The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) has announced its latest international expansion with the launch of PPA Spain, a seven-tournament tour that will take place across the country. This move is part of the PPA's efforts to bring the sport of pickleball to in-demand markets and provide a clear pathway for players to become the best in the world.
PPA Spain Tournament Details
The inaugural PPA Spain season will begin on September 23-27 in Barcelona, with the remaining six tournaments taking place in various locations across Spain. The tour will feature two PPA125 point-level tournaments, three PPA250 tournaments, and two marquee PPA500 tournaments. All points earned in these tournaments will ladder up into one global PPA Tour ranking system, allowing players to compete against the best in the world. The specific tournament dates and levels are as follows:
- September 23-27, 2026: PPA250 in Barcelona
- November 11-15, 2026: PPA125 (location to be announced)
- January 27-31, 2027: PPA125 (location to be announced)
- February 24-28, 2027: PPA250 (location to be announced)
- March 17-21, 2027: PPA500 (location to be announced)
- April 21-25, 2027: PPA250 (location to be announced)
- May 5-9, 2027: PPA500 in Barcelona
PPA Spain will offer various competition divisions, including Age 19+ Pro, 4.5, and 3.5 levels, as well as Age 50+ and Age 60+ divisions. Junior players (16-18 years old) will also have the opportunity to compete in 5.0 and 4.5 levels. The tour will feature men's singles, men's doubles, women's singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles competitions.
According to Chris Patrick, President, International, Carvana PPA Tour, the launch of PPA Spain is a significant milestone for the development of pickleball in Europe. Albert Escofet, CEO and Founder of Smash Pickleball Agency, also expressed his enthusiasm for the tour, stating that it will act as a catalyst for unprecedented growth in player participation and the surrounding industry. With the support of the PPA, PPA Spain is expected to become a launching pad for Spain's best players to compete at the top levels of professional pickleball.
