The third edition welcomed 7,208 attendees, 50% of them international
Padel World Summit confirms its status as the leading global platform for the padel business
The third edition of Padel World Summit (PWS) closes its doors today after three days of busy professional activity, established as the world’s benchmark event for the padel business. In 2026, PWS held its largest edition to date with a total of 7,208 attendees, 20% more than the previous year, of which more than half were international. The professionals have been able to learn about new trends and products showcased by 140 exhibitors from more than 30 countries.
Jointly organised by Fira de Barcelona and the International Padel Cluster in Hall 6 of the Gran Via venue, Padel World Summit delivered its most successful edition yet, with increased attendance, greater international reach and a higher number of exhibitors. The event also achieved a significant leap in quality, generating a high volume of business activity: a total of 1,175 business meetings took place between exhibitors and professional attendees with strong decision-making and purchasing power.
The Director of the event, Àlex Ponseti, expressed his satisfaction “with an edition that has broken all previous records, highlighting the need of the padel sector to have a first-class international trade fair that drives the significant business opportunities presented by this sport, fosters alliances between professionals and promotes innovation across all fields.”
The exhibition space also grew by 34% and stood out as a highly dynamic and experiential event. Among the most prominent companies were Padel Nuestro, Skechers Padel, Playtomic, HIT-X by Padelgest and Realturf, alongside leading brands such as Adidas, Joma, HEAD, Babolat, Lusotendas, Endless, TenCate Grass, Mondo, LED Projects, Matchi and Okatent.
Padel Galis rewards the best startups
Innovation played a central role at the event through the Innovation Arena, sponsored by Padel Galis, which brought together 20 start-ups. The space showcased solutions ranging from the first-ever padel videogame to pressurizers designed to extend the lifespan of balls.
A jury comprised of investors and representatives of Padel World Summit and Padel Galis selected the three best start-ups. First prize went to VAM-OS, a finance and operations platform for clubs that offers real-time visibility of profitability and cash flow. Second place went to CourtBrain, a neutral shot detection system that integrates multiple tracking solutions into a single tool. And third place was awarded to Bopa, a ball re-pressurisation solution designed for club rental use, combining sustainability with operational efficiency.
The Innovation Stage also hosted leading international investors, including Alan Flatt (InvestTrek Capital), Ali Al Arif (SPADREC Investment Group), Hale Yildiz (Lumia Partners) and Oriol Cortada (Tripelsum Investments), who discussed the key factors in financing the next generation of padel clubs worldwide. Meanwhile, Diego Campos (Sunrise Capital), Koen Bosma (APEX Capital), Anton Brams (Mindspring Padel) and Álvaro Ruiz Cotorro (AO Ventures) addressed investment opportunities in emerging padel-related technology companies.
Global knowledge
The Padel Global Conference helped shape the sector’s roadmap through a diverse range of high-profile speakers. Pedro Claveria, Co-Founder and CSO of Playtomic, explained how open APIs are transforming clubs into connected businesses. Astrid Thams, Director of Hexagon, presented the evolution of the Hexagon Cup into a global team-based padel competition.
Australian actor Darren McMullen, founder of Racquet Club, shared his commitment to bringing padel to Australia through innovative and effective commercial initiatives. Abigail McCulloch, included in Forbes’ “30 Under 30 Sports” list and Founder of Alma Padel in Chicago, provided the perspective of a new generation of entrepreneurs. Ben Hanley, responsible for the development of padel within the British Armed Forces, introduced a unique model of social and sporting integration between service members and their families.
The Investor & Business Forum hosted a total of 1,175 business meetings, of which 293 were part of the Hosted Buyers programme, gathering international buyers and investors with high decision-making capacity. The forum has established itself as a key meeting point for investors, brands and operators.
As part of Padel World Summit, Playtomic and consulting firm PwC presented the 2026 Global Padel Report. According to the study, in 2025, a total of 4,969 new clubs were established and 7,898 courts were built.
In addition, the show was transformed into a large indoor padel club, with ten courts installed by Padelgest, Euronix, Padel Alba, AFP Courts, Padel Galis, GreenSet, Pòrtic Sport, Padel Tech, Cent pour Cent Padel and Padel Lab. Renowned figures such as Argentine player Fernando Belasteguín—considered the greatest player in the history of padel—and Spanish player Carolina Navarro, who held the world number one on the World Padel Tour for nine years, took part in activities on court.
The fourth edition of Padel World Summit will take place from 4 to 6 May 2027 at Fira de Barcelona.
Barcelona, 28 May 2026
Edu Pérez Moya / Folc Lecha
93 233 21 66 / 93 233 35 55
[email protected] /[email protected]