PADEL RULES
Premier Padel Circuit Explained — Structure, Events, and How It Works (2026)
6 min read
What Is Premier Padel?
Premier Padel is the highest tier of professional padel competition in the world. Launched in 2022 as a partnership between the International Padel Federation (FIP) and Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), it represents the most significant structural change in professional padel’s history.
The creation of Premier Padel ended years of tension between the FIP and the privately-owned World Padel Tour (WPT). By establishing a tour under the governance of the sport’s international federation, padel aligned itself with the model used by most other global sports — where the governing body oversees both the rules and the top professional competition.
For the full history of how this transition happened, see our history of padel. For a broader view of all the organisations involved, see our governing bodies explainer.
How the Circuit Is Structured
Premier Padel operates a tiered event system similar to tennis’s ATP/WTA structure:
Major Events
The Majors are the biggest tournaments on the calendar. They offer:
- The highest prize money pools
- The most ranking points
- The largest main draws
- The most significant broadcast coverage
Majors are held in marquee locations and attract all of the world’s top-ranked players. Winning a Major is the most prestigious achievement in the regular season calendar.
P1 Events
P1 events are the next tier below Majors. They are high-quality tour stops held across multiple continents:
- Substantial prize money and ranking points
- Strong main draws with top-ranked players
- Professional broadcast production
- Held in established padel markets and growing territories
P2 Events
P2 events provide a competitive middle tier:
- Solid prize money with meaningful ranking points
- Opportunity for players ranked just outside the top tier to compete against and beat higher-ranked opponents
- Often held in newer padel markets to help grow the sport’s footprint
Challenger Events
Challenger events form the base of the professional pyramid:
- Entry-level professional tournaments
- Critical pathway for emerging players to earn ranking points
- Lower prize money but essential for career development
- Provide competitive experience for players working their way up the rankings
Ranking System
Premier Padel uses a ranking points system that determines player seedings and event access:
- More points for higher-tier events — Winning a Major earns significantly more points than winning a Challenger
- Points expire over time — Rankings reflect recent form, not historical achievements
- Both players in a pair earn points — Consistent with padel’s doubles format
- Ranking determines direct entry — Higher-ranked players gain automatic entry to bigger events
The ranking system incentivises players to compete regularly at the highest level they can access, creating a natural competitive hierarchy.
Prize Money and Financial Impact
Premier Padel brought a transformative increase in prize money to professional padel:
- Major events offer prize pools that dwarf anything available in the WPT era
- Increased financial sustainability for professional players, allowing more athletes to make a living from the sport
- Gender parity movement — The circuit has made strides toward equalising prize money between men’s and women’s draws
- Commercial partnerships have grown significantly, bringing new sponsors and revenue streams to the sport
The financial improvement has had a direct impact on the quality of professional padel. Better-funded athletes can train more professionally, invest in coaching and fitness, and focus on their competitive careers.
Calendar and Global Reach
The Premier Padel calendar spans approximately 10 months and covers multiple continents:
- Europe — Spain, France, Italy, Sweden, and other established padel markets host multiple events
- Americas — Events in Argentina, Mexico, and other Latin American countries connect the circuit to padel’s historical heartlands
- Middle East — Qatar and the UAE host events, reflecting the investment from QSI and the region’s growing padel infrastructure
- Expansion markets — Events in newer padel territories help grow the sport’s global footprint
The calendar is designed to balance competitive quality with global growth — ensuring the best players compete regularly while exposing new audiences to professional padel.
How Premier Padel Differs from the WPT
The key differences between Premier Padel and its predecessor, the World Padel Tour:
| Aspect | Premier Padel | World Padel Tour |
|---|---|---|
| Governance | FIP (international federation) | Privately owned |
| Backing | QSI investment | Private investors |
| Prize money | Significantly higher | Lower |
| Broadcast | Major networks and streaming | More limited |
| Event structure | Tiered (Major/P1/P2/Challenger) | Open/Master/Master Final |
| Global reach | Multi-continent calendar | Primarily Spain-focused |
| Player contracts | More player-friendly | Exclusive contracts criticised |
The shift to Premier Padel was controversial at the time — some players and stakeholders were loyal to the WPT — but the consensus by 2026 is that the sport has benefited enormously from the transition.
How Premier Padel Compares to A1 Padel
Premier Padel is not the only professional padel circuit. A1 Padel (formerly APT Padel Tour) operates as an alternative circuit:
- Premier Padel is the undisputed top tier, with all the world’s best players competing on it
- A1 Padel provides a secondary competitive pathway, particularly important for Latin American players
- The two circuits have different governance structures, prize money levels, and geographic focuses
- Some players compete on both circuits depending on scheduling and ranking considerations
For a full comparison, see our dedicated A1 Padel circuit guide.
The Future of Premier Padel
As of 2026, Premier Padel continues to grow:
- Expanding event calendar with new territories being added
- Increasing prize money as commercial partnerships mature
- Improved broadcast technology bringing fans closer to the action
- Growing fanbase as the sport reaches new markets worldwide
- Olympic ambitions — The structured, federation-governed nature of Premier Padel strengthens padel’s case for eventual Olympic inclusion
The circuit’s partnership between the FIP (governance) and QSI (investment) has created a stable foundation for professional padel’s continued growth. For players like Arturo Coello, Agustín Tapia, and Gemma Triay, Premier Padel provides the platform to build careers and legacies in a sport that shows no signs of slowing down.
