2026 Thomas & Uber Cup
Get ready for the pinnacle of international team badminton! The 2026 Thomas & Uber Cup is set to bring together the world's best national teams in a thrilling display of skill and strategy. This prestigious biennial event, hosted by Denmark, promises intense rivalries and unforgettable moments as nations battle for ultimate bragging rights in this global spectacle. The Thomas and Uber Cups are the premier men's and women's team badminton championships, celebrating national excellence. Denmark is hosting the finals for the second time, with the city of Horsens taking center stage for the 2026 edition. Teams earn their coveted spots through a rigorous qualification process, culminating in a dynamic group and knockout stage format.
AI Summary
Get ready for the pinnacle of international team badminton! The 2026 Thomas & Uber Cup is set to bring together the world's best national teams in a thrilling display of skill and strategy. This prestigious biennial event, hosted by Denmark, promises intense rivalries and unforgettable moments as nations battle for ultimate bragging rights in this global spectacle.
- The Thomas and Uber Cups are the premier men's and women's team badminton championships, celebrating national excellence.
- Denmark is hosting the finals for the second time, with the city of Horsens taking center stage for the 2026 edition.
- Teams earn their coveted spots through a rigorous qualification process, culminating in a dynamic group and knockout stage format.
The Ultimate Badminton Showdown
The 2026 Thomas & Uber Cup marks the 34th edition for men and the 31st for women. These prestigious tournaments, organized by the Badminton World Federation, will see the world's top national teams converge in Denmark for a battle of champions.
A Legacy of Champions
Named after badminton pioneers Sir George Thomas and Betty Uber, these cups represent the highest honor in team badminton. Since 1984, they've been held biennially, showcasing national pride and athletic excellence on a global stage.
Think of it like the World Cup for badminton, but split into distinct men's and women's team events. China currently holds both titles, having dominated the previous edition in 2024. The question on everyone's mind is: can they defend their crowns against a world hungry for victory?
Denmark Takes the Stage Again
For the second time in recent history, Denmark will host the finals. After Aarhus hosted the postponed 2020 edition in 2021 due to the global pandemic, the charming city of Horsens now prepares to welcome athletes and fans from April 24 to May 3, 2026.
The Road to the Podium: Format
The competition kicks off with a spirited group stage, where sixteen qualified teams are split into four groups of four. Each team plays every other team within their group once, setting the initial pecking order.
Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the intense knockout stage. From there, it's a thrilling single-elimination bracket, where every match is do-or-die, leading all the way to the highly anticipated grand finals.
Qualification: Earning a Spot
Securing a spot in the Thomas & Uber Cup is a journey in itself. Host nation Denmark and defending champions China automatically qualify, setting the stage for 14 other teams to earn their place through fierce continental championships and world rankings.
Thomas Cup Qualifiers
Means of qualification Date Venue Slot Qualified teams Host country 1 May 2024 —N/a 1 Denmark 2024 Thomas Cup Champion 27 April – 5 May 2024 Chengdu 1 China 2026 Asia Team Championships 3–8 February 2026 Qingdao 4 Japan Chinese Taipei South Korea Indonesia 2026 All Africa Team Championships 9–12 February 2026 Gaborone 1 Algeria 2026 European Team Championships 11–15 February 2026 Istanbul 4 France England Sweden Germany Finland 2026 Pan Am Male & Female Cup 12–15 February 2026 Guatemala City 1 Canada 2026 Oceania Team Championships 13–15 February 2026 Auckland 1 Australia World Team Rankings 17 February 2026 —N/a 3 Malaysia India Thailand Total 16
It's a truly global event, with teams qualifying from continental championships across Asia, Africa, Europe, Pan America, and Oceania. The remaining spots are filled based on world team rankings, ensuring that only the strongest teams participate.
Interestingly, the European qualification for the Thomas Cup saw a unique reallocation. Germany initially declined an offered spot, which then went to Finland—highlighting the competitive depth and evolving dynamics of European badminton.
Uber Cup Qualifiers
Means of qualification Date Venue Slot Qualified teams Host country 1 May 2024 —N/a 1 Denmark 2024 Uber Cup Champion 27 April – 5 May 2024 Chengdu 1 China 2026 Asia Team Championships 3–8 February 2026 Qingdao 4 South Korea Indonesia Chinese Taipei Japan 2026 All Africa Team Championships 9–12 February 2026 Gaborone 1 South Africa 2026 European Team Championships 11–15 February 2026 Istanbul 4 Bulgaria Turkey Ukraine France Spain 2026 Pan Am Male & Female Cup 12–15 February 2026 Guatemala City 1 Canada 2026 Oceania Team Championships 13–15 February 2026 Auckland 1 Australia World Team Rankings 17 February 2026 —N/a 3 Thailand Malaysia India Total 16
The Uber Cup qualification follows a similar rigorous path, with top teams emerging from their continental tournaments and world rankings. Each region vies for its chance at glory, aiming to challenge the established powers.
Just like the men's event, the Uber Cup also saw reallocations in Europe. After Denmark had already qualified as host, both France and Scotland declined the available spots, ultimately opening the door for Spain to join the tournament in a dramatic turn of events.
As the dates draw closer, the world of badminton will eagerly anticipate these championships. With national pride on the line and legends in the making, the 2026 Thomas & Uber Cup promises to be a spectacular display of athleticism, teamwork, and unforgettable moments.
