PADEL RULES
Tournaments
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Padel tournaments have transformed from regional exhibition events into a global professional circuit watched by millions. Whether you are tracking the Premier Padel season, following your favourite players across continents, or looking for a local padel competition to enter yourself, this section covers the full landscape of padel tournaments — from the sport’s flagship professional tours to the grassroots events that make padel one of the fastest-growing competitive sports in the world.
The Professional Padel Tournament Landscape
Premier Padel is the sport’s flagship circuit, sanctioned by the International Padel Federation (FIP) and organised alongside the Qatar Sports Investments group. It is the highest tier of professional padel competition in the world. The Premier Padel circuit runs a structured season of events across multiple tiers — Majors, P1, and P2 — with ranking points feeding into the official FIP world rankings.
The 2026 Premier Padel season features 26 tournaments across 18 countries, from the Buenos Aires Major in South America to the Roland Garros Major in Paris, Dubai Major in the Middle East, Rome Major in Italy, and the Amsterdam Major in the Netherlands. The season culminates with the Premier Padel Finals in Málaga, where the top-ranked players of the year compete for the season-ending title.
Running alongside Premier Padel is the A1 Padel circuit, formerly known as the APT Padel Tour. The A1 Padel 2026 season provides competitive opportunities for players building their careers or who prefer the tour’s event locations. Both circuits contribute to the depth of professional padel, even as Premier Padel has become the clear top tier.
For the full season calendar — every Major, P1, and P2 event — the World Padel Tour 2026 guide provides the most comprehensive overview.
How Padel Rankings and Tournament Points Work
Every professional padel tournament awards ranking points based on the event tier and how far a pair progresses in the draw. These points feed into the FIP world rankings, which determine seedings, qualification, and entry into the biggest events.
The padel rankings guide explains how the FIP ranking system works, how Premier Padel points are calculated, and how A1 Padel rankings fit into the broader picture. Understanding rankings is essential for following the professional season — it explains why certain players enter certain events and how the race to the finals unfolds.
The FIP World Padel Championship
Beyond the professional circuit tours, the FIP organises the World Padel Championship — a nations-based tournament where countries send their best pairs to compete for the world title. This event is the padel equivalent of a World Cup: it runs on a different format to the regular tour, with national teams competing in a group-and-knockout structure.
The World Padel Championship is the most prestigious team event in the sport. It draws national pride, packed crowds, and matchups you would never see on the regular tour — players from the same country who normally compete against each other now partnering up to represent their federation.
How Padel Tournament Matches Work
Padel competition matches at the professional level follow the FIP’s official rules. Matches are played as best of three sets, with each set won by the first pair to reach six games with a two-game lead. A tie-break is played at 6-6. Since the 2026 rule changes, the Star Point (golden point) rule applies at deuce — a single decisive point instead of the traditional advantage format — which has made matches faster and more intense.
All professional padel tournaments use a knockout draw format, typically with qualifying rounds for lower-ranked players feeding into the main draw. Seedings are based on FIP world rankings. Matches are officiated by a chair umpire with assistance from line judges at Major events.
How to Follow Padel Tournaments
Following the professional padel season has become straightforward. Premier Padel streams most events live on its official channels, with broadcast partnerships varying by region. Each Major event guide in this section includes specific information on how to watch, local broadcast partners, and streaming options.
For in-person attendance, most Premier Padel Majors sell tickets through the event venue or the tour’s website. The atmosphere at a live padel tournament — especially at Majors in Buenos Aires, Paris, or Dubai — is one of the best experiences in racket sports. The compact court and glass walls make padel uniquely spectator-friendly.
Finding Local Padel Tournaments
Professional tours are only part of the padel tournament world. National federations in most countries run their own domestic competition calendars — from regional amateur leagues to national championships. If you are looking to compete locally, your national padel federation website is the best starting point. Most federations maintain an online calendar of sanctioned events, often searchable by region, level, and age category.
Many padel clubs also organise their own in-house tournaments, social mixers, and ladder leagues. These are the entry point for most recreational players who want to experience padel competition for the first time. The barrier to entry is low — you need a partner, a racket, and a willingness to play three sets under match pressure.
Browse the tournament guides below for detailed coverage of every major event on the 2026 professional padel calendar, plus explanations of the ranking system and circuit structures that tie them all together.
2026 Premier Padel Major Guides
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