A-Z Travel Guide - Get Ready for the PPD Tournament of Champions in October!
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Don't miss out on the 13th annual Tournament of Champions, returning to Missouri this October. Soft tip players across the country are already racing to qualify for one of the largest soft tip tournaments in America, hosted by the PPD, and you could be one of the competitors racing for the top prize.
Preparing for the PPD TOC can be overwhelming with so many moving parts, but we made it easy for you in one easy blog with event details, hotel and flight information, and even travel tips to help you make the most of your trip.
WHAT IS THE TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS?
Since 2013, Partners Promoting Darts (PPD) has held the Tournament of Champions every year with a 7-figure prize pool that rivals other large darts tournaments in the US. Players from all over the country practice and play all year long just to be able to qualify for this highly anticipated competition.
If you're looking to attend the 2026 Tournament of Champions, here are all of the event details below to know where and when the event will be held:
| EVENT VENUE |
KCI Expo Center 11738 N Ambassador Dr, Kansas City, MO |
| EVENT DATES | Saturday, October 10 — Wednesday, October 14, 2026 |
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WHERE TO WATCH |
USA Darts Production Partners Promoting Darts |
Below is the full event schedule for all Tournament of Champions events from October 10 to October 14. Take note of the times of the events you'll be participating in so you don't miss out on these important dates.
Livestream Schedule
Whether you're at the Tournament of Champions participating in person or you're sitting at home eager to see the events unfold, you won't miss a second of the action if you catch the livestream schedule hosted by Partners Promoting Darts and USA Darts. Check out their Facebook or YouTube pages for recaps of the latest livestream, or join a little early with some beer and snacks to catch the next stream.
WHO CAN COMPETE?
As with many other dart tournaments, you must play a certain number of games to qualify. For the 2026 Tournament of Champions, you need to have played 500 total games, of which 100 are PPD League play, between July 15, 2025 and July 14, 2026. Players 18 or older may play in all events; however, players 16 and 17 years old may participate in the Doubles and Triples events only if they are pre-approved by PPD prior to registering.
Leading up to the actual event date, if you're only a couple of games shy and need to play a few games every day to meet the qualifications, try the PPD Daily Remote Tournaments (DRT). They're open to anyone who has access to play on a Galaxy 3 Bullshooter dartboard. Summer leagues are also an option to earn more points to qualify for the Tournament of Champions.
As for the Tournament of Champions Finale Qualifiers, registration opened on July 22nd with a registration fee of $50 per player. Remote game dates are August 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd. Click the button below to see if your name made the list.
ALL-STAR TRIPLES
In addition to the Tournament of Champions, hosted by PPD, the All-Star Triples is a monthly event held on the third Saturday of each month starting in November and ending in May, where All-Star-ranked players will compete in triples matches for a huge cash prize of up to $630,000 across all events! To become eligible, you must play 3 PPD League matches within 30 days of registering for the event.
Registration for the 2027 All-Star Triples opens on October 21st, shortly after the conclusion of the 2026 Tournament of Champions, and the first triples event takes place on November 21st. View the full All-Star Triples schedule below:
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November 21, 2026 |
Registration open from October 21, 2026 — November 18, 2026 |
| January 16, 2027 | Registration open from December 23, 2026 — January 13, 2027 |
| February 20, 2027 | Registration open from January 20, 2027 — February 17, 2027 |
| March 20, 2027 | Registration open from February 17, 2027 — March 17, 2027 |
| April 17, 2027 | Registration open from March 17, 2027 — April 14, 2027 |
| May 15, 2027 | Registration open from April 21, 2027 — May 12, 2027 |
TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS: A-Z Travel Guide
Traveling for any major darts event can be overwhelming with so many tasks to keep track of, but we made it easy for you. Follow our A-Z Travel Guide for tips on hotel deals, flight information, and extra travel tips to make the most of your time in Kansas City, Missouri.
Step 1: Register For Your Events
All Tournament of Champions events are pre-registration only, so you'll need to register for your desired events ahead of time in order to actually play. No registration will be available on-site at the tournament venue.
For singles events, the player themselves must complete their own registration in their PPD player account, including paying the registration fee. Team leaders for doubles and triples are in charge of completing registration and submitting entry fees for their entire team on the team leader's account.
Players will also be expected to submit a photo of themselves for promotional assets.
Read the Tournament of Champions rulebook for a full event-by-event breakdown of registration fees and deadlines below.
Step 2: Booking Your Hotel
Year after year, the Holiday Inn right by the Kansas City Airport has been the top choice for Tournament of Champions travelers thanks to the special partnership between PPD and Holiday Inn offering discounted rates. Right now, you can secure double and king rooms for $124 per night with group code E10.
However, this year the Holiday Inn has fewer rooms available due to remodeling, so PPD has also partnered with their sister hotel, Atwell Suites. Use group code DAT to book a double or king room for $119 per night.
Step 3: Booking Your Flight
While there aren't any special group discounts for flights to Tournament of Champions, the event venue and discounted hotels are all adjacent to the Kansas City Airport.
Unless you plan on extending your vacation and visiting other areas of Missouri, we highly recommend you fly directly into Kansas City Airport for ease of travel.
Dress Code: Do's and Don'ts
All darts tournaments have a dress code that players must follow to maintain a clean and professional appearance, and the Tournament of Champions is no different. If players are found to be non-compliant with the dress code requirements, then they may be eliminated from the events they are playing in. We celebrated players who adhered to the dress code with a spotlight on the blue carpet at our TOC Met Gala — so make sure to dress for the event!
