The 2026 Season: Bigger, Better, and Coming to the UK
If you thought 2025 was a big year for padel, strap in — 2026 is shaping up to be the most exciting season in the sport’s professional history. The Qatar Airways Premier Padel Tour is expanding into new markets, the LTA has unveiled its most ambitious domestic competition calendar to date, and for the first time ever, London will host a Premier Padel P1 event.
Whether you’re a die-hard padel fan or just getting into the sport, here’s everything UK fans need to know about the 2026 professional padel season.
Premier Padel 2026: The Global Calendar
The 2026 Premier Padel Tour spans four continents, with Majors, P1, and P2 events running from February through to December. Here’s an overview of the key dates:
Season Structure
The Premier Padel tour operates across three tiers:
- Majors: The highest-status tournaments with the most ranking points and prize money
- P1 events: Premium tour stops — the second-highest tier, including the new London event
- P2 events: High-level international tournaments that provide competitive depth across the globe
Key Calendar Highlights
- February: Season opener in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Spring: Middle Eastern swing including Qatar, followed by European events
- Summer: The European swing intensifies with events across Spain, Italy, France, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands
- 3-9 August: 🇬🇧 London P1 — Britain’s first-ever Premier Padel event
- Autumn: Events in Argentina, Mexico, and the United States
- New additions: Pretoria P2 (South Africa), Valencia, and of course London
- December: Season finale — Barcelona Finals
The inclusion of London and Pretoria highlights Premier Padel’s commitment to growing the sport beyond its traditional strongholds in Spain and South America.
London P1: A Historic Moment for UK Padel
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room — or rather, the padel court in the room. From 3-9 August 2026, London will host a Premier Padel P1 event, bringing the world’s best men’s and women’s players to British soil for the first time in professional padel history.
As a P1 event (the second-highest tier below Majors), this isn’t just a warm-up tournament. It’ll feature the biggest names in the sport competing for significant ranking points and prize money. Think Arturo Coello, Agustín Tapia, Juan Lebrón, Alejandra Salazar, and more — all playing in one of the world’s most iconic sporting cities.
For UK padel fans, this is a massive opportunity. You’ll be able to watch world-class padel live, experience the atmosphere of a professional tournament, and see first-hand why this sport is captivating millions of people around the globe.
The venue and ticketing details are expected to be announced later in 2026, so keep your eyes peeled. This is one event you won’t want to miss.
LTA Padel Competition Calendar 2026
While the Premier Padel London event grabs the headlines, the LTA has quietly put together an incredibly comprehensive domestic competition calendar for 2026. Here’s what British players can look forward to:
The Numbers
- 5 FIP Tour events (up from 4 in 2025) — 1 Bronze, 4 Silver
- 7 LTA Padel British Tour Grade 1 events
- 21 LTA Padel British Tour Grade 2 events
- 3 FIP Promises tournaments for junior players
- 35 weeks of international and domestic playing opportunities
For the first time, the FIP Tour and LTA Padel British Tour will host events across England, Scotland, and Wales — a significant step forward in making competitive padel accessible across the entire country.
LTA Padel British Tour
The LTA Padel British Tour is the backbone of competitive padel in the UK. These events bring together the country’s best players for weekend tournaments with prize money and LTA ranking points. In 2026, senior players will have more than 20 weeks of competition, with Grade 1 and Grade 2 events running throughout the year.
Entry is based on LTA Padel Ranking, so if you’re serious about competitive padel, getting your ranking established early in the year is important.
LTA Padel National Championships
The LTA Padel National Championships returns in 2026, though the venue is yet to be confirmed. This flagship event showcases the very best British padel talent across multiple categories, with prize money and significant ranking points on offer.
Junior Pathway
Junior players aren’t forgotten either. With 16 weeks of FIP and British Tour events for juniors, plus three FIP Promises tournaments, young British players have more opportunities than ever to compete internationally and earn FIP ranking points within their age categories.
British Players to Watch in 2026
The UK padel scene has been growing rapidly, and 2026 could be a breakthrough year for several British players. While the UK is still some way from challenging the Spanish and Argentine dominance at the very top of the professional game, the expanded domestic calendar and the London P1 event provide unprecedented opportunities for British players to develop and gain exposure.
Keep an eye on players competing in the LTA Padel British Tour Grade 1 events — these are the players most likely to feature in the London P1 through wildcards and qualifying rounds.
What This Means for UK Padel Fans
The 2026 season represents a turning point for padel in the UK. Here’s why it matters:
Visibility
Having a Premier Padel event in London brings mainstream media attention to the sport. More coverage means more awareness, which means more people trying padel for the first time. If you’ve been trying to convince friends and family to give it a go, having world-class padel on their doorstep might be the push they need.
Infrastructure
The expanded competition calendar signals that the LTA is serious about padel’s long-term growth. More events mean more investment in venues, coaching, and player development programmes. Expect to see new padel facilities popping up across the country as operators respond to growing demand.
Grassroots Growth
The pathway from casual play to competitive padel has never been clearer. With Grade 2 events, Grade 1 events, FIP Tour stops, and now a Premier Padel P1 all happening on home soil, British players have a complete competitive ladder from club level to the world stage.
How to Follow the 2026 Season
Here’s how to stay up to date with the action:
- Premier Padel TV: Matches from Majors and P1 events are typically broadcast on Premier Padel’s streaming platforms
- LTA Padel: Follow ltapadel.org.uk for domestic competition calendars and results
- Social media: Follow Premier Padel, LTA Padel, and individual players on Instagram and Twitter for behind-the-scenes content
- Padel Mad: We’ll be covering all the major events, reviewing the gear the pros use, and keeping you informed throughout the season
Gear Up for the Season
If watching the pros inspires you to up your own game, shop the gear the professionals use:
The Bottom Line
The 2026 Premier Padel season is set to be the biggest and most exciting yet — and for UK fans, it’s genuinely historic. London hosting a P1 event, the LTA delivering 35 weeks of domestic competition, and the continued globalisation of the tour all point to a sport that’s growing faster than ever.
Whether you’re planning to attend the London P1 in August, compete in the LTA Padel British Tour, or simply follow the action from your sofa, 2026 is going to be a cracking year for padel. Don’t miss it.
