Formats vary depending on the event, to view the formats to all national championships click here.

Men’s/Women’s/Mixed/Open Competitions

All rounds are played to play-by dates, unless your county association sets play-on dates within your county.

Inter-Club Competitions

All rounds are played to play-by dates, up to and including the All-England Round of 16. The exception is the Men’s & Women’s Top Club All-England Round of 16, which is a set date of 9^th August.

Some Counties have opted for set dates. Details of set dates will be shown on the draw page if they apply.

A player can only represent one club in Inter-Club Competitions, this being the club where they enter National Championships, i.e. singles, pairs, triples, fours etc through your county.

Players who are members of more than one club and have not entered National Championships can decide which club they wish to represent. However, they must play all Inter-Club Competitions from that same club.

Players are not eligible to participate in any Inter-Club Competitions if National Championships are entered in another country.

My Account

If you are unable to log in, click the ‘Reset Password’ button on the log in page which will email you a new temporary password. Click here for step-by-step instructions to do this.

All competitions should show in the account of the competitor shown in the draw or the Team Captain in the case of Inter-Club events by 1^st May 2026. Please contact us at comps@bowlsengland.com (after 1^st May) if an entry is not showing in your account, and we will look into it for you.

Your email is your log-in to your account on the portal. To amend your email login, please use your old email to access your account. Once logged in select > My Account > Edit Profile and your account details will appear. You will then be able to update your email and any other account details as required.

If the opponent in your opening round is a ‘No Team’, then this means you will have a bye into the next round. Bowls England will move you into the next round by the 1^st May.

Click here to view the closing dates of each round in each competition.

Via Email

When a tie is known, the nominated contact for both players/teams will receive an automated email detailing the tie and opponent’s contact details for arranging the match.

Via Your Online Account

The nominated contact will be able to view their opposition’s contact details by clicking on the opponent’s name within the ‘Competition Entries’ section in their online account.

In all Bowls England events, the ‘challenger’ is the player/team that arranges the match. The challenger for that match will have (Challenger) next to their name in the draw. This may be the first name in the draw or the second name in the draw. For example, if the second name in the tie has ‘Challenger’ next to their name/team, they are responsible for arranging the game and will offer dates and pick the venue for the match to be played.

In all Bowls England events, the ‘opponent’ is the player/team that receives dates for the match. The opponent will not have (Challenger) next to their name in the draw. This may be the first name in the draw or the second name in the draw. For example, if the second name in the tie does not have ‘Challenger’ next to their name/team, they will not arrange the match and instead await dates and venue for the match from the ‘challenger’.

All matches must be played on the challenger’s green associated to the entry, unless it is stipulated that a neutral green must be used. Matches may be played at another affiliated club within the area of the competition, if mutually agreed between the two players/teams involved in the tie. The venue of the match must be stipulated when dates are offered.

A neutral green midway between the two clubs associated to the tie is required for all Area Finals and the All-England Rounds of 32 & 16.

Matches in the Senior Singles & Pairs and the Over 60’ Mixed Double Rink (Tony Allcock) can be played during the day. In all other events, matches can only be played during the day by mutual agreement.

Three dates must be offered to the opponent for each match involved. The three dates must include at least one weekend date.

• Weekdays | Start time no earlier than 6pm or later than 6.30pm
• Weekends | Start time no earlier than 9.30am or later than 6.30pm

The Challenger in Senior Singles, Senior Pairs and the Mixed Over 60 Inter-Club Two Fours (Tony Allcock Trophy) may offer a start time between 9.30am and 6.30pm on weekdays.

Two starting times on the same day do not count as two separate dates.

No date must be offered within 48 hours of the challenge. For example, if you are offered dates at 6pm on the 22^nd May, the earliest date you can offer your opponent is 6pm on the 24^th May.

For an Opening Match in the Round

If the match is the first for both players/teams, then dates must be offered by the challenger no later than 14 days before the closing date of that round. For example, if the closing date is the 14^th May, dates must be offered by 11:59pm on the 30^th April. Click here for further details when dates must be offered by.

If you have a bye to the next round and your opposing player/team has an earlier round, the challenger must offer dates within 24 hours of the close of the previous round. For example, if the round closes on 14^th May, the challenger must offer dates by 11:59pm 15^th May.

If the opposing player/team had a fixture in the earlier round and was given a walkover, this is classed as a match played and dates for the next round must be offered as per above.

The challenger must offer the opponent dates within 24 hours of the close of the previous round. For example, if the round closes on 14^th May, the challenger must offer dates by 11:59pm 15^th May.

Only dates offered within the window of the round are classed as eligible dates. Therefore, if dates are offered outside of this window, you do not need to accept and are entitled to ask for further dates.

