Derry Amateur Badminton Championship 2026

Competitive badminton comes to Derry city on Saturday 15 August when the Derry Amateur Badminton Championship takes over Templemore Sports Complex for a full day of singles and doubles play. Organised by the Derry Badminton Association and running under Badminton Ulster, this is a proper graded tournament - not a round-robin social afternoon - so anyone who plays club or league badminton in the north-west will find a category pitched at their level. Spectators are welcome in to watch the knockout finals, which makes it a decent free afternoon for anyone who enjoys fast court sport without the need to pack a racket.

What to expect

Competition runs across men’s and women’s singles and doubles, with three ability grades to keep matches fair. The A grade draws the stronger club players, B grade suits solid intermediates, and the C grade is the entry point for those still building match experience. All six of Templemore’s badminton courts are in use, so there are matches running in parallel throughout the day.

Format is best-of-three games under standard Badminton Ireland rules. Players work through group stages in the morning before the knockout rounds build through the afternoon to the finals. Courts open for warm-up at 8:30am with the first matches called at 9:00am. The prize ceremony wraps up the afternoon. A café and on-site refreshments keep energy levels up between games. Entry is GBP 12 per person per event, and pre-entry is required - the deadline is 8 August 2026, a week before the event.

Getting there

Templemore Sports Complex sits on Templemore Avenue in the BT48 8JA postcode, roughly 2km from Derry city centre. By car, the complex is straightforward to reach from the A2 Buncrana Road corridor; on-site parking is available. If you are coming by public transport, local bus services connect the city centre to the area, or it is a walkable distance for those already staying in the city. Derry is well served by road from Belfast via the A6 motorway (about 1 hour 15 minutes) and from Dublin via the M1/A5 (roughly 2 hours 15 minutes). Translink runs regular coaches from Belfast Europa Bus Centre to Derry’s Foyle Street bus station.

While you’re in Derry

The day will likely keep most players on court until mid-afternoon, but Derry city rewards a longer visit. The 17th-century city walls, the Bogside murals, and the Peace Bridge across the Foyle are all within easy walking distance of the city centre, and there are good restaurants and pubs on Shipquay Street and Waterloo Place for the evening. There is more to see in Derry and across Co. Derry.

Good to know

• Saturday 15 August 2026, warm-up from 8:30am, competition starts 9:00am
• Entry fee: GBP 12 per person per event
• Pre-entry required by 8 August 2026 - late entries may not be accepted
• Grades: A (competitive), B (intermediate), C (social/beginner)
• Men’s and women’s singles; mixed doubles
• Six courts in use throughout the day
• Café and refreshments available on site
• Check badmintonulster.org for entry details and to confirm the draw