According to the Tournament of Champions rulebook, here are some guidelines you can follow to dress appropriately:
CSI and CDI participants must wear the provided PPD patch given by either PPD or USA Darts staff on-site during their matches.
Attire must be clean and neat, free of any suggestive or explicit content.
Tops: Dart Jerseys and collared shirts only. No tank tops or t-shirts are allowed. Dart Jerseys without collars are allowed, except tank tops.
Bottoms: Nice jeans, slacks, khaki pants, capris, and plain black pants are allowed. Skirts/Dresses are allowed if below the knee. No shorts. All bottoms must be below the knee with no mesh, cutouts, ragged-edged hems, or holes.
Shoes and Accessories: Closed-toed shoes only. No open-toed shoes. No Crocs. Hats and headgear that are neat, clean, and untorn are allowed.
Order the 2026 Tournament of Champions official jersey right on the Magic Wear website to avoid the hassle of finding something perfect to wear to the event. These designs are ready to ship, so order ahead of time to have the right gear before your trip:
A-Z Darts Booth
Short on dart supplies? Don't worry! We'll be at the Tournament of Champions this year with our own A-Z Darts booth. Stop by to say hi, and don't forget to grab your emergency dart gear. We'll also have Magic Wear apparel, from hats to jerseys and jackets, so you stay fitted for the entire weekend.
More Travel Tips
Even if you spend most of your time in Kansas City playing at the 2026 Tournament of Champions, you'll have to make time for some of the delicacies offered in the area. And while you could always take advantage of the food vendors inside the event hall, we highly recommend taking the time to try out these four restaurants, so you can get a taste of local Kansas City cuisine.
Scott's Kitchen and Catering
Across the street from the KCI Expo Center and the Holiday Inn lives a local Kansas City spot adored by locals for barbecue called Scott's Kitchen and Catering at Hangar 29. The owner, Scott, has been cooking barbecue at Scott's Kitchen since 2017, but had his humble beginnings back in 2009 after winning the 14th annual Platte City BBQ Cook-Off.
If you're a fan of Southern-style barbecue, you won't be disappointed by the selection at Scott's Kitchen.
BURGER THEORY
For the days that you don't want to travel far for food, the Holiday Inn has the perfect all-American restaurant right inside the hotel. Burger Theory has everything you could ask for from a burger joint, from juicy stacked burgers to onion rings, plus you can't miss the drinks. Grab a beer after your Tournaments of Champions event and wind down by watching the game right at the bar!
U Genes Deli and Pizza
U Genes Deli and Pizza is a short drive away from the immediate KCI Expo Center area, but an excellent choice for dart-goers who are craving a hot, fresh slice of pizza. They also offer classic sandwich options like a turkey club, a meatball sandwich, or you can build your own.
LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE
A 6-minute drive away from the Holiday Inn is LongHorn Steakhouse, a restaurant pick you can't go wrong with. Some of their legendary favorites include their Bone-In Outlaw Ribeye or their tender, center-cut Flo's Filet, both of which have tons of reviews on their Yelp page. Don't miss out on their extensive menu of other protein options and sides, plus their delicious dessert menu! The Chocolate Stampede is a crowd pleaser.
TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
Every year, our team has the amazing privilege of capturing match highlights and exclusive interviews with players from all Tournament of Champions events. Here are some of the top clips from previous years, straight from our USA Darts channel:
Women's CSI Highlights | 2025 Tournament of Champions
Relive some of the biggest hits from the Women's CSI Event at the 2025 Tournament of Champions with this highlight recap from USA Darts.
Dylin Steinke & Taylor Thaxton vs Kelly Sipe & Jake Smith | 2025 Mixed CDI Final
Rewatch the excitement of team events with the DSAB 1 versus Milwaukee Monstahs showdown in the Final of the Masters Team 501 of 2025 NDA Team Dart.
Mixed CDI Highlights | 2025 Tournament of Champions
Watch as the men and ladies join forces to compete in the Mixed CDI events in the 2025 Tournament of Champions with the highlights presented here.
Leonard Gates vs Sean Caflisch | 2025 Men's CSI Final
Well-known American darts players Leonard Gates and Sean Caflisch take on the Men's CSI Final at the 2025 Tournament of Champions, where only one comes out on top. Dubbed one of the best matches spectators have ever seen!
Krissi Grimal vs Cheyenne Richards | 2024 Womens CSI Final
Taking you to one of the most memorable TOC events two years back, watch as Krissi Grimal takes on Cheyenne Richards in the Women's CSI Final at the 2024 Tournament of Champions.
Elite Finale Highlights | 2024 Tournament of Champions
A throwback video to the 2024 Tournament of Champions featuring almost every major moment from the men's and ladies' Elite Finale event.
USA Darts on Youtube
Wanna watch more dart matches and interviews from the previous Tournament of Champions? You can catch all of the action on our very own live streaming platform, USA Darts on Youtube, where we showcase America's best in our head-to-head matches and tournaments playlists.
JOIN PPD LEAGUE!
Wanna join in on the fun and participate in next year's Tournament of Champions? Sign up today and start playing in PPD Leagues now! All you need is a Galaxy 3 board, and the rest is up to you. Play 7 days a week to rack up points towards TOC eligibility and build YOUR perfect league.
Final Thoughts
There's nothing more daunting than planning a trip for a highly competitive tournament where a huge prize is on the line, but hopefully our Tournament of Champions travel guide helped ease some of your travel stress. Best of luck to all competitors out there, and don't forget to say hi to us at the A-Z Darts booth!