For an Opening Match

Failure to offer eligible dates (challenger) within 14 days of the opening round will result in the opponent becoming the ‘challenger’ and must make all match arrangements within 13 days of the close of the round. For example, if the closing date of round is 14^th May and dates are not received by 11:59pm on the 30^th April, the opponent then becomes the challenger and must offer dates within 24 hours, this being 11:59pm on the 1^st May. Click here for further details.

For a Following Round

Failure to offer eligible dates (challenger) within 24 hours of the previous round closing will result in the opponent becoming the ‘challenger’ and must make all match arrangements within 48 hours days of the close of the previous round. For example, if the closing date of round is 14^th May and dates are not received by 11:59pm on the 15^th May, the opponent then becomes the challenger and must offer dates within a further 24 hours, this being 11:59pm on the 16^th May.

For an Opening Match

The opponent must accept a date no later than 11 days prior to the close of the round. For example, if the challenger offers dates on the 25^th April for a round with a closing date of the 14^th May, the opponent must accept a date by 11:59pm on the 3^rd May. Click here for further details when dates must be offered.

For a Following Round

The opponent must accept a date no later than 72 hours after the close of the previous round. For example, if the closing date of the previous round is 14^th May,  and dates are offered on the 10^th May, the opponent must accept a date by 11:59pm on the 17^th May.

Dates offered for National Championships managed by Bowls England do not need to avoid other “set dates,” including County Championships (e.g. Singles, Pairs, Triples, Fours etc) or Inter-County Competitions (e.g. Middleton/Johns etc). Therefore, any dates offered will stand unless both players mutually agree to an alternative date.

For dress code, please refer to Appendix B1 & B2 within our Rules & Regulations here.

Pre-National Bowls Finals

All bowls must bear a clearly legible stamp which has an expiry date of 1985 or later. These bowls can be used for the rounds leading to the National Bowls Finals. All bowls must be from the same set as stated in the Laws of the Sport V4 (Law 2.4).

National Bowls Finals

All bowls must bear a stamp in accordance with the current Laws of the Sport V4 (Law 53). A World Bowls Ltd stamp with a date of the current year (2026) or later will be valid.

A draw for rink/s to be played on must be made in accordance with the current Laws of the Sport (Law 1.3).

i. One Rink Required | Two Rinks Offered
ii. Two Rinks Required | Two Rinks Offered
iii. Four Rinks Required | Four Rinks Offered
iv. Five Rinks Required | Five Rinks Offered
V. Six Rinks Required | Six Rinks Offered

How rinks are determined for play is a domestic matter for clubs to decide.

In the case of inclement weather, refer to Appendix J within our Rules & Regulations here.

All results must be submitted online via your online account – click here for step by step instructions on how to submit your result successfully.

In order to enter a W/O, tick the box under your name if you are the player/team progressing through to the next round.

Please email comps@bowlsengland.com detailing your name, competition and club. We will then be able to resolve this for you.

The National Bowls Finals are held at Victoria Park, Archery Rd, Royal Leamington Spa, CV31 3PW.

The National Bowls Finals will take place from Wednesday 12th August – Sunday 30^th August 2026.

• Senior Singles & Pairs – 16 Qualifiers

• Champion of Champions – 8 Qualifiers

• Mixed Pairs & Fours – 8 Qualifiers

• Family Pairs – 8 Qualifiers

• Under 17 singles – 8 Qualifiers

• Foundation Pairs – 8 Qualifiers

• Top Club – 8 Qualifiers

• Club Two Fours – 8 Qualifiers

• Tony Allcock Trophy – 8 Qualifiers

• Para Singles – 16 Qualifiers

• Para Pairs – 8 Qualifiers

The full National Finals schedule can be viewed here.

The National Bowls Finals schedule for 2026 has been developed to deliver against the outcome of the competitions review.

Core principles included:

• No duplications for Blue Riband and Performance events . Potential duplications will be avoided through the flexibility of split sessions in early stages should players be in two Blue Riband/Performance events on the same day

• Minimize other potential duplications

• Avoid giving one player/team ‘competitive advantage’ wherever possible

Additional considerations included:

• Availability of markers/umpires

• Greens usage and availability

• Utilize weekends for all inter-county events

• Minimize travel and accommodation for players per event where possible

Whilst potential duplications are inevitable at this stage, the risk has been greatly reduced in comparison to previous years.

We encourage all players to review the schedule prior to entry in order to avoid disappointment. Details of potential duplications in all events are included on the relevant page of the Competitions Portal.

Entrants are reminded that should a duplication occur during the National Bowls Finals, priority will be given to Blue Riband and Performance events. Substitutes/and or other squad members as relevant will be required in Team Spirit and Championship events, should a duplication occur.