Padel in 2026: 40 million players and a new court every 36 minutes
The International Padel Federation published its 2026 report: more players, 20% more courts and fast growth in North America. Here is what it means if you want to build courts.
Published
On 14 October 2026 the International Padel Federation (FIP) published the third edition of its World Padel Report, with data from 70 national federations and an economic impact study. The conclusion is clear: padel keeps growing in players, courts and countries, and North America is one of the regions moving fastest.
The worldwide figures
- people played padel in the last year; 27 million play regularly
- 40 million
- padel courts worldwide, about 20% more than a year earlier
- 91,234
- new courts in 2026: one every 36 minutes, all year long
- ~40 a day
- countries and territories where padel is played, 21 more than last year
- 191
Two facts explain why padel fills courts: it is played in doubles, so every court brings four people together per match, and, according to the FIP, it is one of the sports most played by women: 47% of players. It is a social sport that draws different audiences at the same time.
The Americas: North America speeds up
- courts in the United States, up 48% on 2025
- 1,000+
- padel clubs in Central and North America in 2026, against +9% in South America
- +24%
- new courts in Mexico in 2026, with 13% of the padel fans in the Americas
- +166
According to the report, the Americas now have more than 20,000 courts and 7,000 clubs. Recent growth is driven by Central and North America: in 2026 clubs grew 24% there, against 9% in South America. The United States passed the 1,000-court mark, growing close to 50% on 2025.
Mexico is at another stage: the report places it among the consolidating countries. It added 166 courts and 72 clubs in 2026 and holds 13% of the padel fans in the Americas, second only to Argentina. A consolidated market keeps growing, but it rewards other things: location, court quality and the club experience.
What it means if you plan to build courts
- In the United States, padel is still new to many players and the number of courts is growing fast. Being early in a city is an advantage.
- In Mexico, players already know the sport and compare. A well-built court, with good glass, good lighting and maintenance, is what fills a club and keeps it full.
- For hotels and residential developments, a padel court is an amenity people use in groups, and it appeals to every age.
- Time matters: a court made in Mexico and delivered by road is ready sooner than one shipped from Europe.
Lövell: made in Mexico, for the United States and Mexico
At Lövell we design, fabricate, deliver and install our courts from our plant in Puebla, with no middlemen. We deliver by road to the US border states (California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas) and to Florida, and across Mexico, with sales and support in English and Spanish.
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