A-Z Travel Guide - The WDF World Masters Moves to Las Vegas!
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Making international darts history, the 2026Ā WDF World Masters is coming to the United States for the first time ever with fabulous Las Vegas hosting the much-anticipated event! We got all the event details right here for you including extra travel tips to make your trip even more worthwhile.
WHAT IS THE WDF WORLD MASTERS?
Running since 1974, the WDF World Masters is one of the most highly anticipated darts events in the world, often regarded as one of the most prestigious of the BDO/WDF tournaments with Winmau as its longest-running sponsor. In previous years, the WDF World Masters was hosted in various venues across Europe, but for the first time ever, it's coming to the US in Las Vegas, Nevada.
If you're looking to attend the 2026 WDF World Masters, here are all of the event details below to know where and whenĀ the event will be held:
| EVENT VENUE | Rio Hotel & Casino |
| EVENT DATES | Tuesday, July 14 ā Sunday, July 19, 2026 |
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WHERE TO WATCH |
DartConnect & WDF Youtube Channel |
Below is the full event scheduleĀ and prize pots for all 2026 WDF World Masters events from July 14 to July 19. Take note of the times of the events you'll be participating in so you don't miss out on these important dates.
Check-In and play from 09:00 am
Tuesday 14th July: World Masters Round-Robin (Open and Women), Pairs (Open Youth and Girls)
Wednesday 15th July: World Masters Round-Robin (Open Youth and Girlsā), World Masters Knockout (All Categories), Pairs (Open and Women)
Thursday 16th July: Cricket Singles (All Categories), Cricket Pairs (All Categories)
Friday 17th July: World Open (All Categories)
Saturday 18th July: World Masters Knockouts (Semi-Finals and Finals, All Categories)
Sunday 19th July:Ā World Championship Qualifiers (All Categories)
Sundayās action will finish no later than 5:30pm
View the event schedule and prize money pots for the 2026 WDF World Masters by clicking the link below:
MAJOR WDF Rule Changes Coming This Year
Since their move to Las Vegas, the WDF will now be enforcingĀ new rule changesĀ at the upcoming 2026 WDF World Masters event and other WDF sanctioned events like the Las Vegas Open. If youāre a North American player, this is a massive shift from how tournaments have traditionally been run here, and showing up unprepared can lead to fines, delays, or even disqualification!
Watch Jen Mounts's video above for a full breakdown on all the rule changes and how they might affect your upcoming participation, or read our quick summary on the changes below.
Mandatory Marking: Walk and chalk is no longer allowed. Every match must have a dedicated marker, no exceptions. I explain what that actually means for players, how marking assignments work, how DartConnect notifies you, what happens if you miss your assignment, and how enforcement will work on the floor at LVO.
Board Group Format: Instead of bouncing around random boards every round, players are assigned to a specific board or group of boards and play through a mini bracket. I explain how match order works, why it looks confusing at first, what āup nextā actually means, and how DCTV helps you anticipate when and where you play.
These rules are already commonplace in Europe and are being enforced worldwide by the WDF to ensure consistency at world-ranking events where the standards for qualification and play are much higher.
WHO CAN COMPETE?
It's simpler than you think to qualify for the WDF World Masters, but it can take a lotĀ of hard work and a lot of dart throwing to get there.`The short answer? Start playing a ton of WDF ranked events. When you achieve a high finish in a WDF ranked event, you can earn points to qualify for international competitions such as the World Masters and the World Championships.
While the qualified player lists are now closed for this year, you can start preparing to potentially qualify for next year's World Masters. Sign up for upcoming ranked events on the ADO website and start practicing for a better shot at competing with the masters.
If you're anticipating an invite to the 2026 WDF World Masters, double-check your email for the invitation to accept it and cross-reference the official qualified player list by clicking the button below.
By the way, non-qualifying players can still participate in the non-masters open events with a whopping $86,000 prize up for grabs! The best part? You don't have to commit to staying for the full week, as the open events are only played in the first few days of the WDF World Masters tournament.
Wednesday 15th July:Ā 501 Pairs
Thursday 16th July:Ā Cricket Singles, Cricket Pairs
Friday 17th July:Ā 501 Singles (Silver ranked event)
After the open events conclude, you can either head straight home or enjoy the rest of your weekend in Las Vegas ā stay tuned until the end of this article for more travel tips to enjoy your vacation.
