The R&A have announced that Royal Birkdale Golf Club will host The Open Championship in 2026 for just the tenth time in the club’s history.
Dates have been announced for the 144th Open Championship as Sunday 12 – Sunday 19 July, with the tournament days running between Thursday 16 – Sunday 19 July 2024. The occasion will mark nine years since Jordan Spieth last won The Open at Royal Birkdale, which is located near Southport on England’s Golf Coast. The destination is full of world-class golf courses just 30 minutes’ drive north of Liverpool on the west coast, overlooking The Irish Sea. Nearby golf courses include Southport & Ainsdale, Formby Golf Club, Hillside Golf Club, Formby Hall Resort. Further afield, Royal Lytham & St Annes is 60 minutes’ north and Royal Liverpool (host of the 151st Open in 2023) is 60 minutes south-west.
Jordan Spieth joined famous golfers in The Open’s winner’s circle in 2017 with the likes of Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Lee Trevino, Johny Miller, Ian Baker-Finch, Mark O’Meara, Peter Thomson and Padraig Harrington all having won The Open at Royal Birkdale previously. The announcement by the R&A comes on the eve of the 151st Open Championship at Royal Liverpool Golf Club, where defending Champion Cameron Smith (winner of The 150th Open at St Andrews 2022) will return to defend his title. Smith won LIV Golf at London’s Centurion Club just last week, and is a hot contender to lift the Claret Jug in 2023.
Where are The Opens in 2024 and 2025?
The Open Championship returns to Royal Troon Golf Club on Scotland’s Ayrshire Coast in 2024. In 2025, it heads back to Royal Portrush in Country Antrim on the North Ireland coast where it was previously held in 2019.
How can I attend The Open?
Voyages.golf are Authorised Providers for The Open Championship, with travel packages and an Escorted Tour available for The 152nd Open at Royal Troon Golf Club. Also Authorised for The Open 2025 at Royal Portrush, join the waitlist here for travel packages and tours as they become available in the coming months.
Martin Slumbers, CEO of The R&A, said: “Royal Birkdale is a world-class championship venue and its outstanding links will once again provide the world’s best men’s professional golfers with a tough but fair test of their talents and capabilities as they compete for the Claret Jug.”
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “The Open is one of the sporting world’s crown jewels and to have the opportunity to play host to it not just once – but twice in three years – is an incredible achievement for our area. Royal Birkdale’s unveiling as the 2026 host comes as excitement is building for The 151st Open, which is also being held in our region at the fantastic Royal Liverpool in Hoylake, which we’re expecting to attract record crowds.”
