Padel news: Six reasons why getting into padel should be on your 2026 New Year’s resolutions
Another year is almost over and if you still haven’t tried padel, then you must have been living under a rock.
And if for some inexplicable reason padel has yet to make it onto your New Year’s resolutions, here is Sports News Blitz writer Vanely Barumire with six reasons to get into padel in 2026.
Premier Padel
More than just the popular pastime of millions of amateurs plus high-profile celebrities, padel is a well established sporting event – one that you have to watch next year.
Packed with exciting off-court storylines and thrilling international events, professional padel is quickly becoming the sport to watch.
Premier Padel, the global tournament for elite players, is televised on Red Bull TV for free and if you were to do anything in 2026, it would be to tune in to at least one match.
Anglo American Padel Cup
Summer 2026 will be taken over by ‘The Beautiful Game’.
The FIFA Football World Cup will hijack millions of television screens around the globe, but if football is not for you, a transcontinental padel competition might just be the best way to spend your summer.
Set to be hosted in Miami, the Anglo American Padel Cup will return in 2026 with another display of the best US and British padel players.
The inaugural competition was won by Team USA, so the host nation will be looking to keep the trophy on home soil.
If you are obsessed with international competition or looking for a unique experience to add to your 2026 bucket list, the Anglo American Padel Cup is a great addition.
READ MORE: Padel news: Hexagon Cup, 54 and International Padel Federation announce Hexagon World Series
Socialising
Padel clubs are the perfect place to unwind, either with a quick game or by skipping the court entirely and heading straight for a matcha tea with friends.
Indeed, the sport itself encourages such behavior.
And given that padel is so valued for its social aspect, it is surely the chicest and fittest way to catch up with friends in the new year.
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Building fitness
You start the year with a complicated fitness plan and by Valentine’s Day, you are stuffing your face with chocolate having not been to the gym in three weeks – we all know the deal.
If you are looking to break that frustrating cycle, then padel might be the way to go, with a typical padel game lasting 90 minutes and burning over 400 calories.
More than a way to burn off those roast potatoes and mince pies, padel involves hitting, running, and changing speed and will help improve your aerobic endurance and agility.
Plus, it’s best to get fitter with a sport you can actually stick to.
READ NEXT: Padel news: From Marbella and Sotogrande to Dubai, here are the world’s most stunning padel courts
Networking
Putting aside traditional networking places, padel is the future for connecting professionally.
With the sport focused on informality and socialising, padel courts offer a unique setting for networking.
And considering that the shift towards health-conscious socialising is unlikely to slow down in 2026, padel needs to be added to every networking event in 2026.
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Aesthetics
Offering charming cafes, selfie-worthy backdrops, and Instagram-esque coffees, most padel courts are engineered for social media posting.
Padel is thus so much more than a sport – it is an aesthetic.
From extravagant floating courts in Dubai to minimalist local spots at a more affordable price, the sport offers a feeling of luxury for all price points.
If you are looking for a way to freshen up your Instagram feed in 2026, then padel is certainly how to do it.
MORE FROM VANELY BARUMIRE: Padel opinion: How padel took over the sporting world in 2025
