I will start with a summary review of the relevant evidence for cold dark matter from astrophysics and cosmology.The Standard Model of subnuclear physics does not have any dark matter particle, but its simplest extensions, the SUSY models, do have a very apt candidate, the neutralino. LHC will presumably clarify the situation in the next several years.I will then briefly summarise the status and the expectations for the next years of indirect searches both with earth-based and satellite-born particle telescopes and gamma telescopes. I then critically review the main results on the direct searches performed in underground laboratories, with special attention to LSC, and the activities to develop the next generation detectors.