The KFF Singapore Badminton Open 2026 is just one week away, and shuttlecock fever is rising in the Kallang sports precinct. Singapore’s marquee badminton event returns to the iconic Singapore Indoor Stadium from Tuesday, 26 May to Sunday, 31 May, for six days of world-class action at one of the Super 750 stops on the HSBC BWF World Tour. With the world’s best making the trip to the Lion City, and a home hero desperate to make his mark, this is one tournament every Singapore sports fan should have in their diary.
Loh Kean Yew: Home Court, Heavy Heart, High Stakes
No player carries the weight of expectation at this tournament quite like Loh Kean Yew. Singapore’s 2021 World Champion and current world No. 10, Loh has spoken openly about how the energy of a home crowd transforms his game. The Singapore Open is, by his own admission, one of the most emotionally significant tournaments on his calendar — and given how his recent form reads, the timing of a home event cannot come soon enough.
Loh’s most recent outing at the BWF Thailand Open on 13 May was a chastening experience. He fell in the first round to India’s Kidambi Srikanth in straight games, 21-14 and 21-15, a result that underlined a difficult run of form that has seen him struggle to recapture the consistency that made him a world champion five years ago. The loss to Srikanth — a dangerous opponent on his day, but not one you would expect to trouble a player of Loh’s quality when he is at his best — serves as a reminder of the fine margins that separate good weeks from great ones at this level.
But here is the thing about Loh Kean Yew: he tends to save his best performances for the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Home court, a crowd that knows every point he has played in this nation’s colours, and the weight of national expectation have historically lifted him to performances that transcend his ranking. Whether that magic returns next week remains to be seen, but the appetite is there.
The World No. 1 Comes to Defend
If Loh is the emotional heart of this tournament, Kunlavut Vitidsarn is the man everyone else has to beat. Thailand’s world No. 1 returns to Singapore Indoor Stadium as defending champion, and arrives in form. Vitidsarn has been the dominant force in men’s singles badminton for the past two seasons, blending explosive power from the baseline with a deceptive net game that consistently keeps opponents guessing. He will be the clear favourite, and with good reason.
The field is not without challengers, however. Lin Chun-Yi of Chinese Taipei, the reigning All England champion, is making his first appearance at the Singapore Open since claiming that prestigious title, and will bring confidence and a dangerous aggressive game that can unsettle even the best in the world on a given day. The men’s draw promises to be fiercely competitive throughout.
In women’s singles, Korea’s An Se Young arrives as the top seed and recent Asian force, while the home faithful will also be watching Yeo Jia Min, Singapore’s leading women’s player, who continues to develop into a consistent threat at the Super 750 level.
Tournament Format and What to Expect
The KFF Singapore Badminton Open 2026 is organised by the Singapore Badminton Association and sanctioned by the BWF as a Super 750 event — one of the highest-tier stops on the global calendar. The title sponsor, the Karim Family Foundation, returns for another year, while JK Technology remains as Presenting Sponsor. Total prize money stands at US$1,000,000.
All matches take place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium at 2 Stadium Walk in the Kallang precinct. Preliminary rounds run from Tuesday through Thursday, 26-28 May, with the quarter-finals on Friday, 29 May, the semi-finals on Saturday, 30 May, and the finals on Sunday, 31 May. Tickets remain available via Ticketmaster.
For Singapore sports fans, there is something special about watching world-class shuttlers perform in the heart of Kallang — an atmosphere that few sporting venues in the region can match. Whether you are following Loh Kean Yew’s quest for home glory, watching Vitidsarn defend his crown, or simply soaking in the spectacle of badminton at its highest level, the Singapore Open 2026 promises to deliver.
This is your week to get to the Indoor Stadium. Don’t miss it.
For more Singapore badminton coverage, read our Singapore Badminton Open 2026 early ticket guide and our earlier Singapore Open 2026 player preview featuring Loh Kean Yew and Yeo Jia Min. Follow all the latest action at the Little Big Red Dot Sports section.
