Brown could only win two legs in the first round of the 2016 World Championship during a 0–3 defeat to Peter Wright. He could not win enough matches to qualify for the UK Open. His only quarter-final on the Pro Tour in 2016 was at the fifth Players Championship and he lost 3–6 to Michael van Gerwen. Brown was defeated 3−4 by Aden Kirk in the final of the 11th Development Tour event. He qualified for the Players Championship Finals and lost 5–6 to Ian White in the first round, missing three match darts in the process. Brown could not play in his third successive World Championship as he was knocked out in the fourth round of the qualifier 4–5 by Mark Frost.