ITTF opens bidding for 2027-28 World Para Circuit hosts

The ITTF opened the bidding for the 2027 and 2028 World Para Circuit, a shift that does more than assign hosts. It changes where para table tennis players can chase ranking points, how far federations may need to travel, and which countries get the first chance to shape the sport’s next cycle.

For the first time, the circuit will be awarded on a two-year basis instead of through a one-year process. Member Associations can now apply to host events across the full 2027-2028 window, and completed submissions are due June 30, 2026. That longer runway matters in a sport where venue logistics, classification planning, accessible travel and international scheduling all carry extra layers of complexity.

The World Para Circuit itself is built around three levels: Future, Challenger and Elite. Future events give emerging players an entry point on the international stage. Challenger stops build deeper fields and sharper rivalries. Elite events sit at the top, bringing the world’s best para table tennis players together under the heaviest pressure and offering the strongest competitive rewards.

Weekly rankings are tracked in singles, doubles and mixed doubles, so every stop can move the field quickly. A host in one region can alter the points map for players and national federations everywhere else, affecting entries, seedings and the travel decisions that follow. In that sense, the bid process is not just administrative. It is part of the competitive calendar itself.

The ITTF said the circuit has expanded since its 2025 revamp, and the new bidding structure is meant to provide continuity while encouraging a wider spread of hosts. That is the larger play here: whether the sport uses hosting to push para table tennis into new regions or keeps reinforcing its familiar power centers. The answer will shape how athletes prepare for World Championships, continental events and Paralympic qualification, and it will determine where the next generation can build a ranking climb that starts with access, not just talent.