PV Sindhu In, Defending Champions Confirmed: BWF World Championships 2026 Entry List Revealed

The road to the BWF World Championships 2026 is officially set.

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has finalised the list of qualified players, pairs and reserves for next year’s World Championships, which will be staged in New Delhi from August 17 to 23, 2026.

All five defending champions have confirmed their participation, ensuring that the sport’s biggest stars will be present when the tournament returns to India for only the second time in history.

Among the reigning title holders, men’s singles world champion Shi Yu Qi, men’s doubles pair Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae, and women’s doubles champions Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning secured qualification as the top-ranked entrants in their respective categories. Women’s singles champion Akane Yamaguchi

qualified third, while mixed doubles title holders Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei earned the fourth qualification spot.

Qualification was determined using the BWF World Rankings published on April 28, 2026, in accordance with the federation’s regulations.

The championships will feature 64 players each in men’s and women’s singles, along with 48 pairs in men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles.

One of the notable highlights of the qualification list is the continued rise of France as a badminton nation. The European country has secured three men’s singles qualifiers, matching traditional powerhouses China, Japan and Denmark.

Under BWF regulations, the highest-ranked player or pair from each continental confederation is guaranteed a place in every category. Host nation India also receives an automatic berth in each discipline.

In women’s singles, India’s host quota has gone to former world champion P. V. Sindhu, ensuring one of the country’s biggest stars will feature in front of home fans.

Member Associations can field up to four players or pairs in a category if all are ranked inside the world’s top eight. Associations with players ranked within the top 24 can enter three representatives, while those ranked inside the top 150 are eligible for two entries.

BWF has also released reserve lists for all categories. Any withdrawals before the tournament will be replaced from these reserves, subject to federation entry limits.