PPA Tour 2026: storylines, format changes, and who to watch

The 2026 PPA Tour season is the biggest the sport has ever staged — 24 events, the deepest field in pro pickleball history, and a generational handoff that's been brewing for a year. Here's what to watch as it unfolds.

Note: this is a preview written 2026-05-19, mid-season. Specific event results referenced are as of that date.

The 2026 calendar

The tour expanded to 24 events for the first time. Three new international stops (Tokyo, London, Mexico City) joined the slate. The early-season grind through January–March was the heaviest ever — players who built a deeper schedule in the off-season are starting to show better third-round results.

The calendar shape:

• Jan–March: West Coast hardcourt swing + first international leg
• April–June: US Open run-up, MLP overlap weeks (which historically thins PPA fields)
• July–Sept: Mid-tier domestic events + Tokyo
• Oct–Dec: Year-end championship swing + London final

US Open week (April) remains the biggest single event by purse and field depth.

Format changes

Two notable rule shifts for 2026:

1. Best-of-three at qualifier rounds. Previous qualifiers were single-game-to-15, which produced upset noise but exhausting Friday slates. The shift to best-of-three games-to-11 makes the qualifier rounds feel more like the main draw and reduces flukey early exits.
2. No-let serves trial at select stops. A handful of events are trialing serves where the ball touching the net is in play (no replay). It's a small change with big tactical implications — return strategy at let-prone serves becomes a real variable.

The traditional rally scoring debate is still under review for 2027. Don't expect it this season.

Storylines: top contenders

The men's draw heading into mid-season:

• Ben Johns. Still the favorite when fully healthy. Backhand has gotten quieter (some say complacent, more likely deliberate energy management).
• Federico Staksrud. Most consistent 2026 starter. Beating Johns isn't the same as winning a major, but he's positioned to take a marquee event.
• Tyson McGuffin. Veteran rebound year. The mid-court game is sharper than 2025.

The women's draw is the most open it's ever been. Anna Leigh Waters' continued evolution and the depth from 19–25-year-olds is producing four-headed pre-tournament favorites instead of a two-horse race.

Storylines: rising players

Watch the under-25 cohort. Specific names worth tracking through the rest of the season:

• 19-year-old Connor Garnett-style players whose drives are now stick-able into pro-level drops
• Several teen names from the U.S. junior pipeline making mainstage main-draw appearances for the first time
• International pickup from Spain, India, and Japan — the global talent pipeline is real now, not just a marketing claim

If you want the full picture of where pro pickleball sits structurally — PPA vs MLP, the UPA umbrella, the TV deals — the state of pro pickleball post breaks it down. The paddle directory tracks what the pros are actually playing with. And the official PPA Tour site has the live schedule and brackets.

How to watch

• PickleballTV (subscription) carries every PPA event live and on-demand.
• CBS / Tennis Channel picks up select Sunday finals (US Open, North Carolina Open, year-end finals).
• YouTube highlights post Monday mornings for the previous weekend's finals.

If you're trying to follow one event start to finish, the US Open in April and the year-end championship in December are the two not to miss.

Frequently asked questions

+−What is the PPA Tour?

The Professional Pickleball Association Tour, the largest pro pickleball circuit in the world. Hosts ~20+ events a year, draws top global players, and pays the highest singles and doubles prize money in the sport.

+−How is PPA different from MLP?

PPA is individual-tournament play (singles, doubles, mixed doubles brackets). MLP is team-format with drafted rosters. Both exist under the broader United Pickleball Association umbrella but run as separate properties.

+−Where can I watch PPA Tour events?

Major events stream on PickleballTV (subscription) and select finals on broadcast partners. The 2026 calendar will have a CBS / Tennis Channel partnership for select Sundays.

+−Who's favored for 2026 men's singles?

Top contenders entering the season include Ben Johns (still the favorite when healthy), Federico Staksrud, and a stronger 2026 push from rising stars in the 19–24 age band.