Alexandra Palace has secured the hosting rights for the prestigious PDC World Darts Championship until 2031 through a new five-year agreement. This decision puts an end to speculations about potential relocation within London or moving the event out of England.
Starting from the 2026/27 season, the tournament will shift its playing arena to the Great Hall, with a significant capacity increase to accommodate around 180,000 spectators, up from 110,000 in the 2025/26 season. This upgrade will allow each session to host over 5,000 enthusiastic supporters.
Since 2007, Alexandra Palace has been the home of the World Darts Championship, a fact acknowledged by PDC chief executive Matt Porter, who expressed excitement about extending the partnership until 2031. He highlighted the special ambiance of Alexandra Palace during Christmas, calling it the essence of the tournament where demand for tickets continues to soar.
The move to the Great Hall marks a significant milestone for the sport as it resolves previous logistical challenges. Emma Dagnes OBE, the chief executive of Alexandra Palace, emphasized the impact of events like the World Darts Championship in supporting the charity’s cultural and educational initiatives.
Ahead of this year’s event, which will see Luke Littler defend his title against Darius Labanauskas in the first round, the decision to relocate the tournament to the Great Hall was made. Additionally, the Matchroom Charitable Foundation will continue its support for Alexandra Palace’s Creative Learning Programme with a £300,000 commitment over three years.
Luke Littler had previously expressed his strong stance against relocating the Championship, affirming his preference for keeping the event at Ally Pally. Meanwhile, the World Series is set to debut in Saudi Arabia next year, featuring top players like Luke Humphries.
The upcoming PDC World Darts Championship will kick off on December 11. Fans can catch all the action exclusively live on Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle.
