| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 22 February – 20 March 1940 |
| Venue | Thurston's Hall |
| City | London |
| Country | England |
| Organisation | Billiards Association and Control Council |
| Highest break |  Fred Davis (ENG) (101) Joe Davis (ENG) (101) |
| Final | |
| Champion | Joe Davis (ENG) |
| Runner-up | Fred Davis (ENG) |
| Score | 37–36 |
← 1939 1946 → | |
The 1940 World Snooker Championship was a professional snooker tournament held at Thurston's Hall in London, England from 22 February to 20 March 1940. It was the fourteenth edition of the World Snooker Championship. Joe Davis defeated his younger brother Fred Davis by 37 frames to 36 in the final, to retain the title that he had held since the tournament's inception in 1927. Joe Davis compiled a century break in the penultimate frame to win the match at 37–35 before a dead frame was played out. The only other century break of the tournament was 101 by Fred Davis earlier in the final.
There were nine participants. Herbert Holt and Conrad Stanbury played a qualifying match, which Holt won to join the other seven players in the competition proper. Holt was eliminated in the first round by Walter Donaldson. This was the last World Championship to be held until the end of World War II, the next edition being held in 1946.