2026 BetMGM Premier League Lineup Revealed: Who’s In & Who’s Out?
- Sam Hill
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
The 2026 BetMGM Premier League lineup is confirmed and, as ever, has sparked debate in the darting world. With four automatic qualifiers, four wildcards, and several high-profile omissions, the eight-man field reflects the PDC’s balancing act between form, major success, and box office appeal.
Here’s a closer look at who made the cut and who didn’t.
The Automatic Picks
The World No.1 and back-to-back World Champion is a certainty for the lineup. ‘The Nuke’ has become the dominant force in PDC darts since breaking on the scene at the 2024 World Championship. He won six televised majors last season, and his presence is a major draw for the Premier League. Littler continues to take the sport to new heights.
The reigning Premier League champion and World No.2 is an automatic selection. ‘Cool Hand’ won his maiden Winmau World Masters title in 2025 and reached three more major finals, remaining one of the sport’s elite and Littler’s closest challenger.
One of two debutants in 2026, van Veen is now World No.3 and won his maiden major title at the European Championship last season. He also made a phenomenal run to the World Championship final, ultimately losing to Littler. His rise also saw him dethrone Michael van Gerwen as the Dutch No. 1 for the first time since 2012.
Rounding out the top four is the 7-time Premier League champion. His 2025 season fell well below his usual standards, amid a tough period on and off the oche. "Mighty Mike’ won only one European Tour ranking title, missed the play-offs for just the second time in 13 appearances, and made only one semi-final across televised ranking events, with no quarter-finals.
However, he did win the non-ranking World Series Finals in Amsterdam. Despite his pedigree, van Gerwen can consider himself fortunate to hold onto a top four spot, with a year-to-date ranking as low as 20th in 2025.
The Wildcard Selections
The World No.5 flew under the radar in 2025, but his consistent season made his selection straightforward. Clayton reached the World Masters final, made three more major semi-finals, and came close to World Cup glory with Gerwyn Price. He also won a European Tour title and a Players Championship title. The 2021 Premier League champion returns for his fourth appearance and is yet to miss the play-offs, making him a consistent threat and a justified inclusion.
Despite being World No.12, ‘The Iceman’ makes the cut once again. A disappointing 2024 explains his low ranking, but he still captured six PDC titles last season, including four Players Championships, a European Tour title, and a World Series triumph. He also reached the play-offs last year and previously won the 2023 league phase, proving his strength in this format.
He reached two quarter-finals and four semi-finals in the PDC televised majors, underlining his consistency. Combined with his box-office appeal and reputation as the king of nine-darters, his inclusion was always likely, a pantomime villain turned newfound fan favourite amongst UK audiences.
Perhaps the most controversial selection is the World No.7 Stephen Bunting. On paper, Bunting had the best season of his PDC career, winning six titles, more than he had managed in the previous decade combined as a tour card holder.
However, his televised major record raises serious questions. He finished bottom of the Premier League last season, made just two major quarter-finals, and suffered early exits at several other majors. His selection has caused heated debate, with even Sky Sports’ Wayne Mardle and Stuart Pyke describing him as “lucky to be in.”
Rounding out the lineup is the World No.9 and 2025 World Cup champion, becoming the second debutant in this year’s field. Rock was instrumental in that World Cup win with Daryl Gurney and followed it with two quarter-finals and three semi-finals in televised majors. Though he won only one Pro Tour title last season, his scoring power and stage presence will make him a competitive force this campaign.
Who Missed Out?
Several players may feel hard done by the selection this year. Danny Noppert, now World No.10, reached five televised major semi-finals and therefore boasts a stronger TV record than Rock or Bunting. However, he lacks the charisma and fanbase often favoured by Premier League selectors, which means he may have to break into the top 4 to have any chance of making this event.
James Wade also missed out despite reaching finals at both the World Matchplay and UK Open, losing to Littler on both occasions. He also reached two further TV quarter-finals, though an early World Championship exit and his outspoken criticism of the PDC may have counted against him.
World No.14 Nathan Aspinall is unlucky to miss out after three European Tour victories and a major TV final in 2025, but a year focusing on ranking events could benefit him in 2026.
Gary Anderson and Ryan Searle both reached World Championship semi-finals to enter the top 8 in rankings. However, Searle had only one major quarter-final in the previous four years prior to the showpiece event, showing he isn’t yet proven week in, week out. Anderson also hadn’t done enough, with just one TV quarter-final in 2025, and had even suggested he might turn down a Premier League spot due to travel commitments.
Final Verdict
The 2026 BetMGM Premier League lineup highlights the delicate balance between form, trophies, consistency, and entertainment. Debate around selections is inevitable, but the chosen eight reflect the PDC’s emphasis on players who can deliver weekly, engage with the crowds, and thrive under pressure against the sport’s elite. Not every selection will be universally agreed upon, but the choices can be justified on the oche.
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