Pickleball Tournaments & Pro Tour Statistics 2026
Pro and amateur pickleball tournament data for 2026 — sanctioned event count, combined prize money, top-earning pros, and major event purses across the PPA Tour, APP Tour, and Major League Pickleball.
Combined US Pro Pickleball Prize Money 2020–2026
Top 8 Pickleball Pros by 2025 Prize Money
| Player | Country | 2025 Prize Money | Primary Tour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anna Leigh Waters | USA | $1,450,000 | PPA |
| Ben Johns | USA | $1,390,000 | PPA |
| Federico Staksrud | ARG | $920,000 | PPA |
| Tyson McGuffin | USA | $780,000 | PPA / MLP |
| Catherine Parenteau | CAN | $755,000 | PPA |
| Jay Devilliers | USA | $660,000 | PPA |
| Anna Bright | USA | $640,000 | PPA |
| Dekel Bar | USA | $600,000 | PPA |
Major Annual Pickleball Events
| Event | Host Tour | Location | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Open Pickleball Championships | APP | Naples, FL | $300,000 |
| PPA Masters | PPA | Mesa, AZ | $350,000 |
| Minto US Open | Combined | Naples, FL | $400,000 |
| Newport Beach Championships | PPA | Newport Beach, CA | $225,000 |
| MLP Championship | MLP | Dallas, TX | $1,000,000 |
| National Championships | USA Pickleball | Brookhaven, GA | $200,000 |
Sources: PPA Tour statistics 2025, APP Tour statistics 2025, Major League Pickleball financial disclosures, USA Pickleball National Championships reports, and Branded Pickleball research.
How Pro Pickleball Is Evolving
Pro pickleball has transitioned from a grassroots amateur circuit to a commercial franchise sport in just four years. MLP's team-based model — backed by high-profile investors including LeBron James, Tom Brady, Kevin Love, and multiple venture funds — has created the closest analog to a traditional US pro league in any racket sport outside of tennis.
The open question heading into 2026–2027 is whether individual prize money (PPA/APP) or team franchise value (MLP) becomes the dominant revenue model for players. Most top-20 pros currently hedge by competing on both formats.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the major professional pickleball tours?
The three majors are the PPA Tour (individual tournament circuit), APP Tour (individual tournament circuit focused on amateurs and rising pros), and Major League Pickleball (MLP) (team-based franchise league with 24 teams across Premier and Challenger tiers).
How much prize money is in pro pickleball?
Combined 2026 prize money across PPA, APP, MLP, and major independent events is projected at $18.5M+, up from under $1M in 2020. The biggest single-event purse is the MLP Championship at $1M.
Who are the top-earning pickleball pros?
As of 2025, the top earners are Anna Leigh Waters ($1.45M) and Ben Johns ($1.39M). Both play primarily on the PPA Tour. See the table above for the full top-8.
How many pickleball tournaments happen each year in the US?
Over 4,500 sanctioned tournaments took place in the US in 2025, across professional, amateur, league, and grassroots formats. The PPA and APP tours combined host ~290 pro stops annually.
Is pro pickleball a viable career?
For the top ~40 players, yes — primary prize money, MLP contracts, and sponsorship can combine to seven-figure annual income. Below the top 40, earnings taper sharply and most pros supplement with coaching or equipment sponsorships.
What is the biggest pickleball tournament in the world?
By prize pool, the MLP Championship ($1M) and the Minto US Open ($400K combined tour purse) are the two headline events. The US Open in Naples, FL draws the largest spectator and amateur-player turnout.
Cite This Page
Citing these numbers? Please reference “Branded Pickleball — Pickleball Tournaments & Pro Tour Statistics 2026” and link to https://brandedpickleball.com/stats/pickleball/tournaments. Individual figures are sourced in the note above.
Related
- US Pickleball Statistics Overview →
- Pickleball Growth 2015-2026 →
- Pickleball Demographics →
- Pickleball Events Directory →
