The year 2026 is set to be a historic turning point for global professional padel. Under the aegis of the International Padel Federation (FIP) and Premier Padel, three major decisions have profoundly reshaped the international calendar and the very experience of the sport. Between technical innovation, geographical expansion, and the creation of an unprecedented format, here’s what will change for players and fans.
1. A Rule Revolution: The Arrival of the “Star Point”
The most immediately noticeable decision is the introduction of a new point-scoring system for all professional competitions starting in 2026: the “Star Point”.
This hybrid system was designed to balance spectacle, tradition, and player preservation. Specifically, when a game reaches 40-A, players apply the classic advantage rule. However, if deuce persists after two successive advantages, the next decisive point becomes a unique “golden point”.
This innovation, unanimously approved by the 100 national federations of the FIP, aims to avoid the excessive duration of certain matches while maintaining strategic tension. According to FIP President Luigi Carraro, a game that lasted 18 and a half minutes in 2025 would have been resolved in just over 4 minutes with this new format.
2. An Expanded and Stabilized Global Calendar
The Qatar Airways Premier Padel Tour 2026 circuit will unfold on an unprecedented scale, with 26 tournaments planned across 18 countries.
The expansion is twofold. On one hand, the circuit enters major new markets with inaugural tournaments in London (United Kingdom) and Pretoria (South Africa), while also adding a new stop in Valencia, Spain. On the other hand, long-term stability is ensured by the renewal of multi-year agreements for three iconic major tournaments: Rome (Foro Italico), Paris (Roland-Garros), and Doha.
Another strategic novelty: nearly 75% of tournaments will be played indoors in 2026, responding to players’ demands for more consistent playing conditions and improving broadcast quality.
3. The Birth of an Official Team Circuit: The Hexagon World Series
Finally, a structural decision completes the ecosystem. The FIP, in partnership with Hexagon Cup and agency 54, is launching the Hexagon World Series, the first official team circuit in padel.
This new circuit, fully integrated into the official FIP calendar alongside Premier Padel and the CUPRA FIP Tour, introduces a mixed team competition format with several annual events in iconic cities. It thus creates a new path for player development and a complementary product for fans, strengthening the sports pyramid as a whole.
Conclusion: Together, these three pillars — a modernized rule for more spectacle, a globalized calendar for a wider audience, and an innovative team circuit for greater engagement — outline the contours of a more structured, more spectacular, and more ambitious professional padel in 2026 than ever before.
