The hydraulic and anti-clogging performance of irrigation emitters are mainly governed by the internal flow characteristics in the flow channel. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and experiments were used to analyse internal flow characteristics and determine the key structural parameters of a stellate labyrinth channel irrigation emitter. Through experimental verification, the realisable k-ε model provided the best results for simulating the flow field. Five structural parameters of stellate labyrinth channel emitter were selected to study the influence on the flow characteristics inside the flow channel comprehensively. The velocity fields and profiles are presented along the stellate labyrinth channel. Turbulence properties and turbulent kinetic energy of flow inside the stellate labyrinth channel are analysed and discussed. The vortex zones consume energy and promote the deposition of particles. The swirling motion zone in stellate labyrinth channel emitter flow channel must be described to analyse flow characteristics. The advanced Q-criterion method was applied to identify and characterise the vortex zones in the stellate labyrinth flow channel. Through analysis results of the influence of different structural parameters on velocity fields, turbulence properties, and swirl characteristics, it was shown that a, r, h, and θ are main structural parameters that affect the flow characteristics in stellate labyrinth channel irrigation emitter. The results of this study provide references for the design theory of the new types of flow channel emitter.