It’s well known that the United States doesn’t do things by halves. While the Premier Padel circuit dominates Europe and the Middle East, North America is building its own empire with a recipe all its own: spectacle sports. The Pro Padel League (PPL), North America’s first professional team league, has just announced its schedule and ambitions for the 2026 season. On the schedule: aggressive geographic expansion, new franchises and ever-increasing prize money, attracting more and more European stars from across the Atlantic.
Update (calendar made official on January 9, 2026): the PPL has confirmed five events in North America, with a kick-off in New York and Finals in Miami for the City’s Cup. Details can be found in the league’s official press release: Pro Padel League.
- New York: July 9-12
- Los Angeles: August 13-16
- Playa del Carmen (Mexico): September 24-27
- Guadalajara (Mexico): November 19-22
- Miami – The City’s Cup Finals: December 3-6
Continental expansion: Padel conquers the West (and the North)
Up until now, the league has focused on Florida, the cradle of padel in the USA. The 2026 season marks a major logistical turning point, with a genuine tour of the continent. The goal is clear: to democratize the sport in key US sports markets. The calendar will be built around several major “Events”:
- Opening in Los Angeles: The season kicks off in sunny California, confirming the explosion of the sport on the West Coast.
- The historic stopover in New York: Playing at the foot of skyscrapers, a powerful symbol of media visibility.
- Canadian breakthrough (Toronto): This is the big news. PPL crosses the border into Canada, a market where indoor padel is enjoying double-digit growth.
- The Mexican turn: Two stops are scheduled in Mexico, in Playa del Carmen (September 24-27) and Guadalajara (November 19-22), a market already very receptive to the “show” format.
Please note: in the 2026 schedule published by the league, the kick-off is announced in New York (July 9-12), before Los Angeles (August 13-16). And at this stage, no dates in Canada appear on the 2026 roadmap, even though the PPL is communicating about franchises split between the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The “Franchise” format: The American recipe for success
Unlike traditional tournaments, where players sign up in pairs, PPL operates on the model of major American sports (NBA, NFL). Teams are owned by owners (often investment funds or celebrities) and players are “drafted” or signed under contract. This year, the roster has been expanded with the arrival of two new franchises, bringing the total to record figures. This system creates a real local identity and builds fan loyalty. It’s no longer just “Paquito or Lebrón” we’re supporting Miami Padel Club or Las Vegas Smash. Each match is played to the best of three:
- Gentlemen’s double
- Ladies’ double
- Decisive mixed doubles (often the highlight of the spectacle)
A word of clarification: at each event, the regular season is played out in a group phase, with teams competing against each other and collecting points (men’s, women’s and overall team rankings). The best teams then qualify for the final phases… and above all for the City’s Cup in Miami, announced as a single elimination event to determine the champions.
Miami: The “Super Bowl” of Padel
The league may travel, but the heart of the reactor remains in Florida. PPL management has confirmed that the grand final, the PPL Cup 2026, will be held in Miami at the end of the year. Miami is no random choice. It’s the spiritual capital of padel in the USA, the cultural bridge between Latin America and Europe. For this final, the organizers promise an American-style show:
- XXL grandstands.
- Half-time concerts.
- The presence of celebrities (stars such as Jimmy Butler and Daddy Yankee have already invested in padel).
Calendar info: the City’s Cup Finals is scheduled for December 3-6 in Miami, and the league is presenting it as a first for this final event in the city.
Why do European stars say “Yes”?
More and more of the world’s top 20 players are doing freelance work in the PPL. Why do they do it? The answer is twofold: money and fun. PPL contracts are very lucrative for a few weeks of competition. What’s more, the atmosphere is less “strict” than on the FIP tour. The music plays during the points, the audience is noisy, and the show goes on all the time. It’s a breath of fresh air for the players, while remaining a very high-level competition.
But this PPL window (July → December) comes on top of an already busy schedule: premium events at the start of the year, international circuit, long-haul travel… and now overlapping team competitions. The question is no longer just “where to play”, it’s “when to retrieve“. For calendar background and federal announcements on team competitions, the FIP centralizes updates: International Padel Federation.
Conclusion: A giant in the making
The 2026 season of the Pro Padel League promises to be one of maturity. With its extended calendar and prestigious final in Miami, the PPL is no longer just an exhibition league. It is establishing itself as a major economic player that could, in time, rival the traditional circuits. America is waking up to padel, and when America wakes up, it often makes a lot of noise. Will you be watching the PPL matches this season? Which franchise do you prefer?
