Pickleball in 2026

Pickleball’s tremendous growth within the United States and internationally through 2026 is reflected in participation levels, new court development, organized leagues, international federation memberships, equipment sales, tournament participation and major investment agreements.

According to the most recent available total U.S. Participation data, the size of the sport has had a huge growth in the last few years. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) indicates that approximately 24.3 million Americans participated in pickleball in 2025. That number represents a 479 percent increase from the approximately 4.2 million Americans that picked-up a paddle and hit the court in 2020. It places pickleball in the top 25 most played sports and activities in the United States. [1].

U.S. Participation Numbers are Still Rising Rapidly

As evidenced by decades of reporting from the SFIA and other organizations, pickleball is still described as “the fastest-growing sport in America.” [1].

The growth exhibited by pickleball participation rates is not solely anecdotal or casual. The sport has generated an overwhelming amount of interest in legitimate facilities, public park upgrades, private club developments, lesson plans, league development, tournament opportunities, and sports construction. According to USA Pickleball’s 2025 Annual Growth Report, the Pickleheads court location database indicated there are more than 82,600 known pickleball courts and play locations throughout the nation. Additionally, the same report states that more than 2,300 new locations were established just in 2025 alone. [2].

In addition to the growth of the sport itself, USA Pickleball membership has demonstrated a corresponding organizational growth. According to USA Pickleball’s 2025 membership report, USA Pickleball membership has grown to include over 104,800 Members nationally; USA Pickleball sanctioned over 140 tournaments; and had over 1,860 ambassadors assisting in promoting the sport throughout the United States. [2].

How Did Pickleball Grow so Quickly?

There are several reasons why pickleball has grown so rapidly. First and foremost, pickleball is very easy to pick-up and play. The court is significantly smaller than a tennis court and paddle used to play is extremely user-friendly when compared to other paddle sports. Beginners can immediately experience the fun and excitement of rallying back-and-forth on the court without spending countless hours learning basic skills like serve-and-volley hitting.

As a result, pickleball has appealed to a broad demographic including older adults, young adults, families, schools, recreation department officials, and individuals seeking a low-impact way to enjoy some form of exercise.

Demographically speaking, pickleball is no longer strictly only a “senior sport”. SFIA points out that strong participation figures exist within young adults (ages 25-44), middle-aged adults and seniors (age 65+). SFIA’s most recent breakdown of participation statistics also indicate that pickleball currently consists of approximately a 57-43 male/female split, making it a very well gender-balanced sport. [1].

When a recreational sport appeals to a variety of different age groups it tends to grow extremely quickly. In this case, pickleball stands alone as one of the only recreational sports that offers something for both competitive players and casual weekend enthusiasts alike. It has become a unique recreational option for retirees, families, and individuals looking for a lower-impact alternative to tennis or basketball.

New Pickleball Facilities Provide Infrastructure for Growing Demands

Perhaps the greatest visual representation of pickleball’s rapid expansion is the surge in demand for courts. Cities across America have been converting tennis courts into pickleball courts; constructing new pickleball courts specifically designed for pickleball play and establishing multi-court facilities where both tennis and pickleball may be played.

Additionally, private clubs have begun investing in pickleball facilities, offering their patrons a full range of options including food/drink service, leagues, lessons, social functions and a wide array of other amenities associated with a full-service club environment centered around pickleball.

USA Pickleball’s 2025 Annual Growth Report highlights the scope of this infrastructure boom: the number of courts in USA Pickleball’s national court database now totals over 82,600, while the number of identified play locations exceeds 18,250. [2].

The significance of this fact cannot be overstated. Access to pickleball courts is one of the biggest limiting factors affecting potential future growth of the sport. However, as more players enter the game they generate greater demand for courts. And as more courts are developed they provide new opportunities for additional players to join the game, creating a positive feedback loop that rapid fuels the expansion of the sport.

Serious Money Begins Investing in Pickleball

In addition to generating unprecedented grassroots interest in the sport, pickleball has attracted serious money. On May 20, 2026 MarketWatch reported that Pickleball Inc. (parent company behind Major League Pickleball and the PPA Tour) secured $225 million in equity financing towards pickleball, described as the single largest investment made in the sport to date. The article further stated that the investment values Pickleball Inc. At $750 million dollars.[3].

These types of investments demonstrate that investors believe pickleball is no longer just a fleeting trend. Instead, investors view pickleball as an emerging entertainment industry with an opportunity for related businesses such as facility construction, equipment sales, media rights and events.

While pickleball’s professional segment remains relatively nascent relative to other sports such as tennis, golf, and basketball, its commercial underpinnings are rapidly strengthening.

