India is set to strengthen its position as a global sporting destination with a packed calendar of major international events over the coming months and years.
Backed by significant investments in infrastructure, event management and sports administration, the country is preparing to host world championships and continental tournaments across multiple disciplines, underscoring its long-term ambition of becoming a leading hub for international sports. “The endeavour is to ensure that facilities are top notch. The minister is keeping a watch on the preparations. We are working towards changing the negative mindset and perceptions,” a sports ministry source is quoted as saying in a report by newswire PTI.
One of the marquee events on the calendar is the 2026 BWF World Championships, scheduled to be held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi from August 17 to 23. It will be the first time since 2009 that India hosts badminton’s premier global championship, with the tournament expected to attract the world’s top players and thousands of international visitors.
India has also secured hosting rights for the 2026 AVC Men’s Volleyball Nations Cup, which will be staged in Ahmedabad from June 20 to 28. The tournament marks India’s debut as host of the continental championship and is expected to further boost the sport’s profile in the country.
In cue sports, Indore will host the 2026 World Snooker Championship from November 12 to 23. The event will bring leading international players to Madhya Pradesh and further diversify India’s portfolio of global sporting events beyond cricket and badminton.
The country has already demonstrated its capability by co-hosting the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup alongside Sri Lanka. The tournament was played across multiple Indian cities, including Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata, showcasing India’s large-scale event infrastructure and organisational capacity.
Preparations are also underway for several recurring international competitions, including the India Open Super 750 badminton tournament, which will move to a February window in 2027 as part of the Badminton World Federation’s revamped World Tour calendar. The revised scheduling is intended to improve playing conditions and athlete welfare while strengthening India’s place on the global badminton circuit.
The expansion of India’s hosting portfolio aligns with the government’s broader vision of positioning the country as a destination for major international sporting events. Earlier this year, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports reiterated that India would continue welcoming athletes from across the world for multilateral competitions while simultaneously pursuing bids for future global events, including the 2036 Olympic Games and other multi-sport championships.
With an increasingly diverse calendar spanning cricket, badminton, volleyball, snooker and other disciplines, India continues to strengthen its credentials as an emerging global sports hub. The successful delivery of these events is expected to bolster the country’s reputation ahead of future bids for the world’s biggest multi-sport competitions.
