For Luke Littler fans, there's both good news and bad news regarding the 2026 Austrian Darts Open.

First, the bad news: the teenage darts sensation will not be competing in Graz this weekend. Littler, who has been on a tear in Premier League Darts with two night wins and an additional final appearance in the last three weeks, is taking a break from European Tour events. He joins the majority of Premier League players in skipping this Pro Tour stop, with only three PL competitors making the trip to Austria.

As a result, Gian van Veen steps in as the #1 seed for the tournament. Littler's absence continues a trend that began after his last European Tour appearance at the Belgian Darts Open in mid-March. The Poland Darts Open earlier this year was the only other ET event he's played in 2026.

Now, the good news: this hiatus likely won't last forever. Littler is not entered in the next two ET events either, meaning it could be at least another month before fans see him on the European Tour stage. However, with several ET events scheduled for this summer and later in the year—many hosted by countries that might appeal to the young star—expect a potential increase in his ET participation once the Premier League season concludes.

For now, Littler's focus remains on the Premier League, where he's proving why he recently signed the richest endorsement deal in darts history. The Austrian Darts Open will have to proceed without its biggest draw, but fans can look forward to seeing more of Littler on the European Tour later this season.