Alexandra Palace secures its position as the long-term host venue for the prestigious PDC World Darts Championship until 2031 with the recent signing of a new five-year agreement. This development puts an end to speculations about potential relocations within London or even outside England.
Under the agreement, starting from the 2026/27 season, the championship’s playing arena will be relocated to the Great Hall, boasting a capacity of approximately 180,000 attendees. This marks a significant increase of 70,000 from the previous capacity in 2025/26, ensuring that each session can accommodate over 5,000 enthusiastic supporters.
Since 2007, Alexandra Palace has been the revered host of the World Darts Championship. PDC chief executive, Matt Porter, expressed excitement about extending the partnership, emphasizing the venue’s strong association with the championship. He highlighted the unparalleled atmosphere of Ally Pally at Christmas, underscoring the high demand for tickets and the move to the Great Hall as a pivotal moment for the sport.
Emma Dagnes OBE, the chief executive of Alexandra Palace, emphasized the profound impact of events like the World Darts Championship, not only providing unforgettable experiences but also generating crucial revenue to support various programs benefiting millions annually across the Park and Palace.
The decision to expand the festive-season event’s capacity to accommodate more fans comes ahead of this year’s championship, where Luke Littler is set to defend his title against Darius Labanauskas in the first round. Additionally, as part of the agreement, the Matchroom Charitable Foundation will continue supporting Alexandra Palace’s Creative Learning Programme with a commitment of £300,000 over three years to fund arts sessions, outdoor learning opportunities, and creative industry training.
Looking ahead, the World Series will venture to Saudi Arabia for the first time next year, as part of the annual Riyadh Season, featuring top players like Luke Littler and world number one Luke Humphries. The series will include stops in various countries, starting with the Bahrain Darts Masters before moving to Saudi Arabia, Denmark, the US, New Zealand, Australia, and the Netherlands.
Fans eager to catch the action can tune in to the PDC World Darts Championship starting from December 11, with every match available for live viewing exclusively on Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle.