PDC World Darts Championship secures long-term future at Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace will remain the long-term home of the PDC World Darts Championship after tournament chiefs agreed a new five-year deal that guarantees the sport’s showpiece stays in North London until at least 2031, reports BritPanorama.
The agreement effectively quells ongoing speculation about the World Championship potentially relocating either within London or overseas as interest in darts reaches new heights globally.
In a significant development, organisers announced that starting from the 2026–27 season, the competition will move into the venue’s Great Hall. This shift marks one of the most substantial upgrades in the championship’s modern history, increasing the event’s overall capacity to approximately 180,000 spectators — an increase of more than 70,000 compared to the upcoming year.
The current hall accommodates about 3,300 attendees. The expansion not only highlights the sport’s remarkable commercial growth but also signals the PDC’s confidence in sustained ticket demand well into the future. As the World Championship now spans a duration exceeding that of the Olympic Games, sell-out crowds have become a consistent feature during the festive season’s pilgrimage to Ally Pally.
This year also sees the tournament expanding to include 128 players, driven by unprecedented public interest and an extended schedule comprising four additional days of play. The evolution of this event starkly contrasts its inception; the first Sid Waddell Trophy was awarded on 1 January 2008, when Canadian John Part triumphed over Kirk Shepherd.
The tournament previously held its finals at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet, notable for a legendary 2007 encounter where Raymond van Barneveld bested Phil Taylor in a sudden-death leg — a match regarded as a high point in darts history.
With the new agreement firmly securing the championship’s future, Alexandra Palace is affirmed as the spiritual hub of elite darts, maintaining its rich atmosphere while adapting to the sport’s increasing popularity.
As the world of darts continues to evolve, this commitment to Alexandra Palace serves as a reminder of the sport’s rapid ascent and the deep-rooted traditions that remain at its heart.
