Bahrain Championship returns in January on DP World Tour

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

The Bahrain Championship will be back on the DP World Tour calendar early next year, with the Royal Golf Club set to host the kingdom’s flagship event from January 29 to February 1.

The tournament is part of the Tour’s newly released 2026 global schedule, which was unveiled on Wednesday. Next season will feature at least 42 events across 25 countries, with players competing for a record prize fund of $157.5 million, excluding the Majors.

Bahrain’s stop is included in the International Swing, alongside tournaments in the UAE, Kenya and South Africa. It will be the third edition of the Championship, after South Africa’s Dylan Frittelli won the inaugural event in 2024 and England’s Laurie Canter lifted the trophy earlier this year.

The International Swing is one of five within the DP World Tour’s Global Swings phase, which also includes the Opening, Asian, European and Closing Swings. They are followed by the Back 9 series and the DP World Tour Play-offs.

The Opening Swing will launch the 2026 campaign in Australia, South Africa and Mauritius, while the Asian Swing will feature tournaments in China, India and Türkiye. Europe then takes centre stage with events in Spain, Belgium, Austria, the Netherlands, Italy and Germany, before the Closing Swing heads to Scotland, England, the Dominican Republic and Denmark.

The Back 9 will run through England, Switzerland, Ireland, France, Scotland, Spain, India and South Korea, leading into the season-ending Play-offs in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

“Our 2026 schedule once again showcases our global talent in global destinations as we celebrate the diversity of the courses and cultures we visit,” said DP World Tour chief executive Guy Kinnings. “The Global Swings, the Back 9 and the Playoffs provide a compelling season-long narrative on the Race to Dubai. We are grateful to our partners and look forward to another world-class year.”