Darts wonderkid Luke Littler will be swapping arrows for angling this summer. The newly minted Premier League champion and current world number one will be looking to add another trophy to this year’s haul by competing in the 14th Target Sports Stars Fishing Championship. It’s the third consecutive year The Nuke has competed at the event, and the fishing-mad darts king will be aiming to reel in the big fish on the open water instead of the oche – it’s the one crown that has eluded him so far! 

The Target Sports Stars Fishing Championship – the UK’s largest and most prestigious annual charity fishing event – will see 32 sporting icons and guests split into eight teams of four as they compete to be crowned singles and team champions. 

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. 

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.

Previous competitors include Matchroom Sport chairman Eddie Hearn, PDC World Champion Phil Taylor, boxing champs Kell Brook and George Groves, snooker icons Steve Davis OBE and Mark Williams MBE, football legends Terry Butcher and Jimmy Bullard and ex-England rugby international Stephen Thompson, so you can expect some giant names looking to weigh-in some whoppers. 

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 Leukimia. 

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."

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.

Event sponsors include Target Darts, Topline Wellness, Wickman UK, Damson Homes, Click out Media and Dalroad.