Archive · 16 Aug 2026
New Delhi Hosts BWF World Championships 2026 After 17 Years
The best badminton players in the world are coming to New Delhi, India, for the BWF World Championships in August 2026.
This is a very big tournament where players compete to become world champions.
It is the first time India is hosting this event since 2009, and the arena has been fixed up specially for it.
Players will compete in five events: men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles.
Some famous Indian players will take part, like PV Sindhu, who has won five medals at this tournament before and is chasing a record-breaking sixth.
Ayush Shetty has a very tough first match against the defending champion, Shi Yu Qi from China.
Lakshya Sen, who won a bronze medal in 2021, will also be in action.
The games run from August 17 to August 23, with the finals on the last day.
Fans in India can watch on Sports18 or JioCinema, and people all over the world can watch on BWF TV on YouTube.
India is hosting the 30th BWF World Championships from August 17 to 23, 2026, for the first time since 2009.
The tournament at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Arena (also called Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium) in New Delhi features men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles.
India's Ayush Shetty faces defending champion and top seed Shi Yu Qi of China in the men's singles first round, while 2021 bronze medalist Lakshya Sen plays Collins Valentine Filimon of Austria.
Former champion PV Sindhu, seeking a record-extending sixth World Championships medal, opens against World No. 141 Sophia Noble of Ireland, and men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty received a first-round bye.
India has won at least one medal at every edition since 2011 - 14 medals across 11 consecutive editions - and the event will be broadcast on Sports18 and JioCinema in India, Astro in Malaysia, and BWF TV on YouTube worldwide.
- Who
- Top international badminton players, including defending champion Shi Yu Qi of China and Indian stars Ayush Shetty, Lakshya Sen, PV Sindhu, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.
- What
- The 30th BWF World Championships, where players compete across five disciplines for world titles and crucial ranking points.
- When
- August 17-23, 2026, with finals on August 23.
- Where
- Indira Gandhi Indoor Arena (Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium), New Delhi, India.
- Why
- India is hosting the event for the first time since 2009, and players seek the prestige of becoming world champion, crucial ranking points, and medal records.
- Edition
- 30th BWF World Championships
- Host
- India (first time since 2009; return after 17 years)
- Venue
- Indira Gandhi Indoor Arena (Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium), New Delhi
- Dates
- 17-23 August 2026 (finals at 1:00 PM IST on 23 August)
- Disciplines
- Men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles, mixed doubles
- Defending champion (men's singles)
- Shi Yu Qi of China (top seed)
- India's record
- 14 medals across 11 consecutive editions since 2011; first Worlds medal by Prakash Padukone in 1983
- Broadcast
- Sports18 and JioCinema (India), Astro (Malaysia), BWF TV on YouTube and Olympics.com (worldwide)
