Luke Littler has opened the door to ending his absence from German European Tour events after a warmer reception at the 2026 European Championship in Dortmund, but a return next season remains far from certain. Despite the world champion's encouraging comments, concerns over his increasingly demanding schedule could prove a bigger obstacle than the supporters themselves.

DartsNews Podcast reporter Nicolas Gayer personally questioned Littler about his relationship with German crowds during the tournament, having previously predicted that tensions between the two would begin to ease. While his experience in Dortmund strengthened that belief, DartsNews Head Editor Samuel Gill remains sceptical that it will translate into more appearances in 2027.

"I asked Luke this question in Dortmund"

Littler's reluctance to compete in German European Tour tournaments has been one of the more contentious consequences of his rapid rise to the top of darts. Previous hostile receptions persuaded him to avoid those events, although he has continued appearing in Germany for major tournaments, the Premier League and the World Cup of Darts.

The European Championship offered an opportunity for relations to improve, particularly after Littler had warned earlier in the season that his willingness to compete in certain countries would depend on how spectators treated him.

Gayer had already anticipated a possible reconciliation before travelling to Dortmund. "In the last episode, I was saying that, in my opinion, over the next couple of years, the whole topic of Littler and Germany will ease up again," he explained on the DartsNews Podcast. "I think both will recognise the worth of the other. I asked Luke this question in Dortmund because I thought the crowd was really good to him."

Gayer subsequently heard Littler address a possible European Tour return more directly when another journalist raised the subject. "I think he pretty much confirmed that this weekend was a good one," Gayer said. "They're getting closer to each other again."

Littler's comments followed a commanding 10–5 victory over Nathan Aspinall, during which he averaged 114.47, the second-highest three-dart average in European Championship history. "I want a good reception because I want to be doing European Tours next year in Germany, whereas if they're not good to me, then I won't go," Littler told reporters.

Asked whether his absence from German European Tour events might finally end, he offered an encouraging, if noncommittal, response: "May be on."

The weekend was not entirely trouble-free. A spectator banged on a table as Littler prepared to attempt a 126 checkout against Aspinall, prompting the teenager to confront the individual. "Just before the bull on the 126, the front table decided to bang really loud on the table," Littler recalled. "The guy who did it looked up. I pointed at him and said, 'That's you, that.' Then he just picked up his pen and started writing on his little 180 card. He didn't look up."

But the incident did little to alter his overall assessment of the Dortmund crowd. "That's the first thing I've had all weekend, and the crowd's been very good."

His European Championship campaign ultimately ended with a surprise quarter-final defeat to Krzysztof Ratajski, but the improved reception had at least reopened a conversation that appeared to have reached an impasse earlier in the season.

"It's not to do with the German crowd"

When Gayer asked whether Littler would actually return to German European Tour tournaments in 2027, Gill's response was immediate. "No, in my view. But it's not to do with the German crowd. It's just the schedule in general."

The two-time world champion has enjoyed considerable freedom when selecting tournaments this season, with his commanding position on the PDC Order of Merit allowing him to miss events without putting his place at the top of the rankings under immediate pressure.

Gill believes that calculation could change as prize money from earlier successes begins to fall off the two-year ranking list. "For me, he has to play a bit more next year because he'll start to defend more on his ranking," he argued. "Not that it matters because he's so far ahead, but he will have to start defending stuff from about now onwards."

"This year is kind of his year to go on holiday in between tournaments and not attend as many ranking events. Next year is perhaps when he has to start playing a bit more because it will start to matter."

Littler would not necessarily need additional German European Tour appearances to protect his ranking, with major tournaments and other ranking events offering alternative opportunities to maintain his position.

He has not abandoned the European Tour altogether either. The teenager won the Czech Darts Open in Prague in September, with his absence specifically concerning events hosted in Germany.

Gill suspects the Premier League will play an important role in determining when Littler might consider adding tournaments to his schedule. "He will likely do a few more, but I kind of see it being post-Premier League as well," he suggested.

The weekly demands of that competition already make European Tour appearances difficult for many leading players during the opening months of the season.

Gill also offered another interpretation of Littler's comments in Dortmund, suggesting they were partly intended to encourage better behaviour from German supporters. "I think it's more of a come-and-get-me plea as well," he said, comparing the situation to a footballer signalling interest in a move if the circumstances were right. "It's very much, if you keep doing this, if you keep giving me this, I'm more likely to play in your country than if you don't."

There is a complication with that approach. If Littler continues avoiding German European Tour events, supporters will have relatively few opportunities to demonstrate that the hostile receptions are behind them. "Do you really get that much of an opportunity to prove him wrong or right? Not really," Gill questioned.

He acknowledged the encouraging signs from Dortmund without allowing them to alter his prediction. "It's a quote that means something, but at the same time it doesn't really, because actions will speak louder than words."

Phil Brzezinski's intervention and a different Dortmund atmosphere

Littler was not the only player to enjoy a largely positive reception at the European Championship. Martin Schindler's historic run to the final placed the Dortmund crowd under particular scrutiny, with the German receiving considerable home support as he became the first player from his country to reach a televised PDC major final.

Podcast host Kieran Wood felt the tournament challenged the reputation German darts audiences have developed for whistling and attempting to disrupt opponents, particularly given that similar incidents occur elsewhere. "I thought this weekend was a really good example that it's not always like that in Germany," he said. "Even though Schindler went to the final, I didn't really see too many whistles and boos and deliberate attempts to put off his opponents during the run."

Even in the final, when Schindler was attempting to secure a historic triumph, there was relatively little deliberate disruption as Ross Smith completed an 11–8 victory.

Master of ceremonies Phil Brzezinski, widely known as Swiss Phil, had been actively addressing spectators about their behaviour throughout the tournament. Gayer revealed that the warnings were also discussed behind the scenes. "Swiss Phil got back into the press room at some stage and told us, 'Who would have thought that if you actually tell these people they'll be kicked out of the arena if they do certain things, they'll do those things a lot less?'"

Brzezinski's willingness to confront the issue earned particular praise from Gayer. "He definitely mentioned that to us as well. There was a certain focus on that, and I think, once again, Phil Brzezinski proves his absolute worth and just doesn't really put a foot wrong on that stage."

The improved atmosphere was also acknowledged by players beyond Littler. Jonny Clayton praised the Dortmund crowd while speaking out against the minority attempting to distract competitors, and Smith expressed his appreciation for the respect shown during his title-winning run.

"I think that was just a prime example of how things should be," Gayer reflected. "There was a lot of focus on that this weekend, and it worked really well."

Will Littler's 2027 calendar leave room for Germany?

Littler's Premier League commitments will occupy much of the opening half of 2027, while the need to defend ranking prize money could influence which additional tournaments he prioritises. His commanding position on the Order of Merit gives him flexibility, but it does not remove the competing demands on his calendar.

Gill's suggestion that any extra European Tour appearances would be more likely after the Premier League offers one possible route back. Littler could assess his ranking position and tournament priorities before deciding whether to enter events in Germany.

The tournament locations and dates will also matter. Littler has already demonstrated that he is prepared to travel to selected European Tour events when they suit his plans, but there is no guarantee that a German tournament will become a priority simply because relations with supporters have improved.

For Gayer, Dortmund provided evidence that a reconciliation he had anticipated was already under way. The next test will be whether Littler's tournament selections reflect the change in atmosphere he experienced.

German supporters may have made more progress towards welcoming the world champion back than seemed possible earlier in the year. The remaining question is whether there will be room for that return in a calendar increasingly shaped by Littler's success.