The All-in-One Bowls Club Management System
A new season brings fresh challenges for every bowls club, from coordinating calendars to managing member entries, and ensuring your club doesn't miss crucial competition dates. With the bowls calendar in 2026 packed with prestigious events, from the World Indoor Championships to county competitions, how can your club stay organised?
In this guide, we look at the major bowls events in 2026 taking place in the first six months and demonstrate how, with proper planning and the right club management system, you can transform your administrative workload into seamless coordination.
You won’t have long to wait as the year's bowls events in 2026 begin with the sport's most prestigious indoor competition, returning to its spiritual home in Norfolk.
The World Indoor Bowls Championships 2026 runs from 9-25 January at Potters Resorts in Hopton-on-Sea, marking the venue's 28th year hosting this iconic tournament. The world's top 16 ranked players will compete across singles, pairs, mixed pairs and women's matchplay competitions, with Scotland's Jason Banks defending his unprecedented treble from 2025.
Tickets are available for individual days, or you can watch live streams of every match online. We start of big, setting the tone for the competitive year ahead.
While it might seem far off, spring will quickly be upon us. With the national championship entry deadline falling on 1st March for both Bowls England-managed and county-managed competitions, the smart clubs are already busy making preparations. After all, county submissions are due to Bowls England by 8th March.
To ensure everything runs smoothly, club administrators need to communicate with members early, identify potential competitors, and ensure everyone understands eligibility requirements. Getting your entries sorted now prevents the last-minute scramble that leaves promising players sitting on the sidelines.
May delivers a diverse mix of bowls competitions in 2026, with action spanning two continents and multiple competitive formats for different skill levels.
The newly redeveloped Ocean Grove Bowling Club on Victoria's Bellarine Peninsula hosts the World Bowls Indoor Championship in May 2026. This six-day international event brings together elite indoor bowlers from over 32 nations, sitting just beneath the outdoor World Championships in the global hierarchy.
The timing extends Australia's tourism season and showcases one of the world's most advanced undercover bowling facilities, putting the sport on an international stage.
Closer to home, the Balcomb Trophy and Walker Cup competitions kick off with preliminary rounds on 17th May, before the finals take place on 30-31 May. The Mixed Over 60 Inter County competition begins on 19th May, providing an excellent opportunity for experienced players to represent their county.
Of the bowls events in 2026, these ones offer varied competitive experiences, from seasoned county representatives to those stepping into inter-county competition for the first time.
As summer swings into action, the events come thick and fast. June transforms into the busiest month on the competitive calendar, with multiple flagship events demanding attention from clubs and county associations across England.
Kicking things off, The Middleton Cup 2026 and Johns Trophy run throughout June, with group matches scheduled for 6th, 13th and 20th. These premier men's and women's inter-county team competitions represent the pinnacle of county representation.
Success here requires months of preparation, squad selection and practice matches and, for many players, wearing the county badge ranks among their proudest achievements. And the impact on clubs is substantial as it helps them strengthen their competitive culture while inspiring the next generation.
While this is going off, The British Bowls Championship 2026 runs concurrently on 22-23 June in Ayr, Scotland. This prestigious event brings together national champions from England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Jersey to compete for British Isles honours.
Nothing creates more genuine price than watching your club's national champion compete at this high level. The championships showcase the sport's highest domestic standards and provide inspiration for clubs developing their own competitive players through the national pathway.
And we shouldn’t forget that there will also be several important bowls competitions in 2026 reaching their regional stages during June. The Amy Rose Bowl regionals take place on 14th June, alongside the Para Singles regional rounds, creating inclusive competitive opportunities. The White Rose Trophy regionals follow on 21st June.
Remember, these events themselves are highly contested, as they provide realistic pathways to national finals at Royal Leamington Spa. For clubs serious about competitive success, supporting members through these regional stages pays dividends in club morale and reputation.
A packed calendar can seem overwhelming, but with the right planning, it can end up feeling effortless. Start by blocking out the dates for the major bowls events in 2026 in your club diary, particularly those affecting green availability.
Communicate entry deadlines to members through multiple channels: notice boards, emails and your club website. If you haven’t already, this would be a great time to consider adding our News & Advertising Module to your clubhouse.
Also consider using Bowlr's cloud-based system to manage bookings around major events, dramatically reducing admin time while keeping everyone informed. Our software sends automated reminders, tracks which members have entered competitions, and maintains clear records without endless spreadsheets.
Before we even enter the second half of the year, 2026 has an abundance of outstanding opportunities for your members, from world championships to local competitions.
And with clear planning and efficient systems, your club can support every competitive ambition without drowning in paperwork. Bowlr simplifies managing member details and dramatically reduces admin time, letting you focus on what matters: supporting your players.
Ready to streamline your club's 2026 calendar? Call us on 01202 684400 or complete our contact form to discover how Bowlr transforms club administration.