Alexandra Palace secures its position as the long-term host of the prestigious PDC World Darts Championship until 2031 under a newly inked five-year deal. This agreement dispels any uncertainties surrounding the potential relocation of the championship within London or outside of England.
Beginning with the 2026/27 season, the tournament will be held in the Great Hall, boasting a capacity of approximately 180,000 attendees, a significant increase from the previous capacity of 110,000 in the 2025/26 season. This expansion ensures that each session will accommodate over 5,000 enthusiastic supporters.
Since 2007, Alexandra Palace has been the proud venue for the World Darts Championship, establishing itself as an integral part of the tournament’s heritage. PDC chief executive Matt Porter expressed delight in extending the partnership through at least 2031, highlighting the unrivaled atmosphere of Alexandra Palace during the festive season as a defining feature of the championship.
Emma Dagnes OBE, the chief executive of Alexandra Palace, emphasized the profound impact of events like the World Darts Championship, not only creating memorable experiences but also generating essential revenue to support various programs across the Park and Palace. The decision to relocate the championship to the Great Hall comes ahead of this year’s event, with defending champion Luke Littler set to kick off the competition against Darius Labanauskas in the first round.
As part of the agreement, the Matchroom Charitable Foundation will continue its support for Alexandra Palace’s Creative Learning Programme, pledging £300,000 over three years to fund arts initiatives for individuals with dementia, outdoor learning programs for schools, and creative industry training for young people.
In a recent statement, Littler reaffirmed his commitment to keeping the championship at Alexandra Palace, expressing reluctance to participate if the tournament were to move to Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, the World Series is set to debut in Saudi Arabia next year as part of the annual Riyadh Season, with top players like Luke Humphries expected to compete.
The upcoming PDC World Darts Championship, commencing on December 11, will be exclusively broadcast live on Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle, allowing fans to catch every thrilling match.