Alexandra Palace has secured a new five-year agreement to continue hosting the prestigious PDC World Darts Championship until 2031. This development puts an end to speculations about a potential relocation of the event from London or outside of England.
Under the new agreement, the competition will shift to the Great Hall starting from the 2026/27 season, allowing for a capacity increase to approximately 180,000 spectators, up from the previous 110,000, ensuring each session can accommodate over 5,000 fans.
Since 2007, Alexandra Palace has been the home of the World Darts Championship, a fact celebrated by PDC chief executive Matt Porter, who expressed delight in extending the partnership to at least 2031. He emphasized the unique festive atmosphere of the event at Alexandra Palace, describing it as unparalleled in the world of sports. The move to the Great Hall marks a significant milestone for the sport, removing previous hurdles to utilizing the space.
Emma Dagnes OBE, the chief executive of Alexandra Palace, highlighted the profound impact of events like the World Darts Championship, emphasizing the revenue generated to support various cultural and educational programs benefiting millions each year across the Park and Palace.
The current venue for the championship during the festive season accommodates 3,300 fans. Noteworthy is the continued support for Alexandra Palace’s Creative Learning Programme by the Matchroom Charitable Foundation as part of the agreement, with a commitment of £300,000 over three years to fund arts initiatives for individuals with dementia, outdoor learning for schools, and creative industry training for youth.
The defending champion, Luke Littler, affirmed his commitment to keeping the championship at Alexandra Palace, expressing his reluctance to participate in a potential relocation to Saudi Arabia for future events. The World Series is set to debut in Saudi Arabia in January, with top-ranked Luke Humphries expected to compete.
The decision to not sell alcohol at the Saudi Arabia event venue, which has a capacity of 1,000, elicited a mixed response. The Series will kick off with the Bahrain Darts Masters before proceeding to various countries, including Denmark, the US, New Zealand, Australia, and the Netherlands.
The PDC World Darts Championship is scheduled to commence on December 11, with exclusive live coverage available to fans through Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle.