Badminton is preparing for its most transformative phase in decades. From 2027, the sport will step onto a larger global stage with a redesigned World Tour, significantly higher prize money, and innovative competition formats aimed at elevating both player experience and fan engagement.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has officially announced a comprehensive overhaul of its international calendar, signalling a bold push to modernise the sport and expand its worldwide reach. These changes come in the wake of BWF’s extended long-term partnership with broadcast and commercial rights holder Infront, secured through to 2034.
At the centre of the reforms is a revamped BWF World Tour comprising 36 tournaments arranged across six distinct tiers. The new structure will include:
World Tour Finals:
- 5 Super 1000 events
- 5 Super 750 events
- 9 Super 500 events
- 8 Super 300 events
- 8 Super 100 events
Notably, Super 100 tournaments will be fully integrated into the World Tour for the first time, creating a clearer pathway for emerging players to rise through the ranks.
The five elite Super 1000 tournaments, set to be hosted across Asia and Europe, will introduce a group-stage format in singles events. A total of 48 players will compete in round-robin groups before progressing to knockout rounds, ensuring more matches and increased visibility for top athletes.
Doubles competitions will feature 32-pair knockout draws, while each Super 1000 event will span 11 days across two weekends, offering broadcasters and fans extended high-quality action.
One of the most significant upgrades is financial. The total annual prize pool across the World Tour will rise to approximately USD 26.9 million, marking a major investment in the sport’s professional ecosystem.
Proposed prize money breakdown:
- Super 1000: USD 2 million
- Super 750: USD 1.1 million
- Super 500: USD 560,000
- Super 300: USD 290,000
- Super 100: USD 140,000
This increase is expected to improve player sustainability and attract greater global interest.
From 2027, the BWF World Championships will also adopt a group stage followed by knockout rounds, guaranteeing every participant at least two matches, a move designed to enhance competitive fairness and fan value.
Additionally, major team events such as the Sudirman Cup Finals and Thomas & Uber Cup Finals will expand to include more teams, opening doors for wider international participation and development. Hosts for the redesigned World Tour events from 2027 to 2030 have already been confirmed, while the venue for the World Tour Finals will be announced at a later date.
With these sweeping changes, the BWF aims to usher badminton into a new era, one that is more global, more competitive, and more rewarding for players and fans alike.
