The International Padel Federation (FIP) and Premier Padel have formally recognised 20 October as World Padel Day. The announcement, made on 20 October 2026, is accompanied by a renewed campaign for the sport’s inclusion in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games. Olympic participation remains an ambition rather than an approved place on the programme.
20 October is officially World Padel Day
When is World Padel Day? Celebrated every year on 20 October, the date now has formal recognition from the FIP and Premier Padel. In its World Padel Report 2026, the federation estimates around 40 million amateur players across 191 countries and territories, with women accounting for 47% of participants.
When was padel invented? According to the FIP, Enrique Corcuera created the first court in Acapulco, Mexico, in 1969. World Padel Day is a celebration of the sport, not an established anniversary of that invention.
The report also identifies more than 91,000 courts worldwide. The FIP has 115 affiliated national federations. Its international pathway runs from FIP Promises junior events in 36 countries to the CUPRA FIP Tour in 59 countries. Premier Padel, meanwhile, reports broadcast distribution in 244 territories. Actu Padel’s analysis of the 2026 FIP report explores those figures in depth.
Brisbane 2032: an Olympic goal, not yet an Olympic place
The FIP is making the case for padel through its international reach, participation by women and men, and the possibility of using temporary courts. Recognition by continental sporting organisations does not mean the sport has already been accepted into the Olympic programme. That decision remains to be made.
In the official announcement on 20 October, FIP president Luigi Carraro described the potential legacy of Olympic inclusion:
Padel can bring Brisbane 2032 a global community, exciting competition for women and men, and a sport that people can discover and continue playing long after the Games.
The bid also points to padel’s appearance at the 2023 European Games and other continental multisport events in 2026. The requirements and challenges behind the Olympic campaign still matter: no Brisbane 2032 programme place has been announced for padel.
A temporary court in front of the Sydney Opera House
On 15 and 16 August 2026, the Padel Invitational brought a temporary court to the Sydney Opera House precinct. International players, local Australian amateurs and former tennis star Pat Rafter took part. For the FIP, the event showed how padel could be staged at an existing landmark without necessarily requiring permanent new venues.
The economic section of the World Padel Report 2026, prepared with OpenEconomics, estimates that padel will contribute €8.6 billion to global GDP in 2026 and support about 236,000 full-time equivalent jobs. Those figures form part of the federation’s case, but they do not amount to an Olympic decision on Brisbane 2032.
