MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday 11 June 2026
Geelong, Victoria Secures 2027 BWF World Senior Championships
Badminton Australia is proud to announce that the Badminton World Federation (BWF) has awarded the 2027 BWF World Senior Championships to Australia, with the event set to be hosted in Geelong, Victoria, from 28 November through to 5 December 2027.
The largest and prestigious global badminton event will bring the world’s best senior badminton players in the age groups 35+ all the way through to 80+ to Geelong, marking a major milestone for the sport in Australia and the broader Oceania region.
The successful bid was the result of a strong collaborative partnership between Badminton Australia, the Victorian Government, and the City of Greater Geelong, delivering a compelling proposal that stood out in a highly competitive international field.
The Championships are expected to attract thousands of athletes, officials and visitors from across the globe, delivering significant economic and tourism benefits to the region, while also showcasing Geelong and Victoria on the world stage.
The event further reinforces Victoria’s reputation as a leading destination for major international sporting events and highlights Geelong’s growing profile as a premier host city.
The BWF World Senior Championships is one of the sport’s flagship events, featuring competition across multiple age categories and drawing elite participants from more than 45 countries.
The 2027 edition will be the largest global badminton event ever staged in Australia and represents a significant opportunity to grow participation in the sport across Australia.
“Securing the 2027 BWF World Senior Championships for Geelong is important – not just for badminton in Australia, but for Victoria’s reputation as the events capital of the country.
With thousands of international visitors expected, local hotels, restaurants and businesses across the Geelong region will benefit significantly, and that’s exactly what our Regional Events Fund is designed to achieve.”
– Minister for Tourism in Victoria, The Hon. Natalie Suleyman MP
“Securing the 2027 BWF World Senior Championships is a significant win for Geelong and a clear endorsement of our city as a premier destination for international events.
This event will bring visitors from around the world to experience our region, support local businesses, and showcase Geelong on the global stage.
We are proud to be working in partnership with Badminton Australia and the Victorian Government to deliver an outstanding event that creates lasting benefits for our community.”
– The Mayor of the City of Greater Geelong, Dr Stretch Kontelj OAM
“Taking the BWF World Senior Championships to Australia and Oceania reflects our firm commitment to elevating badminton as a truly global sport and expanding opportunities for players around the world.
Badminton belongs to everyone. We want badminton to be a sport of choice that is accessible to people everywhere, across all communities, genders, ages, and abilities, and this tournament is an important step in supporting that vision.
– BWF President, Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul
“Hosting the World Senior Championships in 2027 is an incredible achievement for badminton in Australia and a proud moment for our entire community.
This event will not only bring the world’s best senior players to our shores, but also inspire participation, strengthen connections across generations, and create a lasting legacy for the sport nationwide. We are excited about the opportunities this presents for our members.”
– Badminton Australia President, Julie McDonald
“The announcement represents a defining moment for the sport nationally. Bringing the BWF World Senior Championships to Australia is a huge win for our sport and a proud moment for our community. To secure this event against world-class destinations shows the strength of our vision, our partnerships, and our ambition to grow badminton on the global stage.
What makes it even more unique is the fact that this is the first time ever that this event, the biggest global badminton event on the calendar, is being held in the southern hemisphere and Geelong, Victoria, will deliver an outstanding experience for players, officials, volunteers, and supporters. We can’t wait to welcome the world to Victoria in 2027.”
– Badminton Australia CEO, Tjitte (TJ) Weistra
“Congratulations to Badminton Australia on being awarded the hosting rights of such a prestigious event. It is many years since a major BWF World Championships has been hosted in our region, the last being the Sudirman Cup Finals 2017 in the Gold Coast, Australia.
This is fantastic for badminton; our players, our officials, our volunteers; the entire badminton community. I am confident we will see many of our Oceania countries represented on the courts as all will want to experience these World Championships.”
– Badminton Oceania CEO, Julie Carrel
To see the BWF Media Release CLICK HERE.
ENDS
All media enquiries:
Tjitte (TJ) Weistra – Chief Executive Officer
Tjitte.Weistra@badminton.org.au
Oscar Yam – Events & Communications Manager
Oscar.Yam@badminton.org.au
