Interview with the director of Padel World Summit
Álex Ponseti: “Padel is not a fad, it has already conquered the world and is an unstoppable business”
Padel is experiencing a historic moment. With more than 30 million players worldwide and an industry that moves hundreds of millions of euros, this sport has become a social and economic phenomenon. Barcelona is getting ready for the third edition of the Padel World Summit (PWS) organised by Fira de Barcelona and the International Padel Cluster which will take place from May 26th to 28th at the Gran Via venue. In this interview, the Director of the event, Álex Ponseti, shares insights on the present and future of this discipline and the role of the show in the consolidation of its business at a global level.
Question: How would you define the current moment that padel is experiencing as a sport at a global level?
Answer: Padel is at its best, it is going through an unprecedented expansion phase. Today it exceeds 35 million players and it is no longer a fad, a passing trend, and has become a lifestyle for many people. Its growth is also reflected in professionalization, club creation and the incorporation of technologies that improve the player experience and facilities management. This makes it a great business opportunity as well.
What role does Barcelona play in the international rise of padel?
The city of Barcelona has sport in its DNA, as it proved with the 1992 Olympic Games, one of the best in history. So it was only to be expected that it took the role of a main player in the expansion of padel and a world reference. Barcelona hosts the Premier Padel Finals and the Padel World Summit, two major events that strengthen its position as the epicenter of the industry. In addition, the city offers a first-class trade show infrastructure and a sports ecosystem, with companies, clubs and players, that drives the internationalization of padel.
After two editions, how would you define the value proposition offered by Padel World Summit in 2026?
I believe that the event will once again be the most influential meeting point to generate business, promote innovation and project the international expansion of our sport. From 26 to 28 May, the PWS will bring together over 150 leading brands, operators, distributors and investors. We want to be the driver of transformation for the indutry, combining business, technology, innovation and global expansion. PWS is not just a trade show, it is the place where the future of padel is decided.
What will be new this edition compared to the 2025 edition?
In this second edition in Barcelona, we expanded the exhibition area and the number of courts in the Play Arena, from eight to ten, to feature more live demonstrations and brand activations. In addition, we are increasingly committed to the Innovation Arena, a space dedicated to startups and technological solutions, and above all we are focused on internationalization with actions in strategic markets such as France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Chile and Southeast Asia, always with the aim of bringing the main players and creating the largest padel network in the world.
In addition to being a commercial meeting point, the show has an outstanding congress programme.
The event will be the center of the professional debate of the professional debate around padel as a sport but also as a business. It has an international congress structured in six themes that will address every aspect from international expansion and business models to the application of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, training, and the professionalization of the industry. Our intention is to build a space to share knowledge, get inspired and anticipate trends. For this reason, the motto of the congress is Next Padel.
Can you tell us which brands and companies have confirmed their participation in the next edition of the Padel World Summit 2026?
With five months to go, we are proud to confirm that we have a large part of the exhibition space booked featuring the top brands from around the world. All of them are equally important, either because they are leaders in the industry, or because they are committed to the growth of the sector in their region. Among these are Mejorset, Babolat, Playtomic, Skechers, Mondo, Ingode, Joma, Lusotendas, Endless, Padel Galis and Padelgest. All of them will showcase their latest innovations in product, technology and services for clubs and players.
Finally, how do you think the economic sector linked to padel is evolving?
Padel has become a multi-billion dollar industry that ranges from the manufacture of rackets, textiles, court construction or software, to the creation of large chains of clubs on all continents. According to the Global Padel Report, which is presented every year at the PWS, the padel business exceeds 2 billion euros per year, with a steady growth of 15% year-on-year. The entry of international investors and the expansion into new markets confirm its potential.
Barcelona, 5 February 2026
Edu Pérez Moya / Folc Lecha
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