Beijing to host BWF Sudirman Cup Finals 2027 from April 21
Synopsis
Beijing is back on badminton's biggest stage. The BWF has handed the 2027 Sudirman Cup Finals to China's capital — a city that last hosted the event in 2005 — while simultaneously announcing the tournament's most ambitious structural overhaul: a 12-day format with 24 nations, designed to turn a biennial championship into a global sporting spectacle.
Key Takeaways
Beijing, China will host the BWF Sudirman Cup Finals 2027 from 21 April to 2 May 2027 .
It is Beijing's first BWF Individual or Team World Championship hosting since the Sudirman Cup in 2005 ; the city also hosted the BWF World Championships in 1987 .
From 2027 , the tournament shifts to an extended 12-day format with 24 member associations , up from 16.
China holds a record 13 Sudirman Cup titles and won the most recent 2025 edition in Xiamen, defeating South Korea 3–1 in the final.
India has never won a Sudirman Cup medal, with quarter-final exits in 2011 and 2017 being the national team's best finishes.
Host cities for the BWF World Championships 2027 , World Tour Finals 2027–2030 , and Thomas and Uber Cup Finals 2028 are yet to be announced.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) on Wednesday, 14 October 2026 announced Beijing, China as the host city for the BWF Sudirman Cup Finals 2027, scheduled from 21 April to 2 May 2027. The decision marks Beijing's return to hosting a BWF Individual or Team World Championship for the first time since the Sudirman Cup in 2005.
A City Steeped in Badminton History
Beijing carries a storied legacy in international badminton, having first hosted the BWF World Championships in 1987 before staging the Sudirman Cup in 2005 and showcasing the sport at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. BWF President Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul highlighted that legacy in welcoming the decision.
'China has long played an important role in the development and global success of badminton, and we are thrilled to bring the BWF Sudirman Cup Finals back to Beijing in 2027,' she said. She added: 'Returning to Beijing for one of our premier team championships honours that heritage while highlighting the continued growth and global appeal of our sport.'
A New Format From 2027 Onwards
The 2027 edition will also inaugurate a significant structural change to the tournament. The Sudirman Cup Finals will shift to an extended 12-day format, with participating member associations expanding from the current roster to 24 teams. According to BWF, the revamped format is designed to enhance fan engagement, unlock greater commercial opportunities, and grow the sport in new markets. This two-week structure will apply to BWF's Major Championships going forward.
The federation confirmed that host cities for the BWF World Championships 2027, World Tour Finals 2027–2030, and Thomas and Uber Cup Finals 2028 will be announced separately at a later date.
About the Sudirman Cup
The Sudirman Cup is the World Mixed Team Championship, contested every two years. Each tie comprises five matches — men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles — making it a comprehensive test of a nation's all-round badminton strength.
The inaugural edition was held at Bung Karno Stadium, Indonesia, in 1989, with 28 teams participating. Indonesia won that first title on home soil — the only time they have claimed the championship. Korea followed with back-to-back titles in 1991 and 1993, before China came to dominate the event, winning all but two editions from 1995 to 2023. Korea interrupted China's run in 2003 and 2017. China now holds a record 13 Sudirman Cup titles.
China's Dominant Run and India's Record
The most recent edition, held in Xiamen, China in 2025, featured 16 of the world's top badminton nations. China claimed the title by defeating South Korea 3–1 in the final, underlining their continued supremacy. The 2027 edition thus returns to a country that has owned the competition for three decades.
For India, the Sudirman Cup has remained an elusive milestone. The nation has reached the quarter-finals twice — in 2011 and 2017 — but is yet to win a medal at the tournament. With the field expanding to 24 teams in 2027, India's qualification pathway and competitive prospects will be closely watched.
What Comes Next
Preparations in Beijing are expected to ramp up significantly over the coming months, with BWF and Chinese badminton authorities set to confirm venue and operational details. The expanded format gives Beijing the task of staging what will be the most inclusive Sudirman Cup in the tournament's history.
Point of View
And BWF is banking on that to deliver the commercial uplift the expanded 24-team format demands. The format change itself is the more consequential story: doubling the event's footprint creates genuine opportunity for second-tier nations, but also raises questions about competitive integrity when elite sides face weaker opponents in a bloated group stage. For India, sitting in the quarter-final ceiling for over a decade, the wider draw is both an opportunity and a measure of how far the programme still needs to travel.
NationPress
14 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where will the BWF Sudirman Cup Finals 2027 be held?
The BWF Sudirman Cup Finals 2027 will be held in Beijing, China, from 21 April to 2 May 2027. It is Beijing's first hosting of a BWF Individual or Team World Championship since the Sudirman Cup in 2005.
What is the new format for the Sudirman Cup from 2027?
From 2027, the Sudirman Cup Finals will adopt an extended 12-day format with 24 member associations competing, up from the current 16-team field. BWF says the change is aimed at improving fan engagement and expanding the sport's commercial reach.
Which country has won the most Sudirman Cup titles?
China is the most successful nation in Sudirman Cup history with 13 titles, winning almost every edition from 1995 to 2023. Korea has won three titles (1991, 1993, 2003 and 2017), while Indonesia won the inaugural 1989 edition.
What is India's record at the Sudirman Cup?
India has never won a medal at the Sudirman Cup. The team's best results are two quarter-final appearances, in 2011 and 2017. The expansion to 24 teams for 2027 could affect India's qualification and competitive prospects.
When will BWF announce hosts for other 2027 and 2028 events?
BWF has said it will announce host cities for the World Championships 2027, World Tour Finals 2027–2030, and Thomas and Uber Cup Finals 2028 at a later date. No timeline has been given for those announcements.
