BETMGM PREMIER LEAGUE DARTS NIGHT 1: NEWCASTLE VENUE INFO, TV & MORE
The greatest show in darts is back as the 2026 BetMGM Premier League kicks off on Thursday 5th February in Newcastle.
What follows is almost four months of top-class action with eight of the sport's biggest names battling for a spot at Finals Night and, ultimately, the Premier League trophy.
Like the past four editions, the 2026 Premier League format is a ruthless examination of character consisting of an eight-player knockout tournament each night.
The winner of each mini-tournament receives five league points and £10,000, second place receives three points and the semi-finalists receive two.
The four leading points scorers after 16 nights will advance to Finals Night at the O2 in London on 28th May.
Remember: with the latest offers and odds, expert weekly previews, tips, special features and more, the BetMGM Premier League Darts Hub is your front-row seat for the entire 2026 season.
This article has all you need to know ahead of Thursday night: the full fixture list, essential venue information, how to watch, betting angles and more.
WHO WON THE BETMGM PREMIER LEAGUE LAST SEASON?
The moment Luke Humphries won the 2025 BetMGM Premier League 🏆
— BetMGM UK (@BetMGMUK) May 29, 2025
Look what it means to him 🔥 #BetMGMDarts #LoveTheDarts pic.twitter.com/HdcZJnRO2o
Last season, Luke Humphries continued 18 months of relentless consistency by avenging his 2024 final loss to triumph over great rival Luke Littler and lift the 2025 BetMGM Premier League Darts trophy.
Cool Hand’s victory was a testament to his elite-level scoring and composure, successfully navigating the gruelling 16-week regular season campaign before delivering under the intense pressure of the O2 Arena to claim his first Premier League title.
By winning Humphries became only the fourth player in history – after Phil Taylor, Gary Anderson and Michael van Gerwen – to win the fabled PDC triple crown of the Premier League, World Championship and World Matchplay.
Key talking points from the 2025 season:
- Humphries finished second in the regular season before wins over Nathan Aspinall and Littler on Finals Night secured him the title
- At no point in the regular season did Humphries end the week outside the top two in the table
- Littler won a record six nights, registered a record 45 regular-season points and threw a record 185 180s (including Finals Night)
- Seven-time Premier League winner Van Gerwen missed the play-offs for only the second time in 13 seasons, finishing fifth in the league table with no nightly win
- A record five nine-darters were hit during the campaign: Humphries and Rob Cross hit one apiece on Night 5 in Brighton and Littler hit one in Cardiff on Night 7 while Gerwyn Price landed the perfect leg in both Manchester (Night 10) and Aberdeen (Night 15)
- Seven 170 checkouts were hit throughout the course of the competition, including one in each of the first three weeks
NIGHT 1 FIXTURES, SCHEDULE & HOW TO WATCH
Here’s the order of play for the BetMGM Premier League Darts Night 1 quarter-finals:
Keep an eye out for any nine-darters – BetMGM is once again rewarding any player who hits a nine-darter during this year’s Premier League season with a custom-made set of solid gold darts, worth £30,000.
The 18ct prize, made bespoke by Humphrey and Hawkins, is up for grabs for any of the eight players who land the perfect leg – a feat that has been achieved 19 times in the tournament’s 21-year history – and can be won multiple times during the 17 weeks of BetMGM Premier League Darts action.
In 2025 Humphries, Littler, Price (twice) and Rob Cross all struck perfection, meaning BetMGM handed out gold darts worth £150,000.
NEWCASTLE NIGHT 1 INFO AT A GLANCE
- Venue: Utilita Arena, Newcastle
- Date: Thu 5th February 2026
- Doors: Approx 18:00 GMT
- Start time: Approx 19:10 GMT
- How to watch: Live on Sky Sports Arena
BETMGM PREMIER LEAGUE NIGHT 1 PROMOS, OFFERS & SPECIALS
BetMGM has you covered for opening night… with a completely Free Bet Builder! Make sure to claim yours on matchday. Find out more here.
