The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), owned by sports promoter Matchroom, has reached an agreement with Alexandra Palace to keep the World Darts Championship at the London venue until at least 2031.

The deal will see the tournament move from its current location in Alexandra Palace’s West Hall into the larger Great Hall from 2026. This will increase the event’s capacity by more than 70,000 across the three-week period to 180,000.

Alexandra Palace has hosted darts’ biggest event since 2007. PDC CEO Matt Porter said the venue has become synonymous with the World Darts Championship.

This year’s tournament starts on Thursday, 11 December, with the final scheduled for 3 January. It will mark the last time the event will be located in the West Hall before its relocation to the Great Hall.

Porter said, “When we have looked at moving into the Great Hall previously there have been obstacles which have prevented it from being possible, but these have now been overcome, and we’re excited to be able to present what will be a landmark moment for the sport of darts.”

“For us as a charity, events like the darts have a seismic impact,” said Alexandra Palace CEO Emma Dagnes OBE. “Not only do they provide experiences of a lifetime, but the revenue we generate supports our work to care for the Park and Palace, and deliver our learning and cultural programmes, which bring huge benefit to millions of people every year.”

Alexandra Palace commercial director Lucy Fenner said, “Working with the PDC has always been about evolving and innovating the tournament. Moving into the Great Hall from 2026 is the next chapter in an incredible journey that will take the event to a different stratosphere.”

Alexandra Palace is the subject of the next Access All Areas Explores film, a series that has already gone behind the scenes to profile many leading event venues including the Royal Albert Hall, The O2, Outernet and Ascot Racecourse.