As golf enthusiasts and followers of the Open Championship, there’s always excitement in anticipating where future editions of golf’s oldest major will be held.
The diverse and iconic courses selected to host this prestigious event play a crucial role in shaping the narrative of the championship, adding their unique flavour to the rich history of the Open.
These courses, handpicked by the R&A, are steeped in tradition and offer unique challenges that will test the mettle of the world’s top golfers.
From the historic fairways of St Andrews to the rugged dunes of Royal Birkdale, each of these future venues tells its own compelling story within the broader narrative of the Open Championship.
After Scottie Scheffler’s dominant victory at Royal Portrush in 2025 let’s look at the upcoming Open Championship venues confirmed by the R&A…
Open Championship Future Venues
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2026
We will head back to Royal Birkdale in 2026 – the scene of Jordan Spieth’s dramatic, but excellent victory over Matt Kuchar in 2017.
The Merseyside links has hosted the event 10 times and has seen Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Tom Watson lift the Claret Jug in front of the iconic white clubhouse.
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.”
Andrew Maxwell, Captain of Royal Birkdale and Chairman of the Championship Committee, said: “We are thrilled and honoured to have been chosen as the host venue for The Open in 2026. Royal Birkdale Golf Club has a rich history with The Open having hosted it ten times previously.”
“We look forward to welcoming the world’s best golfers to our magnificent course and providing them with a true test of links golf. The Club is already working hard to ensure that The Open in 2026 will be an unforgettable event for players, spectators and fans around the globe.”
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- The 154th Open will be played at Royal Birkdale from July 12-19, 2026.
2027
We’re back to the Old Course at St Andrews in 2027, five years after Cameron Smith ripped Rory McIlroy’s heart out with a stunning back-nine display at the home of golf.
It seemed the Northern Irishman and fan favourite was on course to win the Claret Jug at the most famous golf course on the planet, but it wasn’t to be.
It will be the 155th Open and it will mark 100 years since Bobby Jones won The Open in the Auld Grey Toun, winning by six shots and defending his title from Royal Lytham & St. Annes from the previous year.
Mark Darbon, Chief Executive of The R&A, who took up the role last month, said, “I’m hugely excited to be making this my first announcement at The R&A. I’m looking forward to The Open’s return to St Andrews every bit as much as the fans and the players. There is something incredibly special about The Open being played on the Old Course and so many of the great champions have walked these fairways since the first staging here in 1873.
“St Andrews is the home of golf and it generates a unique atmosphere for the fans and the players as well as providing an amazing spectacle on television and digitally for millions of viewers around the world. It promises to be another milestone occasion at one of sport’s greatest and most historic venues and we will be doing everything we can to make it a memorable experience for everyone involved.”
- The 155th Open will be played at St Andrews from July 11-18, 2027.
2028
The Open will return to Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2028, as the championship returns to the Fylde links for the 12th time.
Ernie Els took home his second Claret Jug the last time the Open was held in the north-west in 2012, adding his name to an illustrious list of champions including Gary Player, Seve Ballesteros and Bobby Jones.
The venue was confirmed in April 2026, on the 100th year anniversary of Jones’ victory in 1926.
The 156th running of the Open Championship will be held two weeks later than normal in 2028, to avoid clashes with the summer Olympics in Los Angeles. It will instead take place from July 30 to August 6, 2028.
Mark Darbon, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “Royal Lytham & St Annes is widely renowned as one of the world’s finest links courses and has witnessed many great championship moments since The Open was first played there in 1926 when the legendary Bobby Jones won.
“This is one of golf’s most cherished and historic venues and The Open’s return to these famous links will spark huge interest among fans to be part of one of the world’s great sporting events and celebrate the rich traditions of golf’s original Championship.
Future Open Championship venues
So, 2029 is next, and beyond. At the 2024 Open, the outgoing R&A CEO Martin Slumbers said The Open would be going back to Muirfield in East Lothian. This course has every chance of being next in the queue, having last hosted in 2013.
Royal St. George’s hosted Collin Morikawa’s victory in 2021 and is the most southern Open Championship venue. There is no reason to suggest this course will leave the rota, so watch this space.
Carnoustie is currently enduring its longest wait for an Open date, last holding the tournament in 2018. Angus Council have passed ownership of the golf courses at Carnoustie to the Carnoustie Golf Heritage and Hospitality Group Limited (CGHH), and they are no longer operated by the Carnoustie Golf Links Management Committee (CGLMC).
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This was a hugely significant development in the history of a site that had been publicly owned since the 19th century. While a shift to private ownership might feel alien to local golfers, the door now appears to be open to the investment that is needed for Carnoustie to stay on the rota.
In a piece by Golf Business Quarterly, the R&A provided this statement:
“Carnoustie is a very important venue for The Open, and when they approached us with their plans for a new structure and additional investment, we were supportive and remain so as the plans continue to progress.
“We welcome venues taking the initiative to improve and develop as Carnoustie has done, and are working collaboratively with them to help ensure their plans support the staging of The Open as well. We look forward to returning there in due course.”
Then there is Portmarnock. The championship track in the Republic of Ireland is being touted as a brand new venue for the event. In a recent interview, CEO Darbon said, “We’re having a proper look at it.”
You might have heard whispers about Princes too…
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