Set to be held in May 2026, the annual international competition will bring together elite indoor bowlers from over 32 nations.
Ocean Grove Bowling Club has been named as the host of the 2026 World Bowls Indoor Championships.
The annual international competition, which will be held in May 2026, is a six-day event that will showcase elite competition across Men’s and Women’s Singles and Mixed Pairs, and will bring together elite indoor bowlers from over 32 nations. It will also be streamed live to a global audience on YouTube.
Nathan O’Neill, CEO of Ocean Grove Bowling Club, said hosting a world championship so soon after unveiling the club’s new undercover Dome was a remarkable achievement for the club and the community.
“This is an incredible milestone for Ocean Grove and the Bellarine,” he said. “The Championship will welcome athletes from over 32 nations — including world champions and elite international performers — generating immense spectator interest and inspiring our local bowls Community.
“Across six days we’re expecting around 4,000 spectators and many more tuning in globally via the broadcast and livestream coverage.”
The Championship is forecast to inject significantly into the local economy, supporting local accommodation, hospitality, and tourism businesses.
“This event is about leaving a legacy that benefits our region, our sport, and our community for years to come,” O’Neill added.
The competition is co-sanctioned by the International Indoor Bowls Council and World Bowls.
World Bowls CEO Neil Dalrymple said the event represents the pinnacle of an indoor bowls competition, ensuring the world’s best athletes compete for international honours.
“The Ocean Grove Bowling Club’s facilities are world-class, and the Bellarine region will provide a magnificent setting for players, officials and spectators alike,” he said.
“We’re proud to partner with a venue that reflects the sport’s global standards of excellence.”
At a local level, Matt Flapper, GM of partnerships and programs at Ocean Grove Bowling Club, said the championship would have a powerful impact on participation, development, and community connection.
“The World Bowls Indoor Championship gives our region’s young people a chance to see the world’s best athletes right here in their own backyard,” he said.
“We will partner closely with local schools to create opportunities for students to visit the event, experience worldclass competition first-hand, and be inspired by what’s possible in sport.”
Flapper said the championship would engage more than 2,600 registered bowlers across the Geelong region and provide a platform to grow the sport beyond elite competition.
“With more than 2,600 registered bowlers across the region, this event is an incredible opportunity to connect our existing bowling community with the highest level of the game. Seeing international champions compete on home soil will spark new motivation across clubs, drive participation, and strengthen pathways from grassroots through to high performance.”
He said the Championship would also be used to deliver lasting sport development benefits.
“Beyond the competition itself, the event will be leveraged to deliver real outcomes — from coaching seminars and technical training to junior ‘come-and-try’ sessions and community programs. We will be partnering with Bowls Victoria and the Geelong Bowls Region to make sure the benefits reach every corner of our sport, delivering initiatives to foster healthy lifestyles, social interaction, and pathways for lifelong Community involvement.”