Alexandra Palace has secured a new five-year agreement to continue hosting the PDC World Darts Championship until 2031. This deal puts an end to speculations about the tournament being relocated within London or even outside of England.
Starting from the 2026/27 season, the championship will move its playing arena to the Great Hall at Alexandra Palace, allowing for a significant increase in capacity. With a capacity of around 180,000, which is 70,000 more than the previous capacity, each session will now accommodate over 5,000 fans.
Since 2007, Alexandra Palace has been the home of the World Darts Championship. PDC chief executive Matt Porter expressed excitement about extending the partnership until at least 2031, highlighting the venue’s association with the championship.
The unique atmosphere of Alexandra Palace during Christmas has become synonymous with the tournament. The move to the Great Hall from 2026/27 aims to cater to the increasing ticket demand and provide more fans with an unforgettable experience, as mentioned by Porter.
Emma Dagnes OBE, Alexandra Palace’s chief executive, emphasized the impact of events like the World Darts Championship on the charity. The revenue generated from such events supports various programs that benefit millions annually.
The recent decision to move the event to the Great Hall comes ahead of this year’s championship, where Luke Littler will defend his title against Darius Labanauskas in the first round.
Furthermore, the Matchroom Charitable Foundation will continue to support Alexandra Palace’s Creative Learning Programme under the new agreement. £300,000 will be allocated over three years to fund various educational and creative initiatives.
In a previous statement, Littler expressed his preference for keeping the tournament at Alexandra Palace, indicating reluctance to attend if the championship were to relocate to Saudi Arabia. The World Series is set to debut in Saudi Arabia next year, with Littler and world number one Luke Humphries expected to participate.
Amid mixed reactions, the upcoming World Series in Saudi Arabia, part of the annual Riyadh Season, will not sell alcohol at the 1,000-capacity venue. The Series will kick off with the Bahrain Darts Masters before moving to various countries around the world.
For fans eager to catch the action, the PDC World Darts Championship will commence on December 11. Viewers can watch all matches live exclusively on Sky with the Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle.
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