The International Padel Federation (FIP) has officially released the 2026 World Padel Report, highlighting the sport's massive global footprint, which now includes over 40 million active players and a significant economic contribution of €8.6 billion to the global GDP. This third edition of the report offers a comprehensive look at the industry's rapid expansion, bolstered by a 20% annual increase in court construction and a new, in-depth economic analysis titled "World Padel Impact."
Key Economic and Growth Metrics
The 2026 report, produced by the FIP Research Data Analysis Department, underscores that padel has evolved into a major economic ecosystem. A standout feature is the "World Padel Impact" study, conducted alongside OpenEconomics, which breaks down the industry's financial influence using five specific parameters:
- Court Rental Value: An analysis of the revenue generated through the hourly booking and usage of padel facilities globally.
- Construction of Padel Facilities: A measurement of the capital investment and economic activity driven by the building of new venues.
- Technical Equipment: A calculation of the market value and expenditure related to rackets, balls, apparel, and other essential gear.
- Tournaments: An assessment of the financial impact generated by hosting professional and amateur padel events.
- Total Expenditure by Country: An aggregate view of how much is spent on the sport within individual nations to determine the broader economic output.
According to the findings, the global padel industry generates €6.84 billion in annual expenditure, which translates to €13.07 billion in total economic output and supports more than 235,000 jobs. Notably, for every euro spent on padel, an additional €1.26 is generated in GDP.
Beyond the economic data, the report details the physical growth of the sport across the globe:
- Infrastructure Expansion: There are now more than 91,200 courts worldwide, marking an increase of nearly 14,000 courts—a growth rate of 20.4% over the previous year.
- Geographical Reach: Padel is now played in 191 countries and territories, representing an addition of 21 new regions since the last report.
- Federation Growth: The sport is supported by 100 FIP-affiliated federations, with registered players reaching 1.11 million, a 30.5% increase.
- Tournament Development: The FIP’s four circuits—CUPRA FIP Tour, Qatar Airways Premier Padel, FIP Promises, and FIP Beyond—have seen a surge in activity, with 434 tournaments confirmed for 2026 across 62 countries, up from 290 tournaments in 2025.
FIP President Luigi Carraro emphasized that while the data reflects a booming professional and amateur landscape, the true future of the sport lies in investing in young talents. The full report, including the interactive economic mini-website, is available for public review at www.padelfip.com.
