Perth named host city for 2026 World Squash Masters Championships

Squash Australia (SqA) and World Squash have announced Perth to be the host city for the 2026 World Squash Masters Championships. The World Squash Masters Championships is World Squash’s flagship masters competition and sees competitors aged 35+ compete in age-category events for the title of World Champion.

Last year’s competition in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, saw a new record for participation being set, with over 1,200 competitors registering for the event.

The 2026 event will take place from 30th August to 6th September and will feature a stunning all-glass show court, erected in the City of Stirling, with action also set to take place on the 14 courts of Mirrabooka Squash Centre and the eight courts of Bellmont Squash Centre.

Australia, the most successful nation in World Squash Masters history by total medal count, last hosted the event in 2001, with Vicki Cardwell, Fred Green, Mary Sceney, Sue Volzke and Thomas Spark bagging championship titles for the hosts while Sydney local Geoff Davenport is the most decorated masters squash player in history, with the 67-year-old winning his seventh World Championship title last year.

Squash Australia Chief Executive Robert Donaghue noted “on behalf of Squash Australia, I would like to thank the West Australian Government through Tourism WA and the City of Stirling for the incredible backing they have given us. With their support, we’re confident this will be the biggest squash event ever hosted in Australia and we’re looking forward to welcoming the world to Perth.

“Hosting international events in Australia is an important part of our strategy, not only does it provide our players with an opportunity to compete against the best in the world, it is critical in providing experience to our coaches, referees, administrators and volunteers, which they can take back to their local clubs and centres and continue to build on the capability and capacity of their local squash community.

“We also see this event as another great opportunity to provide exposure of the sport to the wider community and inspire them to come and try squash and experience all the benefits participating in our great sport can offer.”

Perth’s Sue Hillier, who last year won her third World Championship title with victory in the 60+ category of the World Squash Masters Championships shared "I think the most fantastic thing about this is that people get to come here and see our beautiful state, our beaches which are the best in the world, and all the friends I've met in squash can come here and see where I live." 

Garry Irwin, Chair of the World Squash Masters Commission enthused “On behalf of World Squash, I am delighted by the return of the World Squash Masters Championships to Australia, my home country. Australia is steeped in squash heritage and its masters squash community is among the biggest and most active in the world.

“I am looking forward to watching all the action take place in Perth and would like to warmly welcome everyone involved, be they competing, officiating, volunteering or helping to run the event.”

Ron Smith, President AMSA added "The Australian Masters Squash Association (AMSA) is excited to be welcoming the Masters community from around the world to Perth next year, not only for the 8-days of competition on the court, but also to experience everything West Australia has to offer, and to meet new people and forge life-long friendships along the way."