All you need to know about the 2026 Solheim Cup

Where and when will the next Solheim Cup take place? How does the scoring system work? Which players can qualify? All you need to know about the 2026 edition... <h2><strong>What is the Solheim Cup? </strong></h2><p>The Solheim Cup is a three-day competition played between teams of 12 players from the USA and Europe.</p><p>The event launched in 1990 and was named in honour of Karsten and Louise Solheim and family - the founders of Karsten Manufacturing Corporation, which makes PING golf equipment.</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.skysports.com/golf/news" target="_blank"><strong>Latest golf headlines, reports and highlights</strong></a><strong> 📰</strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.skysports.com/golf/news/topic/10489/solheim-cup-2026">Solheim Cup: Latest headlines and information</a> 🔍</strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.sky.com/tv/sports?dcmp=Ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink" target="_blank">Get Sky Sports</a> or <a href="https://www.nowtv.com/watch-sky-sports-online?DCMP=ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink" target="_blank">stream with no contract on NOW</a> 📺</strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12110/10952996/sky-sports-push-notifications-faq-how-to-receive-the-alerts-you-want">Get BREAKING NEWS notifications to your phone!</a> </strong><strong>🔔</strong></li></ul><h2><a href="https://www.skysports.com/golf/news/12040/12636336/where-are-the-golf-majors-held-confirmed-future-venues-for-the-open-us-open-pga-champioship-and-more"><strong>When is the next Solheim Cup?</strong></a></h2><p>The biggest team tournament in women's golf, where Team USA face Team Europe, is next held from September 11-13, 2026.</p><widget id="4"></widget><p>The Solheim Cup is back to even-numbered years to avoid clashing with the Ryder Cup, which moved to odd-numbered years after being postponed in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.</p><p>It resulted in the Solheim Cup taking place in back-to-back years in 2023 and 2024, but now reverts to a biennial contest - like the Ryder Cup - as it was previously.</p><h2><a href="https://www.skysports.com/golf/news/12176/12748171/solheim-cup-europe-confirm-bernardus-golf-in-the-netherlands-as-hosts-for-2026-contest"><strong>Where does the event take place?</strong></a></h2><p>The tournament heads to the Netherlands for the first time in 2026, with Bernardus Golf - a course previously used for the Dutch Open on the DP World Tour - confirmed as the venue.</p> <widget id="7"></widget><p>The Championship course, designed by American golf course architect Kyle Phillips, is described as a heathland golf course with tricky water hazards, a compact layout, an architecturally stunning clubhouse and world-class practice facilities.</p><p>The 2028 edition is set to take place at the iconic Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky, 20 years on from hosting the Ryder Cup, with the host courses for all future contests yet to be announced.</p><h2><strong>What is the format?</strong></h2><p>There are 28 matches played over the three days, under three different types of match play - foursomes, fourballs and singles - with each match worth one point to the team total. The team which gets to 14.5 points first will win the Solheim Cup.</p><p>There are two sessions of <strong>foursomes</strong>, each containing four matches of two golfers from Europe competing against a pair from the USA. Team members alternate between shots and each team uses one ball.</p> <widget id="10"></widget><p><strong>Fourballs</strong> also sees two golfers from each team compete but each player uses their own ball, with the lowest score from each pair counting towards their total in that match.</p><p>All players compete in the Sunday <strong>singles</strong>, where every member from the USA team plays against a European opponent in a head-to-head contest.</p><h2><strong>Who has qualified for Team Europe?</strong></h2><p>The European qualification period for the Solheim Cup began at the 2024 La Sella Open and ended following the conclusion of the 2026 AIG Women's Open, played at Royal Lytham & St Annes, on August 2.</p><p>The top two players on the Ladies European Tour Solheim Cup points list and the next available six via the world rankings secured their spots.</p><p>Charley Hull topped the LET Solheim Cup points list to secure her an eighth consecutive Solheim Cup appearance, while Esther Henseleit pipped Chiara Tamburlini to second by 0.9 points after her runner-up finish at the final women's major of the year.</p><p>England's Lottie Woad will make her debut as the highest-ranked European in the world rankings, having won on the Ladies European Tour and LPGA Tour over the past 13 months since turning professional.</p><p>Sweden's Maja Stark and Linn Grant return for their third consecutive Solheim Cups, with France's Celine Boutier, Spain's Carlota Ciganda and Denmark's Nanna Koerstz Madsen the others to qualify automatically.</p> <widget id="24"></widget><p>Captain Anna Nordqvist announced Ireland's Leona Maguire as one of her four wild card picks, along with three debutants: Spain's Julia Lopez Ramirez, France's Nastasia Nadaud and England's Mimi Rhodes.</p><h2><a href="https://www.solheimcupusa.com/usa-points-standings"><strong>Who will qualify for Team USA? </strong></a></h2><p>The top seven players on the Solheim Cup list at the end of the qualifying period, based on points accumulated from all ranking events, will secure automatic qualification for Team USA.</p><p>The next top two players on the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings at the end of the qualifying period - not already qualified - will also earn a spot, while the captain will have three picks to complete her line-up.</p><p>Angel Yin and Jennifer Kupcho have already scored enough points to definitely be in the top seven on the Solheim Cup list, leaving 10 more qualification spots available.</p><p>The qualification campaign began at the 2024 FM Championship and will end following the 2026 CPKC Women's Open, from Au...