Archive · 14 Aug 2026
BWF World Championships pays no prize money, offers ranking points
The Badminton World Championships is a very important tournament for badminton players.
In 2026, it will be played in New Delhi, the capital of India.
The tournament started in 2009 and this is the 30th time it is being held.
Unlike many big sports events, this championship does not give prize money to the winners.
Instead, players who win get many ranking points, which help them become the best in the world.
The winner gets 14,500 points, the same number that Olympic champions get.
The second-place player gets 11,000 points.
Players also get a gold medal and the special title of world champion.
Ranking points matter because they decide which tournaments players can join.
Some of India's best players, like PV Sindhu, will play in this event.
The championship will happen from August 17 to 23, 2026.
The 2026 BWF World Championships will be held from August 17-23, 2026, at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Arena in New Delhi.
The event is the 30th edition of the championships and returns to India for the first time since 2009.
The tournament does not award prize money, a unique tradition among prestigious badminton events.
Winners instead receive 14,500 ranking points, the highest in badminton and equal to the Olympic Games, plus gold medals.
PV Sindhu, Ayush Shetty, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty headline the Indian contingent.
- Who
- Badminton players, including India's PV Sindhu, Ayush Shetty, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, and the Badminton World Federation.
- What
- The 30th edition of the BWF World Championships, which pays no prize money but awards the highest badminton ranking points.
- When
- August 17-23, 2026.
- Where
- Indira Gandhi Indoor Arena, New Delhi, India.
- Why
- The tournament offers prestige, gold medals and maximum ranking points rather than prize money, maintaining its long-standing tradition.
- Event
- 2026 BWF World Championships (30th edition)
- Date
- August 17-23, 2026
- Venue
- Indira Gandhi Indoor Arena, New Delhi, India
- Prize Money
- None
- Winner's Ranking Points
- 14,500 (highest in badminton, equal to Olympics)
- Runner-up Points
- 11,000
- Third/Fourth Place Points
- 9,200
- Event Classification
- Grade 1 - Major Event by the Badminton World Federation