Alexandra Palace secures the hosting rights for the PDC World Darts Championship until 2031 through a new five-year deal. Speculation about potential relocation has been put to rest with the confirmation that the prestigious tournament will remain in London, England.
As part of the agreement, the championship will transition to the Great Hall starting from the 2026/27 season, increasing the capacity to approximately 180,000 spectators. This marks a significant expansion from the current capacity of 110,000, allowing over 5,000 fans per session to witness the thrilling matches.
Since 2007, Alexandra Palace has been the home of the World Darts Championship, earning a reputation as the tournament’s iconic venue. PDC chief executive Matt Porter expressed delight in extending the partnership, emphasizing the unique atmosphere that makes the event a standout in the world of sports.
The move to the Great Hall is seen as a pivotal moment for the sport, with obstacles previously impeding the utilization of the space now resolved. Alexandra Palace’s chief executive, Emma Dagnes OBE, highlighted the event’s significant impact as a charity, generating essential revenue to support various programs benefiting millions annually.
The decision to relocate the championship to the Great Hall comes ahead of this year’s event, where defending champion Luke Littler will kick off his title defense against Darius Labanauskas in the first round. Additionally, the Matchroom Charitable Foundation will continue its support for Alexandra Palace’s Creative Learning Programme by committing £300,000 over three years to fund various initiatives.
Littler, who had previously voiced opposition to relocating the championship, asserted his commitment to keeping the event at Ally Pally, stating his reluctance to participate if it were to move to Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, the World Series is set to make its debut in Saudi Arabia next year as part of the annual Riyadh Season, attracting top players like Luke Humphries.
The tournament’s ruling to prohibit alcohol sales at the venue in Saudi Arabia has sparked mixed reactions. The World Series will kick off with the Bahrain Darts Masters before making stops in various countries including Denmark, the US, New Zealand, Australia, and the Netherlands.
Fans eagerly anticipating the PDC World Darts Championship can catch all the action exclusively live on Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle starting December 11.