Where is Ally Pally Darts and When does the PDC Darts World Championship start in 2025

Wednesday, 02 July 2025 at 03:33

It's the darting mecca where dreams are made and others are broken. But as the qualification criteria have now been set, we take a look at where Ally Pally Darts is and when the PDC Darts World Championship starts.

Luke Littler scooped the title last year seeing off Michael van Gerwen in the final and the teenage prodigy will return in 2025/26 to attempt to retain that title.

It is also a World Championship unlike any other and will now be played for £1million first prize.

Here is all the info you need to know about the World Darts Championship.
1. Where is Ally Pally Darts
2. When does the PDC Darts World Championship start?
3. Overview of other PDC World Darts Championships
4. How to get to Ally Pally
5. How to get tickets for Ally Pally
6. How much prize money up for grabs at Ally Pally
7. Where to watch PDC World Darts Championship live?

1. Where is Ally Pally Darts

Also known as Ally Pally, the PDC World Darts Championship takes place in North London. Adjacent to its own train station, the Alexandra Palace is also serviced by Wood Green tube station.

It is also used year-round for gigs and other such events, as well as an ice rink. Accessible through public transport, it also includes the infamous steep hill up to the top. It is also adjacent to Crouch End and Muswell Hill.

2. When does the Darts World Championship Start

It will take place between 11 December 2025 - 3 January 2026 albeit this date has only been confirmed by hospitality companies with the PDC yet to confirm the extra sessions or how it will be made up.

They plan to expand to 128 players in 2025/26 with qualification criteria yet to be confirmed but ordinarily it begins the second week of December and continues until just after New Year with a break for Christmas and also New Year's Eve.

3. Overview of other World Darts Championships

There is also the WDF World Darts Championship, which takes place at the other traditional home of world dart,s the Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green. That takes place between 28 November - 7 December, 2025.

It was previously known as the BDO World Championship which was held at the Lakeside prior to the WDF taking over proceedings. Albeit with a sojourn into the Indigo at the O2 before the BDO's untimely demises at the hands of final chairman Des Jacklin.

In addition, the World Seniors acts as another route for players in their 50's such as Steve Beaton, Simon Whitlock, Mervyn King among others post their PDC careers or trying to still get back onto thet our to play in that big stage environment.

Tournaments in particular at the old home of World Darts, the Circus Tavern for their World Darts Championship in the February of every year as well as World Masters, World Matchplay and Champion of Champions give opportunities away from the main tour.

Initially featuring such players as Phil Taylor, Martin Adams, Robert Thornton among others, it was brought with great fanfare but Jason Francis who also runs the snooker version.

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So in essence, there are three at least in one year with the main PDC one in the December, the WDF in November and then World Seniors in late February.

Lakeside for instance and Circus Tavern were previous homes of the World Darts Championship, the latter in the PDC. But both have since moved to their current home in North London.

In addition, PDC players are banned from playing the WDF edition. Beau Greaves for instance as World Champion in the WDF has qualified multiple times for Ally Pally but has had to make the decision to play Lakeside or Ally Pally.

This was erased for a year during the WDF's opening tournament in 2023 but soon a rule was put in place in order to keep PDC players who aren't Tour Card holders from pursuing both systems.

4. How to get to Ally Pally?

To get to Alexandra Palace (Ally Pally), the quickest way is by train from Moorgate or King’s Cross to Alexandra Palace station, followed by a short uphill walk. Alternatively, take the Piccadilly Line to Wood Green and either walk (15 minutes) or catch the W3 bus directly to the venue.

The W3 also runs from Finsbury Park. Driving takes around 25 minutes from Central London, with limited paid parking available on-site so it is much more useful to use public transport. After events, expect crowds at stations, but late-night trains and night buses like the N43 and N134 provide return options.

This means that fans from all parts of the UK can get to the home of world darts for the entertainment that Ally Pally produces.

5. How to get tickets for Ally Pally?

Tickets are yet to go on sale for this year's tournament (2025/26) but with more dates of darts, there are more chances to get in on the action.

Albeit it is now a more finite chance than ever due to the rise of the sport. Ordinarily it goes on sale through multiple different windows.

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Like other PDC tournaments, PDCTV Annual Subscribers get first dibs to tickets in a special purchase window before it then goes onto different sales such as mailing list. From there if any tickets are left it goes onto General Sale.

Ordinarily the tickets get released after the World Matchplay. To get access through the annual member scheme, it costs £49.99 a year which also includes access to the entertainment.

The PDC has revealed changes to the World Darts Championship format, with seeds to play an extra round in an expanded field to include at least four women 🚨

The 2025/26 World Darts Championship will see a record-breaking 128-player field vying to lift the iconic Sid Waddell… pic.twitter.com/jzK2OpFPIr
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) June 17, 2025

6. How much prize money up for grabs at Ally Pally

There is no Prize Money Breakdown as of yet for the tournament but it has been confirmed that £1million will be on offer for the winner. The Prize Money will increase across the board anyway.

This is due to 128 players now being at Ally Pally. Seeds will have to play an extra round and while there will be £1million for the winner, it will presumably go up at least double across the board from the total prize fund of £2,500,000 last year.

7. Where to watch PDC World Darts Championship live?

The PDC World Darts Championship is usually shown in the UK on Sky Sports with a dedicated Sky Sports Darts Channel conceived in order to show Ally Pally on which is only for this tournament.

It is also shown on their Main Event channels for specific sessions e.g the final. Sky Sports have recently just signed a bumper until 2030 after much competition to keep hold of the rights after this year.

But they signed a mooted £125m deal to keep it. The following countries use these respective broadcast partners.

Viaplay - Netherlands, Poland, Norway, Denmark, Bulgaria & Baltic States

DAZN - Germany, Austria, Switzerland

Sport1 - Germany

Fox Sports - Australia

Sky - New Zealand

Nova - Czech Republic & Slovakia

Prago Sport - HungaryVTM - Belgium

All major TV tournaments are broadcast live online outside of the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Switzerland through PDCTV. Highlights from this tournament are also available in PDCTV for all subscribers worldwide.