Alexandra Palace has secured the hosting rights for the PDC World Darts Championship until 2031 under a new five-year agreement. This announcement puts an end to speculations about the potential relocation of the tournament within London or outside of England.
Starting from the 2026/27 season, the championship will be held in the Great Hall, increasing the capacity to approximately 180,000 spectators, a significant rise from the previous capacity of 110,000. This enhancement will allow each session to accommodate over 5,000 fans.
Since 2007, Alexandra Palace has been the venue for the World Darts Championship, establishing a strong association with the event. Matt Porter, the CEO of PDC, expressed delight in extending the partnership with Alexandra Palace, emphasizing the unique and festive atmosphere that characterizes the tournament during the Christmas season.
Emma Dagnes OBE, the CEO of Alexandra Palace, highlighted the positive impact of events like the World Darts Championship on the charity’s initiatives, emphasizing the revenue generated to support various cultural and educational programs benefiting millions annually across the Park and Palace.
The decision to move the championship to the Great Hall comes ahead of the current event, featuring Luke Littler defending his title against Darius Labanauskas in the opening round.
Furthermore, as part of the agreement, the Matchroom Charitable Foundation will continue to support Alexandra Palace’s Creative Learning Programme with a commitment of £300,000 over three years. This funding will aid in providing arts sessions for individuals with dementia, outdoor learning programs for schools, and creative industry training for young people.
Notably, Luke Littler had expressed his strong stance against relocating the championship to Saudi Arabia due to potential expansion plans in the Middle East, stressing the importance of keeping the event at Alexandra Palace.
In a separate development, the World Series will venture to Saudi Arabia for the first time in January next year, forming part of the Riyadh Season and featuring top players like Luke Humphries. The tournament will comprise various international stops, including Denmark, the US, New Zealand, Australia, and the Netherlands.
The PDC World Darts Championship is set to commence on December 11, with exclusive live coverage available through Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle.
At Reach and its affiliated entities, we and our partners utilize data collected via cookies and similar identifiers to enhance user experience, analyze site usage, and deliver personalized advertisements. Users can opt out of data sharing or sales by clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button on the webpage. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies and consent to the practices outlined in our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.