New Delhi will host the prestigious Badminton World Championships in August 2026, marking the tournament’s return to India after 17 years. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) officially announced the city as the host during the closing ceremony of the 2025 Championships in Paris on September 1.
This event, the 30th edition of the championships, will be the first time the tournament is held in Asia since 2018. Indian officials expressed enthusiasm and pledged to maintain the highest standards set by the recent Paris event. The announcement reflects India’s rising importance in the global badminton landscape and its growing fan base, driven by world-class athletes including P.V. Sindhu and the men’s doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.
New Delhi Set to Welcome the Badminton World
The official handover took place immediately after the 2025 Paris World Championships men’s doubles medal ceremony, where Indian duo Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty stood on the podium with a bronze medal. BWF President Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, Federation Francaise de Badminton President Frank Laurent, and Badminton Association of India (BAI) General Secretary Sanjay Mishra participated in the symbolic transfer of hosting rights.
Mishra said, “We assure that India will give nothing less than 100 per cent to uphold and carry forward the same standards of excellence and grandeur that Paris has showcased. We look forward to welcoming the badminton family to Delhi.” The event will bring together the world’s top badminton talent and thousands of fans in the capital, boosting tourism and local economic activity.
The 2026 championships will be the first held on Asian soil in eight years, following the 2018 tournament in Nanjing, China.
India’s Growing Badminton Legacy
This will be India’s second time hosting the World Championships, the last being in Hyderabad in 2009. Since then, Indian badminton has witnessed remarkable growth both on and off the court. The country has produced multiple world-class players who have made India a dominant force in international badminton. P.V. Sindhu, India’s most decorated shuttler, has won five World Championship medals including gold in 2019.
The men’s doubles team of Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty continues to elevate India’s presence, claiming bronze in Paris 2025 and maintaining India’s streak of winning medals at every championship since 2011. Hosting the event again is a recognition of India’s ability to organise large-scale international sporting events and a celebration of its expanding badminton community.
The India Open’s elevation to a Super 750 status tournament further reinforces India’s growing stature in the badminton world.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The return of the Badminton World Championships to India represents more than just a sporting milestone—it reflects the nation’s commitment to nurturing excellence, unity, and inspiration through sport. Such global events have the power to bring together diverse communities under a shared passion, promoting empathy, kindness, and harmony.
The Logical Indian views this opportunity as a moment to strengthen grassroots engagement, ensuring that the joy and benefits of badminton reach every corner of the country.
