2026 UK Championship
| Part of the snooker Triple Crown | |
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 27 November – 6 December 2026 |
| Venue | York Barbican |
| City | York |
| Country | England |
| Organisation | World Snooker Tour |
| Format | Ranking event |
| Total prize fund | £1,500,000 |
| Winner's share | £312,500 |
| Defending champion | Mark Selby (ENG) |
← 2025 | |
The 2026 UK Championship is an upcoming professional snooker tournament that will take place from 27 November to 6 December 2026 at the York Barbican in York, England. The 50th consecutive edition of the UK Championship since it was first staged in 1977, it will be the ninth ranking event of the 2026–27 snooker season, following the 2026 International Championship and preceding the 2026 Snooker Shoot Out. It will be the first of the season's three Triple Crown events, preceding the 2027 Masters and the 2027 World Snooker Championship. The winner will receive £312,500 from a total prize fund of £1,500,000.
Mark Selby is the defending champion, having defeated Judd Trump 10–8 in the 2025 final.
Overview
The UK Championship was first held in 1977 as the United Kingdom Professional Snooker Championship, staged at Blackpool Tower Circus in Blackpool, England.[1] The inaugural event was won by Patsy Fagan, who defeated Doug Mountjoy 12–9 in the final.[1][2] Joe Davis, who had won the World Snooker Championship 15 times between 1927 and 1946, presented Fagan with the trophy.[3] For the tournament's first seven years, only United Kingdom residents or passport holders were eligible to compete.[1][4] At the 1984 event, the UK Championship became a ranking tournament open to players of any nationality.[5][6] As of the 2025 edition, Ronnie O'Sullivan is the most successful player in the tournament's history, having won the title eight times.[7]
The 2026 edition of the tournament—its 50th consecutive staging since the inaugural edition in 1977—will take place from 27 November to 6 December at the York Barbican in York, England.[8] It will be the ninth ranking event of the 2026–27 snooker season, following the 2026 International Championship and preceding the 2026 Snooker Shoot Out. It will be the first of the season's three Triple Crown events, preceding the 2027 Masters and the 2027 World Snooker Championship.[9] Mark Selby is the defending champion, having defeated Judd Trump 10–8 in the 2025 final.[10]
Prize fund
The winner of the event will receive £312,500 from a total prize fund of £1,500,000.[11]
References
- ^ a b c "Chris Turner's snooker archive: UK Championship". 16 February 2012. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ Caulfield, David (23 November 2024). "Every final at the UK Championship in snooker history". snookerhq.com. Archived from the original on 6 August 2025. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
- ^ "The first ever UK Championship final!". World Snooker Tour. 12 November 2021. Archived from the original on 22 April 2026. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
- ^ "UK Championship history". BBC Sport. 3 December 2001. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ "UK Championship event history". World Snooker Tour. Archived from the original on 29 November 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ "UK Championship". Snooker Scene. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ Sutcliffe, Steve (3 December 2023). "UK Championship 2023: Ronnie O'Sullivan claims record-extending eighth title". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
- ^ "UK Championship 2026". World Snooker Tour. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ^ "Calendar 2026/2027". snooker.org. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
- ^ "Selby captures UK crown in York". World Snooker Tour. 7 December 2025. Archived from the original on 22 April 2026. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
- ^ "World Championship and UK Championship Prize Money Increased For 2026/27". World Snooker Tour. 20 April 2026. Retrieved 30 April 2026.