Backed by data from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), pickleball remains the fastest-growing sport in the country, for the fourth year in a row, with participation climbing to over 24.3 million and expanding across every age group.
But growth in pickleball is not just about how many people are playing. It’s about how the sport is evolving.
Across the country, more players are stepping into structured, competitive environments through USA Pickleball-sanctioned tournaments. These events create a consistent, fair playing experience while connecting athletes to a larger competitive pathway.
The Rise of Sanctioned Play
USA Pickleball-sanctioned tournaments are at the center of the sport’s competitive growth. From local competitions to premier events, sanctioned play ensures that athletes compete under standardized rules, with verified equipment and officiating that protects the integrity of the game.
More importantly, sanctioned tournaments are now part of a broader pathway.
Through the Tiered Point System (TPS), players earn points simply by participating and advancing in sanctioned events. This system has expanded access to the USA Pickleball National Championships, creating more opportunities for athletes to qualify to compete on the sport’s biggest stage.
Golden Ticket tournaments remain the premier qualifying event, awarding winners priority registration to Nationals. At the same time, the inclusion of additional sanctioned tournaments has opened the door for more players to engage in meaningful competition throughout the year.
This structure reflects where pickleball is today: organized, accessible, and built for long-term growth.
The US Open: A Milestone for the Sport
That growth is on full display at the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships, one of the sport’s most recognized events.
Now in its 10th year, the 2026 Franklin US Open Pickleball Championships are set to kick off in Naples, Florida, from April 11-18. As a USA Pickleball-sanctioned tournament, it plays an important role in the competitive ecosystem, awarding top TPS points to participants.
But the US Open is more than a tournament, it is The Biggest Pickleball Party in the World™, celebrating the sport with athletes and spectators alike.
Each year, thousands of players and fans gather, creating an atmosphere that blends high-level competition with the energy and accessibility that define pickleball. Players of all backgrounds take part. Fans experience the sport up close. And the culture of pickleball, built on connection and competition, is on full display.
Nationals in San Diego
All roads lead to the USA Pickleball National Championships, the longest-standing and only National Championships in the sport.
In 2026, Nationals returns to Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego for the second consecutive year. As the sport’s most prestigious stage, Nationals brings together the top players from across the country, each earning their place through Golden Ticket tournaments or TPS.
It is where the journey comes full circle.
From local sanctioned events to major tournaments, every match, every point, and every step along the way builds toward this moment. Nationals is more than a championship. It is a celebration of the sport’s legacy, its competitive excellence, and the players who continue to elevate it.
A Sport That Keeps Moving Forward
National Pickleball Month is a chance to celebrate how far the sport has come and where it’s headed next.
From neighborhood courts to sanctioned tournaments, and from local play to nationally recognized events like the USA Pickleball National Championships and the US Open, pickleball continues to create opportunities for players at every level.
