The University of Birmingham is the first university to become an official partner of the 2026 All England Open Badminton Championships.
The University of Birmingham has become an official partner of the 2026 YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships, making it the first university to do so in the tournament's history.
The Championships, which will feature numerous Olympic champions, are set to take place from 3 March to 8 March at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham city centre, when athletes from across the world will descend on the city to battle it out across the court.
The official partnership cements the University’s commitment to the city of Birmingham, championing it as a destination for sporting, cultural, and academic excellence. Since 1994, Birmingham has been home to the YONEX All England Open, badminton's most prestigious tournament.
Professor Deborah Longworth, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) at the University of Birmingham, said: “We are proud to be the first university to support the YONEX All England Open, which has been hosted by the city of Birmingham for the past thirty years. The University of Birmingham and YONEX All England have rich and prestigious sporting histories. As two organisations dedicated to championing the city we call home on the international stage, we hope this partnership will further inspire the next generation of top-tier badminton players, coaches and sports professionals.”
Ranked 2nd in the UK and 8th globally in the QS World University Rankings for sports-related subjects, the University has been chosen as a sponsor for its world-leading sports education, research, sports and athletics facilities, and commitment to talent development.
We are proud to be the first university to support the YONEX All England Open, which has been hosted by the city of Birmingham for the past thirty years. The University of Birmingham and YONEX All England have rich and prestigious sporting histories. As two organisations dedicated to championing the city we call home on the international stage, we hope this partnership will further inspire the next generation of top-tier badminton players, coaches and sports professionals.
During the Championship, the University of Birmingham will lend its campus to the athletes to compete in a range of challenges to engage students and staff, whether they are badminton fans or new to the sport. It will also host legends of the game and the YONEX All England Legacy Junior event on the 6 and 7 March in the University’s iconic Great Hall.
Home to students and staff from over 150 countries, the University of Birmingham reflects the same global community that makes badminton one of the world's most beloved sports. Badminton is the fifth highest participation sport in the UK, and a cultural institution across China, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, India and Denmark.
Director of Commercial and Engagement at Badminton England, Ben Nicholson, said: “It is exciting to partner with an institution as forward-thinking and internationally renowned as our own showpiece Super 1000 event. Our shared values and bold aspirations perfectly align YONEX All England with the University of Birmingham. I am looking forward to seeing how this collaboration can showcase the very best of Birmingham to a worldwide audience.”
In 2025, the University of Birmingham renewed its civic commitment to the city of Birmingham as part of its 125th anniversary. The official partnership with YONEX All England is the latest in a number of Birmingham-based organisations that the University of Birmingham has partnered with, such as the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, the Birmingham Royal Ballet, and Birmingham City FC, creating new opportunities in research, education and health.
The collaboration with the 2026 YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships is the latest example of its commitment to civic responsibility, strengthening the opportunity to enhance the city’s reputation across the world.
For more information and a copy of the embargoed paper, please contact Ellie Hail, Communications Officer, University of Birmingham on e.hail@bham.ac.uk or alternatively, contact the Press Office out of hours on +44 (0)7789 921165.
Professor of English Literature
Biographical and contact information for Professor Deborah Longworth in the Department of English at the University of Birmingham.
