Ningbo to host 2026 Badminton Asia Championships

[Video/Yongpai app]

Ningbo will host the 2026 Badminton Asia Championships from April 7 to 12, bringing many of Asia's highest-ranked players to the eastern Chinese port city for one of the sport's most important tournaments.

Classified as a Super 1000-level event, the championships are the only top-tier badminton tournament scheduled in China during the first half of the year and are expected to play a key role in world rankings ahead of major international competitions. Asia currently dominates global badminton standings, ensuring a highly competitive field across all five disciplines.

China will field a strong lineup led by men's singles contenders Shi Yuqi and Li Shifeng, Olympic champion Chen Yufei and Wang Zhiyi in women's singles. Men's doubles pair Wang Chang and Liang Weikeng — with Wang a Ningbo native — will compete on home soil while also serving as ambassadors for the event, highlighting the city's growing connection to international badminton. Other leading Chinese doubles and mixed doubles teams are also set to participate.

International challengers are expected to include Thailand's world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn, Indonesia's Jonatan Christie, South Korea's Olympic champion An Se-young, and top-ranked doubles combinations from South Korea and Malaysia, setting up crucial ranking battles across the tournament week.

Organizers say the championships will combine elite sport with cultural presentation, featuring upgraded arena visuals, technology-driven fan experiences, and a trophy crafted using Ningbo's traditional inlay technique. A fan carnival and more than 35 official merchandise products will accompany the competition.

Matches will run from qualification rounds on April 7 through the finals on April 12, with tickets priced between 80 and 1,980 ($11 to $288) available via major Chinese ticketing platforms, including Damai.