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The Premier League of Darts is stacked with talent in 2026!

2026 Premier League of Darts: Get to know the 8 participants originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

For four straight months, we will see eight of the best stars in PDC darts playing in the sport's most exciting league, the Premier League of Darts.

There are several players from the 2025 edition making their return, but a few new names are making their debuts/returns to the Premier League.

Get to know the 2026 Premier League of Darts participants

Here are some facts about each player playing in the Premier League this year.

MORE: 2026 Premier League Darts schedule, scores, results and updated table

Luke Littler

3rd appearance in the PL
Best PL result: Winner (2024)
Home country: England
Walk-on song: "Greenlight" by Pitbull featuring Flo Rida and LunchMoney Lewis

Littler is the biggest name in the sport right now, and he's seeking a second PL title this year.

He's coming off a very successful year, with his recent WC title as the highlight of a year that he collected a lot of new hardware.

Gian van Veen

1st appearance in the PL
Best PL result: N/A
Home country: Netherlands
Walk-on song: "Astronomia" by Tony Igy & Vicetone

Van Veen was a recent runner-up at the WC a few weeks ago.

In addition to his impressive WC run, he won his first career TV major event, winning the European Championship in 2025.

He's been in elite form, so expect to see van Veen towards the top of the PL table throughout the next few months.

Luke Humphries

3rd appearance in the PL (Challenger in two additional years)
Best PL result: Winner (2025)
Home country: England
Walk-on song: “I Predict a Riot” by Kaiser Chiefs

Humphries will look to defend his PL title from last year in his third year in the PL.

He was passed by Luke Littler in the rankings during 2025, now sitting as the world #2 for the first time as a regular in the PL.

Humphries will have his eyes set on the night the PL heads to Leeds, as he always gets a great reception from his 'home' fans.

Michael van Gerwen

14th appearance in the PL
Best PL result: 7x Winner (2013, 2016-19, 2022-23)
Home country: Netherlands
Walk-on song: "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes

Van Gerwen is looking to bounceback after failing to qualify for the play-off night last year, which was just the second time that's happened in his career.

He has a lot of money to defend on the rankings in 2026, and although the PL is an unranked event, it would be quite the confidence booster for him if he can play well against the top players in the PL.

MORE: 2026 PDC Premier League of Darts lineup revealed: Big names left out

Jonny Clayton

4th appearance in the PL (Challenger in one additional year)
Best PL result: Winner (2021)
Home country: Wales
Walk-on song: "Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry

Clayton already has plenty of experience in the Premier League, so he should have no problem week in and week out as he returns to the PL for the first time since 2023.

He's currently the world #5, after making three semifinals and a final in majors last year.

Gerwyn Price

8th appearance in the PL
Best PL result: Runner-up (2023)
Home country: Wales
Walk-on song: "Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice
or "Discoland" by Gerry Cinnamon

Price was one of the four players to make the play-off night in 2025.

History says Price has high odds of hitting a nine-darter in the PL this year, after adding two more to his collection in 2025.

Price's 2025 highlights included a run to the final at the World Cup of Darts, four semifinal runs at ranked/unranked majors and three quarterfinal runs at other majors.

Josh Rock

1st appearance in the PL
Best PL result: N/A
Home country: Northern Ireland
Walk-on song: "Welcome to the Party" by DJ Krissy

Rock is making his first appearance in the PL after a career-year in 2025.

He most notably won the World Cup of Darts with Daryl Gurney for Northern Ireland.

His other 2025 highlights include semifinal runs at the Uk Open, World Matchplay and World Series of Darts.

Stephen Bunting

3rd appearance in the PL (Challenger in one additional year)
Best PL result: 8th
Home country: England
Walk-on song: "Titanium" by David Guetta featuring Sia

Bunting made an anticipated return to the PL in 2025 and will be back for a second straight year after getting what some believed was an undeserving invitation.

He finished last on the PL rankings in 2025 and didn't perform great in majors, although the Pro Tour was a different story.

He's hoping to prove the doubters wrong in this year's campaign, after a below-par year last year.