Singapore to build 50 islandwide badminton and pickleball courts in five years

Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo announced during the MCCY Committee of Supply debate on 5 March 2026 that the government will build 50 multipurpose courts for badminton and pickleball across the island over the next five years, with the eight dual-use courts at The Kallang and eight courts at Little India Bus Terminal counted among the total.

The new courts are being delivered under the Sports Facilities Master Plan (SFMP), which aims to expand access to quality, affordable sports facilities and meet rising demand for public sporting spaces. Sport Singapore involvement in the rollout is framed as part of efforts to “democratise sports in the community,” with the multipurpose courts intended to serve both badminton and pickleball play where appropriate.

Demand figures cited by ministers underpinned the announcement. “Our facilities are well-utilised and see over 20 million visitors annually,” David Neo said, adding that “as more Singaporeans embrace active lifestyles, there is also a rise in demand for public facilities during peak hours, particularly for popular sports like badminton and pickleball.” MCCY officials also flagged capacity strain: a ministry spokesperson told officials that “ActiveSG’s badminton courts and pickleball courts are ‘highly sought after, with utilisation rates of more than 90 per cent during peak hours.’”

Immediate roll-out work is already visible. Eight dual-use courts at The Kallang have been operational since January 2026; the configuration included two junior tennis courts at the Kallang Tennis Hub and three basketball courts at the Promenade at the National Stadium that were modified into dual-use courts suitable for pickleball alongside tennis or basketball. A photo caption from January 9, 2026 recorded “Pickleball players at the newly opened dual-use courts at The Kallang.” Another tranche of eight dedicated pickleball courts at Little India Bus Terminal is scheduled to open in the coming months and is included in the 50-court commitment.

The SFMP announcement sits alongside broader facility work and renovations. Queenstown, Hougang and a new Punggol Regional Sport Centre are expected to be completed within a year; Hougang Sports Centre renovation work is slated for completion by June 2026. Renovations on four facilities, including Delta Sport Centre and ActiveSG Sport Park at Teck Ghee, have been completed, while about 15 development projects such as Bukit Canberra remain underway.

Policy measures beyond courts include a S$10 million grant to encourage formation of multi-school co-curricular activity teams and a push to expand a school programme to reach 32 schools by next year. On the high-performance side, the government is consolidating the High Performance Sport Institute, Singapore Sports School and the Unleash the Roar project into Sport Excellence Singapore (SpexSG), which is scheduled for launch next month to provide athletes with integrated support and deepen partnerships with national sports associations.

MCCY officials said noise management and community siting will be factored into site selection. Neo pointed to Mountbatten SMC’s use of foam balls as an example of “We First” in action, and SportSG will work with community stakeholders to mitigate noise by activating underutilised spaces such as areas beneath viaducts so facilities remain convenient but suitably sited. The five-year build plan and near-term openings aim to ease peak-hour pressure while balancing residential concerns and athlete development.