Perth has been named as the host city for the 2026 World Squash Masters Championships, the flagship event for competitors aged +35.
Last year’s tournament in Amsterdam created a new participation record with over 1,200 players – among them a 27-strong team from Ireland.
Five podium finishes were achieved last August, including first place to Mary Sceney in the W+65. There was a hat-trick of second-place finishes – Arthur Gaskin (M+35), Nicholas Staunton (M+50) and Willie Hosey (M+60), with Neil Macarron taking third in his M+45 category.
The bi-annual world festival will now move from Europe to the southern hemisphere with Australia, the most successful nation in World Squash Masters history by total medal count, set to stage the event it last hosted in 2001.
Next year’s tournament will take place from August 30 to September 6 and will feature an all-glass show court that will be erected in the City of Stirling suburb of Perth. Action will also take place on the 14 courts of Mirrabooka Squash Centre and the eight courts of Bellmont Squash Centre.
Squash Australia CEO Robert Donaghue said: “On behalf of Squash Australia, I would like to thank the Western Australian Government through Tourism WA and the City of Stirling for the incredible backing they have given us.
“With their support, we are confident this will be the biggest squash event ever hosted in Australia and we are 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 expose 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.”
