When Do The World Championship Darts Start

It’s that time of year again. You know, the moment when suddenly everyone’s talking about tiny little arrows and massive TV screens. Yes, I’m talking about the World Championship Darts, the sporting event that turns your local pub into a screaming cathedral of joy. And if you’ve ever wondered when it actually starts, let me break it down for you like a perfect checkout on double 16.

The World Darts Championship officially kicks off every year in mid-December, right when you’re drowning in Christmas shopping lists and wrapping paper. Think of it as the antidote to frantic holiday stress. While you’re trying to assemble that flat-pack toy, you can have the tournament on in the background, a warm, familiar hum of “180!” and the crowd’s joyful roar.

It runs all the way through to the first week of January, which is genius planning. It gives you something to look forward to after the Christmas leftovers are gone and the New Year’s resolutions start feeling heavy. It’s the perfect, low-stakes companion for those lazy, pajama-filled afternoons between Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Why should you, a normal person, care about darts?

Let’s be honest: darts is the most relatable sport on the planet. These athletes aren’t six-foot-five gym gods. They look like the kind of people you’d share a pint with at your local. And they celebrate like maniacs when they hit a 180, a feeling we all know from hitting the bullseye on your first try in a pub game.

It’s a sport with zero equipment barrier. You can be terrible at it (like me, usually hitting the wall), but you get it. You understand the pressure of that final double. It’s the same feeling as trying to parallel park perfectly while someone is watching—except with more sparkly shirts and a bigger prize pot.

And the atmosphere is pure chaos and joy. The crowd sings, chants, boos, and cheers in ways that would get you thrown out of a tennis match. It’s a carnival of people in silly costumes, and the players feed off that energy. It’s the only sport where you can hear a grown man scream “Get in my son!” and it feels completely normal.

What actually happens when it starts?

The tournament begins with a whole bunch of qualifiers and early rounds. The first few days are a whirlwind of hope for unknown players. Imagine your local league champion suddenly playing on a giant stage at Alexandra Palace in London—it’s pure, unfiltered, nervous magic. You can watch a cobbler from Derby take on a world champion, and he might just win.

Then, as December rolls on, the big names join the party. Think Michael van Gerwen with his intense stare, Luke Humphries with his steady cool, and the charismatic, unpredictable legend, Phil “The Power” Taylor (though he’s semi-retired, his spirit is everywhere). These are the guys who make you believe you could do it too, if only you practiced for 10,000 hours.

You’ll see heartbreaking misses—the dart that wobbles and falls out of the board at the worst moment. You’ll see joyful perfection—a nine-dart finish that makes the crowd lose their collective minds. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions that requires zero athletic talent to appreciate, only a love for high-stakes drama and a good story.

How to watch it without feeling like a weirdo

Here’s the best part: you don’t need to be a darts expert. Just turn it on. The commentary is half explanation, half comedy routine. You’ll learn terms like “double top” and “bullseye” within five minutes. It’s the football of the pub world, and it welcomes everyone.

Watch it with friends, or watch it alone with a cup of tea. It’s the perfect background noise for wrapping presents or folding laundry. The crowd’s energy is contagious, and before you know it, you’ll be shouting at the screen, “Why did he go for double 18? That’s crazy!” as if you’re a seasoned pro.

Spoiler alert: you’ll probably also want to buy a dartboard by the end. That’s okay. It happens to the best of us. Your wall will never be the same, but your holidays will be way more fun.

So, mark your calendar

Don’t worry about the exact date—it’s always the same season. When the Christmas lights go up and the mince pies appear, the darts are loading the oche. You can find it on Sky Sports in the UK, or stream it on platforms like DAZN and PDC TV around the world.

If you miss the first night, don’t panic. The tournament is a marathon, not a sprint. You can jump in on Boxing Day or New Year’s Eve and instantly feel the drama. The finals happen in early January, and they are the most electric night of the year—I promise you won’t be able to look away.

So, when do the World Championship Darts start? Right when you need them most: in the beautiful, messy, chaotic heart of the holiday season. Let the arrows fly, my friends. See you at the oche.