WDF WORLD MASTERS: 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 Las Vegas for the WDF World Masters.
Step 1: Pay & Pre-Register Online Only
First things first, you'll need to pre-register online for the WDF World Masters through RegConnect, the tournament entry system connected through DartConnect, the scoring application of choice for all events. Log into your account, or create a new one, and scroll down the tournaments page until you find the 2026 WDF World Masters event. Click to register, and follow the remaining steps.
Note that you cannot pay for registration in-person with cash, so make sure to register online only. The registration deadline for the WDF World Masters is July 12, 2026.
Click the button below to complete your 2026 WDF World Masters registration process before the deadline on July 12, 2026:
Step 2: Booking Your Hotel
As the host for the world's first Las Vegas WDF World Masters tournament, the Rio Hotel will be your go-to for accommodations. Book a room at the Rio for as low as $59 per night with no resort fees as part of the early bird specialĀ offer. This special deal is available only while supplies last, so make sure to grab a room as soon as possible.
Otherwise, rooms at the Rio Hotel will range from $79 to $119 per night, still with no resort fee for the week of the WDF World Masters.
View all of the hotel bookings and additional information for WDF World Masters week by clicking the link below below:
Step 3: Sign Up for Rio Rewards
If you want to make the most of your time in Las Vegas for the WDF World Masters, do notĀ skip this step! Sign up for Rio Rewards for free to earn rewards and discounts on food, drinks, room credits, and so much more.
Go to riolasvegas.com to join Rio Rewards, fill out the steps provided, and you're officially a member! Once you've arrived at the hotel, head on over to the Rio Rewards counter and present your physical ID to receive your Rio Rewards card.
Use this card at the dining, shopping, and entertainment activities inside the hotel to start racking up points for awesome perks.
Become a Rio Rewards member for free today by clicking the link below and following the steps provided:
DRESS CODE
Like any other darts tournament, both participating players and staff members attending the WDF World Masters must follow the appropriate dress code. As per the WDF, players should wear collared shirts, trousers or skirts (no denim), and closed-toed shoes or sneakers in line with commonly worn darts shoes. In addition, those who play on the live stream or on stage may be required to wear a patch of the main sponsor, if provided by the WDF.
More Travel Tips
We've covered Las Vegas activities and travel tips countless times on our blog so you'll never find yourself bored in the city that never sleeps. Here are some of our personal favorite activities from our previous travels to Las Vegas for other darts events.
NDA TEAM DART
NDA Team Dart just celebrated their 40th anniversary in the heart of Las Vegas at the Westgate Hotel a short drive away from the Strip. It's one of the biggest annual Las Vegas darts events, so they're no stranger to the hustle and bustle of the city.
Enjoy classic restaurants with cuisines ranging from comforting American diner food to upscale Japanese date night spots.
LAS VEGAS OPEN
As the name suggests, the Las Vegas Open is the Vegas darts tournament hosted by the ADO. It is also ranked by the World Darts Federation (WDF) as part of their Gold category tournaments, so if you're looking to qualify for the 2027 WDF World Masters, start here!
This blog offers tons of activities besides food to enjoy across the city of Las Vegas for first-time enjoyers and frequent visitors, like the Bellagio fountain show. And, of course, even more food options for you to choose from for your trip.
WORLD MASTERS MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
You can find match highlights from previous years' WDF World Masters events on the WDF Youtube Channel. Here are a few of our favorites with familiar faces from North America and other well-known players from all around the world:
Watch American player Danny Lauby challenge Nick Kenny at the 2022 WDF World Masters quarter finals event in Holland.
Rewatch the excitement of Beau Greaves's finals event match in the Ladies event against Almudena Fajardo at the 2022 WDF World Masters hosted by Winmau.
Even our world champion Luke Littler is no stranger to the WDF World Masters. Watch a quick recap on his Robin stage match against Arjan Konterman from 2022.
Final Thoughts
That concludes our A-Z Travel Guide for the 2026 WDF World Masters. This year's unforgettable event is one you won't want to miss. Our team will be there to capture all of the action, and we hope to see you there too!
