Darts World Champion Luke Littler will swap arrows for angling as he leads a superstar sporting cast for the Target Sport Stars Fishing Championship 2026 – the UK’s biggest annual charity fishing event.
The annual event sees sporting icons from the world of darts, snooker, boxing, football and rugby, take part, with world number one Luke Littler leading the charge.
The newly minted Premier League champion is swapping arrows for angling and will be competing at the event for the third year in a row – it’s the one trophy ’The Nuke’ has yet to win.
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Also announced to compete alongside darts wonderkid Luke Littler is legendary promoter and Matchroom Sport founder Barry Hearn, British boxing royalty Tony Bellew, rising star and 8-0 queen of the fight game, coming fresh off a victory on Saturday at Wembley, Francesca Hennessey, former Arsenal and England goalkeeper David Seaman and current Bristol Bears and England international rugby player Ellis Genge.
The Target Sports Stars Fishing Championship will see 32 sporting icons and guests split into eight teams of four as they compete to be crowned singles and team champions. Further sporting superstars who are set to battle it out will be announced every week for the next eight weeks.
Each week, over the next eight weeks, the team at Target Sport Stars Fishing Championship 2026 will be announcing four further legends from the world of sport who are set to cast off and compete this summer across their social media channels.
The event will raise a minimum of £40,000 for several charities including the Willow Foundation and the Ricky Hatton Foundation.
Darts Stars Feature in Charity Fishing Championship 2026
Event organiser and chairman of JBD Media & Events, Jess Harding said: “The Target Sport Stars Fishing Championship 2026 is a much-loved event that is getting bigger and bigger every year. We’re privileged that titans from the sporting world want to get stuck in, and although it’s a fun charity event, the competitors are used to operating at an elite level – everyone wants to win!”
Fishing is one of the great British pastimes and continues to soar in popularity, especially among younger people, with Harding offering a reason on its increasing popularity: “The beauty of fishing is that anyone can take part and has a chance of reeling something in, particularly at our competition lake. Last year, someone who had never fished before won the singles title – that’s why we love it.”
Barry Hearn, Matchroom Sport Chairman added: “Everyone who knows me, knows I love to win. The competition at the Target Sport Stars Fishing Championship 2026 gets fiercer every single year.”
Each year, the event raises vital funds for charities and will raise £40,000 that will be shared with lead charity partner The Willow Foundation, established by Arsenal and England legend Bob Wilson and supporting charities St Francis Hospice, Haven House, the Ricky Hatton Foundation and Alex – The Leukodystrophy Charity.
Bob Wilson founder of the Willow Foundation said: “We’re extremely grateful that the team at Target Sport Stars Fishing Championship continues to support the vital work of the Willow Foundation. The event brings together some of the biggest names from the world of sport and we thank all the competitors and sponsors in creating this ’special day’ which allows us to create our own Willow Special Days that provide hope, smiles, and an experience to remember for young adults living with life-threatening illnesses in the UK.”
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Sports fans will be able to see who wins the coveted single and team championships this year as the event will be broadcast on ITV after completion this summer.
The event is scheduled to take place at Tunnel Barn Farm, Warwick on July 28th. This event is not open to the public, so stay tunes to our social media and back here for updates.
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Images: Supplied by Target Sport Stars Fishing Championship
