What are the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup? The Thomas Cup is the prestigious prize awarded to the winner of the World Men’s Team Championships. Its name honours Sir George Thomas, legendary Founder-President of the International Badminton Federation (now BWF), who was keen that badminton should have its own version of the Davis Cup in tennis.
Originally planned for 1941, the international men's badminton team championship was delayed due to World War II, with the inaugural 1948–1949 event ultimately won by the team from Malaya.
The Uber Cup, sometimes called the World Women's Team Championships, is named after a former British women's badminton player, Betty Uber, who in 1950 had the idea of hosting a women's event similar to the men's.
When: The 2026 Thomas Cup and Uber Cup is taking place from 24 April 24 to 3 May 2026.
Venue: The tournament is taking place at the Forum Horsens Arena in Horsens, Denmark. Forum Horsens is a multi-purpose cultural, sports, and entertainment complex. The heart of the complex is its flexible indoor arena, which was significantly expanded in 2004 from the original "Parkhallen" structure, featuring a larger hall and swimming facilities (Aqua Forum). It can accommodate up to 4,000 spectators for sports, 4,500 for seated concerts, and up to 5,000 for standing concerts. Bands like Westlife, Anastacia, D-A-D, Enrique Iglesias, and Dolly Parton have performed at the Arena.
Format (for both tournaments):
The 16 qualified teams will be split into four groups of four. Each group-stage tie will feature five individual matches, even if the total team match result is decided earlier. The top two teams per group qualify for the quarter-finals.
From the knockout rounds onwards, team matches will be played as best-of-five individual matches, meaning the tie ends as soon as one team wins three individual matches. Three singles and two doubles rubbers are played in each tie, alternating between singles and doubles rubbers.
Groups:
2026 Thomas Cup group stage
Group A: China, India, Canada, Australia
Group B: Malaysia, England, Japan, Finland
Group C: Denmark, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Sweden
Group D: France, Thailand, Indonesia, Algeria
2026 Uber Cup group stage
Group A: China, Denmark, India, Ukraine
Group B: Japan, Malaysia, Turkey, South Africa
Group C: Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Canada, Australia
Group D: South Korea, Thailand, Bulgaria, Spain
Overall schedule for the 2026 Thomas Cup and Uber Cup
(Dates based on local time (Central European Summer Time) in Denmark, and may be different in your timezone)
24–29 April: Thomas Cup and Uber Cup group stage matches
30 April: Uber Cup quarter-finals
1 May: Thomas Cup quarter-finals
2 May: Uber Cup semi-finals
2 May: Thomas Cup semi-finals
3 May: Thomas Cup final
3 May: Uber Cup final
Thomas Cup Defending Champion: The People's Republic of China are defending champion. They have won 11 Thomas Cup trophies in history.
Uber Cup Defending Champion: China once again became the champion of the 2024 Uber Cup after defeating Indonesia, 3-0, in the final round.
Most titles in Thomas Cup:
Overall, Indonesia leads the tally with 14 titles; China is second with 11. The Chinese, winners of five straight titles from 2004 to 2012, suffered a shock semifinal defeat in the 2014 edition to Japan, who went on to take their first-ever title, beating Malaysia in an exciting final in New Delhi.
It was then Denmark’s turn to create history in 2016 as they became the first non-Asian country to win the Thomas Cup, which they did by beating Indonesia in the final in Kunshan.
Most titles in Uber Cup:
With 16 titles won since the tournament’s commencement, China has dominated the Uber Cup. In addition, it also has been the runner-up on four occasions. Japan occupies the second position in the list of most successful nations at the tournament with 6 titles.
Indonesia and the United States have clinched three titles each at the Uber Cup, but the former leads the tally with eight runner-up finishes.
