In what year did the BWF World Tour begin?

The BWF World Tour began in 2018.

The Badminton World Federation introduced the circuit to organise elite tournaments into a clearer structure. It replaced the earlier BWF Super Series and grouped events into levels, including the World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, and Super 300 categories. The HSBC BWF World Tour Finals sit at the top of the structure.

The system gives leading players a season-long pathway and helps fans compare the status of tournaments. The categories differ in ranking points, prize money, and the strength of the fields they normally attract.

The World Tour is distinct from the BWF World Championships. World Tour events take place throughout a season, while the World Championships are a separate championship tournament. The tour’s launch year was 2018, although its predecessor, the Super Series, had operated earlier.