The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) today announced a bold evolution of its 2026 APP Tour structure, designed to elevate the player, sponsor, and fan experience across the sport. The revised 2026 plan focuses on larger events, each featuring expanded prize purses, enhanced fan experiences, and more linear TV broadcast hours throughout 2026, continuing to reinforce the APP’s reputation as the most credible name in pickleball. Overall, the APP will run or support more than 50 events in 2026, including the full APP Tour, plus the Global Pickleball Alliance’s (GPA) worldwide tournament calendar.

In 2026, the APP Tour will feature a higher professional prize pool, enhanced and interactive fan experiences for players of all levels, and expanded hospitality and activation zones for fans and sponsors. Importantly, the APP Tour will increase the number of hours of nationally televised event broadcasts, ensuring APP partners and players continue to enjoy high visibility and broadcast reach across the country. Additionally, the APP will introduce a minimum of four APP pro invitational events that will feature the best pro players in the world competing for major prize money.

“This is a decisive step forward for the APP and for the sport of pickleball,” said APP Founder, Ken Herrmann. “By investing in larger, more premium events with more linear TV coverage, we’re able to deliver greater impact for our players, our sponsors, and the fans who have made the APP Tour community so special. Every stop on the 2026 schedule will feel like a true celebration of pickleball.”

“The combined might of the APP and GPA schedules provides pro players with the ability to maximize their earnings and visibility in countries worldwide, while continuing to support the sport’s global growth,” Herrmann continued.

Ryan McSpadden, APP Chief Revenue Officer, added, “Our data shows that fans are seeking bigger, festival-style pickleball experiences, and our sponsors are eager for even more impactful on-site and broadcast opportunities through their partnerships with the APP. This shift delivers exactly that, a more concentrated, powerful platform for growth.”

The APP’s 2026 nationally televised calendar will consist of:

2026 APP TOUR EVENTS IN BOLD

Stay Connected with the APP
Additional details on the full 2026 APP event schedule are available at TheAPP.global. The pickleball community can stay in the know on the latest APP updates by following the APP’s Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok, Facebook and LinkedIn channels.  

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