Pickleball Tournaments to Watch in 2026

The 2026 pro tournament calendar is the most consolidated we've seen. The PPA Tour and MLP have effectively merged operations under the United Pickleball Association, which means one calendar, one ranking system, and much cleaner storylines to follow.

The four majors to watch: Masters (Palm Desert, January), US Open (Naples, April), North American Open (Atlanta, July), and the Championship Finals (Las Vegas, November). Purse sizes on the pro side range from $250K to $1M+ per event.

Amateur players: every major has an open amateur draw the week before pros arrive. Fields fill months in advance and offer real DUPR-boosting matches against players in your bracket. Entry fees run $75–$200 per event, $30–$50 per additional bracket.

Regional grassroots events worth traveling for: the Minto US Open qualifier series, APP Tour amateur events in most major metros, and the Nationals qualifier circuit. USA Pickleball's Nationals in November remains the premier amateur championship, with 4,000+ players annually.

How to prepare for your first tournament: play 3–5 practice matches with your assigned partner (this is the #1 thing amateurs skip), confirm your DUPR is current, and arrive an hour early — first-time delays are common. Bring twice as many balls, shirts, and water as you think you need.

TV and streaming: Pickleball Channel, YouTube, and Tennis Channel carry most pro coverage. MLP matches stream on their app. Amateur matches are almost never televised — plan to watch friends and family in person.