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How it works

Format

A record 148 nations have entered to compete across all levels of the competition in 2026
Format header image
2026 Finals draw (4x5)
Format
Finals

Date

22-27 September 2026

Venue

Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre Arena, Shenzhen, China

Format

  • Knockout draw with eight teams (Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, Final)

  • Seven Qualifiers tie winners

  • One host nation (China)

  • Six-day event, single venue

  • Each tie consists of two singles matches followed by a doubles match, all played on one day

  • Matches are best-of-three tiebreak sets, with regular ad scoring

  • First nation to win two matches clinches the tie

  • Total player prize money for the 2026 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals: $4,900,000 million USD (equal to total player prize money at the 2026 Davis Cup by Generali Final 8)

  • World Champions: $1,500,000 per team / Runners-up: $1,000,000 per team / Semi-finalists: $500,000 per team / Quarter-finalists: $350,000 per team

MORE: How Italy became the 2025 World Champions

2026 Qualifiers – Format graphic
Format
Qualifiers

Date

10-11 April 2026

Format

  • 14 competing nations: seven teams from the 2025 Finals (not including hosts China), seven teams that won their 2025 Play-off groups in November

  • Home-or-away format where one nation hosts another, with the host nation deciding the surface

  • Two-day events: each tie consists of two singles matches on day one, a doubles match first on day two, followed by two singles matches

  • First nation to win three matches clinches the tie

  • Seven tie winners will qualify for 2026 Finals in September; seven losing nations go on to compete in 2026 Play-offs in November

*China (host nation) qualify automatically for 2026 Finals

2025 Play-off Draw graphic (4x5)
Format
Play-offs

Date

14-16 November 2025

Format

  • Seven losing nations from 2025 Qualifiers ties in April, plus seven winning nations from Regional Group I ties in April

  • Home-or-away format where one nation hosts another, with the host nation deciding the surface

  • Two-day events: each tie consists of two singles matches on day one, a doubles match first on day two, followed by two singles matches

  • First nation to win three matches clinches the tie

  • Seven tie winners will advance to the 2026 Qualifiers in April; seven losing nations go on to compete in 2026 Regional Group I events in April

Regional Groups

Groups I-IV

Groups I-IV are divided into regions: Africa, Americas, Asia/Oceania and Europe. At Group I and II level, Europe and Africa are merged to form Europe/Africa. Group I is the highest regional division, with teams competing for promotion to the BJK Cup Play-offs, and Group IV the lowest.

Group events are week-long played at one location. Each Group is initially split into round-robin pools, with play-offs then deciding promotion and relegation. The exact format of each Group varies according to the number of participating teams.

Find out further details about regional events in 2026 below:

Group I

Group II

Group III

Group IV