Alexandra Palace secures its position as the long-term host venue for the PDC World Darts Championship until 2031 with a recent five-year agreement. This announcement puts an end to speculations about potential relocations within London or outside of England.
Starting from the 2026/27 season, the tournament will be held in the Great Hall, allowing a capacity of approximately 180,000 spectators, a significant increase from the previous capacity of 110,000 in the 2025/26 season. Each session is expected to 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 with Alexandra Palace, emphasizing the venue’s strong association with the tournament.
The iconic Christmas setting at Alexandra Palace is a key feature of the event, creating a unique atmosphere that sets it apart in the world of sports. The move to the Great Hall in 2026/27 will allow more fans to experience the tournament, as previous obstacles to utilizing the venue have been resolved.
Emma Dagnes OBE, the chief executive of Alexandra Palace, highlighted the significant impact of events like the World Darts Championship, not only in providing memorable experiences but also in generating essential revenue to support various programs across the Park and Palace.
The decision to transition to the Great Hall comes just before this year’s event, where defending champion Luke Littler will kick off his title defense against Darius Labanauskas in the opening round.
As part of the agreement, the Matchroom Charitable Foundation will continue to support Alexandra Palace’s Creative Learning Programme, committing £300,000 over three years to fund arts sessions for individuals with dementia, outdoor learning initiatives for schools, and creative industry training for young individuals.
Littler had previously expressed his preference for keeping the Championship at Alexandra Palace, indicating his reluctance to participate if the tournament were to be relocated to Saudi Arabia. The World Series is scheduled to debut in Saudi Arabia next year, with Luke Humphries, the world number one, expected to compete.
The upcoming World Darts Championship is set to commence on December 11, and fans can catch all the action live exclusively on Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle.