The Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships, widely considered the most prestigious tournament outside of the Olympics and World Championships, will be held at the Utilita Arena Birmingham in England from March 3rd to 8th, 2026.
The tournament, a BWF World Tour Super 1000 event, will see the world’s best players compete for a total prize purse of US$1,450,000. The event’s long history makes a title here a career-defining achievement for any shuttler.
Doors will open at 0900hrs on Tuesday, March 3rd, with play beginning at 1000hrs and an approximate finish time of 2000hrs. This schedule will remain consistent for Wednesday, March 4th, and Thursday, March 5th. Friday, March 6th, will feature both morning and evening sessions, with doors opening at 0830hrs and 1600hrs respectively, and play starting at 0930hrs, and 1700hrs. Saturday, March 7th, will also have morning and evening sessions mirroring Friday’s timings. The tournament will conclude on Sunday, March 8th, with doors opening at 1000hrs and play starting at 1100hrs, with an approximate end time of 1600hrs. Organizers note that all timings are approximate and subject to change.
The defending champions entering the 2026 competition are Shi Yuqi of China in Men’s Singles, and An Se-young of South Korea in Women’s Singles. Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae of South Korea are the defending champions in Men’s Doubles, whereas Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan of China will aim to defend their title in Women’s Doubles. Matsuyama and Shida are the current Mixed Doubles champions.
Pass outs will be allowed during the event. Attendees are encouraged to pre-book parking to guarantee a space. Official merchandise will be available at dedicated outlets within the Utilita Arena, including two permanent stores on the main concourse level.
Security measures will be in place, including bag searches. Bags brought to the venue must be no larger than A4 size (21cm x 30cm x 19cm), have a maximum of two compartments, and rucksacks are not permitted.
