports offering comprehensive coverage of every match at the event.
Top players such as Luke Littler and Luke Humphries have become household names, inspiring a new generation to take up the sport.
With that in mind, read on as we look at how the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) has fired the sport into a completely different stratosphere.
PDC & Sky fuel major darts boom
The PDC and Sky Sports announced a five-year extension to their long-standing partnership earlier this year, and the move promises to be a game-changer.
Prize money across the PDC circuit will rise to more than £25 million in 2026, with increases introduced at all levels of the professional game.
PDC chief executive officer Matt Porter says the new £1 million prize for the winner of the world title reflects the sport’s vibrant global status.
“The increased prize funds across the circuit also demonstrate our commitment to growing earning potential for players at all levels within the PDC system,” Porter said.
“Expanding the player fields for the World Darts Championship is going to provide more opportunities than ever before for players around the world to feature in televised PDC events.
“The incredible growth of the PDC in recent years has seen darts elevated to levels never seen before, both in terms of playing opportunities and global interest.
“This tournament marks a new era for all players who are aiming to achieve the pinnacle of the sport.”
Global darts viewership is off the scale
The PDC has worked tirelessly to transform darts, adding entertainment elements into the mix to give the sport a much broader appeal.
The foundations for the current success were laid in the early part of the century, when the rivalry between Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld captivated millions of viewers.
PDC bosses have expertly tapped into the legacy they created to create a vibrant global circuit packed with hugely entertaining personalities.
Their efforts have paid massive dividends, as evidenced by the record 3.7 million viewers who watched the 2024 world championship final.
Viewership figures have continued to boom since then, with events such as Premier League Darts and the World Matchplay delivering stellar numbers for Sky.
International audiences have also increased on the back of the PDC’s decision to stage a series of events in countries worldwide.
The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium are hotbeds for darts in Europe, while Australia and the United States have embraced the sport from further afield.
The clamour to watch the sport triggered a bidding war between Sky and Netflix for the latest rights to exclusive coverage in the United Kingdom for 2026-30.
Sky paid £125 million to win the bidding war, which was double the previous deal. By contrast, other sports have suffered a significant decline in their media rights value.
With Littler, Humphries and other top players inspiring others to jump on the bandwagon, it appears that the sky is the limit for this new global sports phenomenon.
Once you understand the basic rules, the next step is learning how matches are structured, how players earn money, and why the sport has grown so quickly. Start with our guide to darts formats explained, then read how PDC darts prize money shapes rankings and careers. For the bigger picture, here is why darts are now big business.