Article
2026 Thomas & Uber Cup
The 2026 Thomas & Uber Cup is the 34th edition of the Thomas Cup and the 31st edition of the Uber Cup, hosted by Badminton Denmark and organised by Badminton World Federation (BWF). The tournaments will be held at Horsens, Denmark, from 24 April to 3 May 2026.
Background
2026 Thomas & Uber Cup
The Thomas Cup (named after Sir George Thomas) and Uber Cup (named after Betty Uber) are international badminton competitions featuring teams representing member nations of the Badminton World Federation (BWF), the global governing body for the sport and are held biennially since the 1984 edition. These tournaments aim to determine the best national teams in the men's and women's events, respectively. China are the defending champions, having defeated Indonesia in both the men's and women's team events in the previous edition respectively.
Hosting
Denmark will be hosting the Thomas and Uber Cup finals for the second time. The city of Aarhus hosted the postponed 2020 edition in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This time, Horsens has been selected as the host city for the tournament.
Format
The competition begins with a group stage: the sixteen qualified teams are divided into four groups of four teams each. Each team will play each other once, with the top two teams advancing to the knockout stage. The eight qualified teams will be drawn and compete in a knockout format until the final.
Qualification
2026 Thomas & Uber Cup
Denmark automatically qualified as the hosts and China qualified as the defending champions, respectively.
Thomas Cup
<table><thead><tr><th>Means of qualification</th><th>Date</th><th>Venue</th><th>Slot</th><th>Qualified teams</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Host country</td><td>1 May 2024</td><td>—N/a</td><td>1</td><td> Denmark</td></tr><tr><td>2024 Thomas Cup Champion</td><td>27 April – 5 May 2024</td><td>Chengdu</td><td>1</td><td> China</td></tr><tr><td>2026 Asia Team Championships</td><td>3–8 February 2026</td><td>Qingdao</td><td>4</td><td> Japan</td></tr><tr><td> Chinese Taipei</td></tr><tr><td> South Korea</td></tr><tr><td> Indonesia</td></tr><tr><td>2026 All Africa Team Championships</td><td>9–12 February 2026</td><td>Gaborone</td><td>1</td><td> Algeria</td></tr><tr><td>2026 European Team Championships</td><td>11–15 February 2026</td><td>Istanbul</td><td>4</td><td> France</td></tr><tr><td> England</td></tr><tr><td> Sweden</td></tr><tr><td> Germany</td></tr><tr><td> Finland1</td></tr><tr><td>2026 Pan Am Male & Female Cup</td><td>12–15 February 2026</td><td>Guatemala City</td><td>1</td><td> Canada</td></tr><tr><td>2026 Oceania Team Championships</td><td>13–15 February 2026</td><td>Auckland</td><td>1</td><td> Australia</td></tr><tr><td>World Team Rankings</td><td>17 February 2026</td><td>—N/a</td><td>3</td><td> Malaysia</td></tr><tr><td> India</td></tr><tr><td> Thailand</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td>16</td></tr></tbody></table>
• ^1 Since Denmark, the runner-up of the European qualification tournament, had already qualified as host, the spot was awarded to Germany as the best European team from World Team Rankings. Germany declined the invitation and Finland as the next team in line accepted the reallocated spot.
Uber Cup
<table><thead><tr><th>Means of qualification</th><th>Date</th><th>Venue</th><th>Slot</th><th>Qualified teams</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Host country</td><td>1 May 2024</td><td>—N/a</td><td>1</td><td> Denmark</td></tr><tr><td>2024 Uber Cup Champion</td><td>27 April – 5 May 2024</td><td>Chengdu</td><td>1</td><td> China</td></tr><tr><td>2026 Asia Team Championships</td><td>3–8 February 2026</td><td>Qingdao</td><td>4</td><td> South Korea</td></tr><tr><td> Indonesia</td></tr><tr><td> Chinese Taipei</td></tr><tr><td> Japan</td></tr><tr><td>2026 All Africa Team Championships</td><td>9–12 February 2026</td><td>Gaborone</td><td>1</td><td> South Africa</td></tr><tr><td>2026 European Team Championships</td><td>11–15 February 2026</td><td>Istanbul</td><td>4</td><td> Bulgaria</td></tr><tr><td> Turkey</td></tr><tr><td> Ukraine</td></tr><tr><td> France</td></tr><tr><td> Spain2</td></tr><tr><td>2026 Pan Am Male & Female Cup</td><td>12–15 February 2026</td><td>Guatemala City</td><td>1</td><td> Canada</td></tr><tr><td>2026 Oceania Team Championships</td><td>13–15 February 2026</td><td>Auckland</td><td>1</td><td> Australia</td></tr><tr><td>World Team Rankings</td><td>17 February 2026</td><td>—N/a</td><td>3</td><td> Thailand</td></tr><tr><td> Malaysia</td></tr><tr><td> India</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td>16</td></tr></tbody></table>
• ^2 Since Denmark, the runner-up of the European qualification tournament, had already qualified as host, the spot was awarded to France as the best European team from World Team Rankings. France and the next highest ranked European team Scotland declined the invitation and Spain as the next team in line accepted the reallocated spot.
Medal summary
Medal table
<table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Nation</th><th>Gold</th><th>Silver</th><th>Bronze</th><th>Total</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Totals (0 entries)</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr></tbody></table>
Medalists
<table><thead><tr><th>Event</th><th>Gold</th><th>Silver</th><th>Bronze</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Thomas Cup</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Uber Cup</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>