2026 Indonesia Masters
January 20, 2026 – January 25, 2026 WIB
The 2026 Indonesia Masters marks the return of world-class badminton to the legendary Istora Senayan in Jakarta. As a BWF World Tour Super 500 event, this tournament is one of the early highlights of the 2026 season, offering valuable ranking points and a significantly increased prize pool compared to previous years.
Known famously among players and fans for its electrifying atmosphere—often described as the loudest in the world—the “Istora” experience is a bucket-list item for every badminton enthusiast. The 2026 edition promises high drama as local heroes look to reclaim titles on home soil after a challenging campaign in 2025.
Key Tournament Information
- Date: 20 – 25 January 2026
- Venue: Istora Gelora Bung Karno (Istora Senayan), Jakarta, Indonesia
- Level: HSBC BWF World Tour Super 500
- Total Prize Money: US$ 500,000
- Organizer: Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI)
Defending Champions (2025 Edition)
The 2025 edition saw a wave of international victories, with Thailand dominating the singles categories.
- Men’s Singles: Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Thailand) def. Jonatan Christie (Indonesia)
- Women’s Singles: Ratchanok Intanon (Thailand) def. Sim Yu-jin (Korea)
- Men’s Doubles: Man Wei Chong / Tee Kai Wun (Malaysia) def. Fajar Alfian / M. Rian Ardianto (Indonesia)
- Women’s Doubles: Kim Hye-jeong / Kong Hee-yong (Korea) def. Pearly Tan / Thinaah Muralitharan (Malaysia)
- Mixed Doubles: Hiroki Midorikawa / Natsu Saito (Japan) def. Guo Xin Wa / Chen Fang Hui (China)
Stars to Watch in 2026
With the withdrawal of Danish superstar Viktor Axelsen, the field has opened up significantly, particularly in the Men’s Singles. Based on the M&Q report and recent form, here are the key contenders:
Men’s Singles (MS)
- Anders Antonsen (Denmark): The top seed will look to capitalize on his compatriot’s absence. He has a strong history at Istora.
- Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Thailand): The defending champion returns as the 2nd seed.
- Jonatan Christie (Indonesia): The home crowd favorite and 2025 runner-up will be desperate to go one better this year.
Women’s Singles (WS)
- Chen Yufei (China): The Chinese superstar headlines the draw as the top seed.
- Putri Kusuma Wardani (Indonesia): Seeded 3rd, “Putri KW” is Indonesia’s leading hope in the women’s singles.
Doubles Pairs
- Men’s Doubles: Malaysia’s Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik will return as the Top Seeds. Last year, they lost in the semifinals to their compatriots, and this time they’ll be looking to go one step further. Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian, who played alongside Muhammad Rian Ardianto last year, now plays alongside Muhammad Shohibul Fikri. They were finalists last year, and he and Fikri are now chasing the title at Istora.
- Women’s Doubles: Malaysia’s Pearly Tan/Thinaah Muralitharan return as top seeds.
- Mixed Doubles: China’s rising stars Jiang Zhenbang/Wei Yaxin enter as the pair to beat.
Tournament Schedule
Matches typically start at 08:00 or 09:00 local time (WIB / GMT+7), pending final TV scheduling.
| Date | Round | Details | Start Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, Jan 20 | Qualification & R32 | Qualifying rounds and select Men’s/Women’s Doubles Round of 32. | 8:00 AM |
| Wednesday, Jan 21 | Round of 32 | Continuation of Round of 32 (Singles & remaining Doubles). | 8:00 AM |
| Thursday, Jan 22 | Round of 16 | All categories. | 9:00 AM |
| Friday, Jan 23 | Quarterfinals | The top 8 in all categories battle for podium spots. | 1:30 PM |
| Saturday, Jan 24 | Semifinals | The “Final Four” compete for a place in Sunday’s final. | 12:00 PM |
| Sunday, Jan 25 | Finals | Championship matches for all five disciplines. | 1:00 PM |
(Note: Schedule subject to change by BWF and local organizers.)
TV Broadcast Schedule
Only one court (Court 1) will be televised, starting with the Round of 16. The BWF TV YouTube channel will broadcast all matches on all courts from Tuesday to Sunday, except for territories where broadcast rights are unsold.
| Date | No. of Matches | Start Time |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, Jan 22 | 8 | 9:00 AM |
| Friday, Jan 23 | 8 | 1:30 PM |
| Saturday, Jan 24 | 8 | 12:00 PM |
| Sunday, Jan 25 | 5 | 1:00 PM |
Prize Money Distribution
The total prize pool for 2026 is US$ 500,000.
| Result | Singles | Doubles (per pair) |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | $37,500 | $39,500 |
| Runner-up | $19,000 | $19,000 |
| Semifinalist | $7,250 | $7,000 |
| Quarterfinalist | $3,000 | $3,625 |
| Last 16 | $1,750 | $1,875 |
Brief History
The Indonesia Masters was first held in 2010 as the Indonesia Open Grand Prix Gold. It was originally created to provide a second tier of international competition in Indonesia, complementing the premier Indonesia Open.
The tournament was upgraded to a Super 500 event in 2018 as part of the BWF World Tour restructuring. While it has been hosted in various cities including Samarinda, Palembang, Yogyakarta, and Malang, it found its spiritual home at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta in 2018. The venue is legendary for its steep seating and acoustic intensity, where the “Eaa… Eaa…” chants of the Indonesian fans create an intimidating atmosphere for visitors and a massive boost for local players.