Strong Growth in Canada

Outside of the U.S., Canada represents perhaps the strongest example of international growth. On January 31st 2025, Pickleball Canada released results from a national survey estimating that there are approximately 1.54 million Canadians playing pickleball. Additionally, the survey noted a 57% increase in pickleball participation from the previous three-year average and a 15% increase from 2024 to 2025.[4].

Pickleball Canada also announced that it had exceeded 90,000 Members nationwide in late 2025, indicating that in addition to attracting casual participants, pickleball is also beginning to develop its organizational aspects through membership-based structures, sanctioned events, coaching initiatives, and national programming. [5].

Strong Growth in Australia

Another key example of international growth can be seen in Australia. Based upon results from an AusPlay survey conducted in 2025; over 155 thousand Australians participate in pickleball annually with approximately sixty-thousand doing so via sports clubs, recreation clubs or leisure centers.[6].

Australia represents a significant case study because when clubs, leisure centers, and/or sports operators begin providing formal programming and structured environments for a sport, it generally leads to a more organized and permanent participation. These include leagues, coaching, events, membership structures, and repeat play.

International Governance Structure Development

Pickleball’s growth globally is evident through the sport’s growing governing bodies. The Global Pickleball Federation reported that its membership committee brought on board twenty-two new member associations during 2025 and welcomed seventy-six new member countries.[7].

Similarly The World Pickleball Federation claims to represent fifty-six countries on six continents[8]; while the international pickleball federation states it includes seventy-seven member countries and ninety-one member organizations.[9].

What Does This Mean for Future years?

This year (2026), pickleball has achieved a new level of maturity. While earlier questions surrounding whether or not this was a passing fad were certainly valid, today’s data would appear to lead to a much more relevant question; How large and standard will this sport become?

With tens of millions of players throughout the United States, more than eighty-two thousand known courts, a rapidly developing professional ecosystem, and over one hundred-four thousand Members affiliated with USA Pickleball, Canada boasts more than one point five million players. Australian participation has exceeded six-figures and international federations are welcoming new member countries on multiple continents. [1], [2], [4], [6], [7] Future growth appears dependent on three primary elements: availability of more courts, improved standardization models, and broader adoption abroad.

With all these factors combined, pickleball possesses virtually every characteristic necessary for continued exponential growth; ease-of-entry, social interaction, affordability, and applicability across multiple age demographics.

As communities around the globe develop facilities capable of supporting this type of explosive growth we anticipate that pickleball will continue to flourish far beyond its original U.S.-based roots.

Let’s Go Pickleball!

Pickleball’s meteoric rise through 2026 represents one of the most impressive sports participation growth trends over the course of the last decade. Within the United States, the sport grew from approximately 4.2 million participants in 2020 to 24.3 million participants in 2025.[1]

At its core pickleball became a global recreational phenomenon because it solved One of the most difficult problems recreational sports have: it provided an activity that was competitive-enough to be engaging yet accessible-enough for almost everyone interested to be ablet to effectively participate in it. Because of this, we expect it will continue to represent one of the leading recreational sports with growth domestically and internationally through 2026 and beyond.

Bibliography:

[1] Sports & Fitness Industry Association. “U.S. Pickleball Participation.”
https://sfia.org/research/u-s-pickleball-participation/

[2] USA Pickleball. “Annual Growth Report.”
https://usapickleball.org/about/annual-growth-report/

[3] MarketWatch. “Pickleball gets its largest-ever investment: $225 million.”
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/pickleball-gets-its-largest-ever-investment-225-million-its-still-a-growth-sport-its-not-just-a-fad-6879191f

[4] Pickleball Canada. “Pickleball in Canada — January 2025 Survey.”
https://pickleballcanada.org/pickleball-in-canada-january-2025-survey/

[5] Pickleball Canada. “Pickleball Canada Celebrates Major Milestone, Surpassing 90,000 Members Nationwide.”
https://pickleballcanada.org/pickleball-canada-celebrates-major-milestone-surpassing-90000-members-nationwide/

[6] SportLogic. “The Rise of Pickleball in Australia: What Venue Operators Need to Know to Capitalize on This Growing Sport.”
https://sportlogic.com.au/the-rise-of-pickleball-in-australia-what-venue-operators-need-to-know-to-capitalize-on-this-growing-sport/

[7] Global Pickleball Federation. “2025 Milestones.”
https://globalpickleballfederation.org/news/2025-milestones/

[8] World Pickleball Federation. “Member Countries.”
https://www.worldpickleballfederation.org/member-countries/

[9] International Pickleball Federation. “Member Countries.”
https://theipf.org/countries.html