That’s not all. Whether it’s our early payout on three-leg leads, Profit Boosts on Bet Builders via Golden Arrows or any number of nightly specials, you won’t be short of options as the action unfolds in Newcastle.
And best of the lot? You have the chance to win a trip to Las Vegas across the season with Viva Darts Vegas!
We’re giving three lucky fans in Newcastle the chance to step up to the oche on the main stage. Each successful contestant wins two tickets to the event – and if you can score 100 or more with three darts you’ll bag an all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas!
Think you’ve got what it takes? Enter here.
Significant terms for above promotions can be found at the foot of this article. Always gamble responsibly. For more information, please visit our Safer Gambling Hub.
VENUE SPOTLIGHT: NEWCASTLE PREMIER LEAGUE HISTORY & TRAVEL GUIDE
The Utilita Arena has hosted Premier League Darts since 2007. Past nightly winners since the competition changed to the current mini-tournament format include:
- 2022: Michael Smith
- 2023: Gerwyn Price
- 2024: Michael van Gerwen
- 2025: Luke Littler
HOW TO GET TO NEWCASTLE UTILITA ARENA
- Closest train station: Newcastle Central Station (Tyne & Wear Metro link)
- Car arrival: Approx three minutes from the A1 North-South route; use postcode NE4 7NA (parking available on-site)
- Closest bus stop(s): Newcastle Central Station; Eldon Square
- Walking: Approx 15 minutes from Newcastle Central Station
For specific venue rules on aspects such as bags and entry, we recommend checking the official Utilita Arena FAQ page before you arrive.
COMPLETE YOUR WEEK: LIVE ACTION & WHAT’S NEXT
Follow the action live with BetMGM For live updates during matches, exclusive video clips of the biggest moments from the arena, fan reactions, challenges and more, make sure you're following us across our social channels:
COMING SOON TO THE BETMGM PREMIER LEAGUE DARTS HUB
- Tuesday: Game on! Our full Night 1 preview lands, including exclusive tips, key stats & more
- Wednesday: BetMGM versus… Laura Woods! Our ambassador makes her picks and pits her darting wits against the house. Whose side are you on?
- Thursday: It’s Showtime! Browse our full repertoire of pre-match options or track our in-play odds as the action unfolds in Newcastle
- Friday: About Last Night… we round up the best bits from the Toon ahead of doing it all again in Antwerp for Night 2
*At BetMGM, there’s always something going on… so as well as our comprehensive darts coverage be sure to keep your eyes peeled on our other offerings, not least this weekend’s Premier League action, racing at Newbury, the Six Nations and of course the Big Game between New England and Seattle.
For every 180, every goal and every touchdown, we've got you covered.
So why bet anywhere else?
BetMGM, proud sponsors of the 2026 Premier League Darts
Night 1 Free Bet Builder: Darts Free Bet Builder for Night 1 of the BetMGM Premier League available 09:00-20:45 05/02/2026. Pre-match only. 18+. Bet restrictions and T&Cs apply.
3UP early payout: Early payout if your player goes 3 legs up. Applicable to pre-match singles & multis on specific match winner market. Cashed-out bets do not qualify. 18+. T&Cs & exclusions apply.
Golden Arrows: Opt in weekly & place a qualifying bet to receive up to 16x 20% Profit Boosts on BetMGM Premier League Darts Bet Builders. Ends 28/05/26. Max stake £20. Max win £10k. Bet Builders 3+ legs only. More info on Profit Boosts in full terms. 18+. T&Cs apply.
Viva Darts Vegas: Prizes are subject to their own T&Cs, expiry and restrictions. A valid event ticket will be provided by BetMGM. You must be a resident of the United Kingdom. 25+. T&Cs apply.
Odds & facts used in this article correct at time of publication but subject to change