TOPSERIES Pickleball unveils its professional circuit in London, marking the beginning of a new era for international pickleball
TOPSERIES Pickleball hosted the official presentation of its professional and international circuit on Thursday 12th February in London (UK), marking the start of a new chapter for pickleball across its first phase in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Designed to structure and professionalise the sport, the event confirmed the circuit’s vision, scope and ambition.
The presentation took place at 30 Knightsbridge, in collaboration with The Luxury Network, and brought together more than 100 attendees, including investors, brands, athletes, federations and media. The evening positioned TOPSERIES Pickleball as a strategic circuit for the sport’s professional development.
An international circuit for the sport’s next stage
The TOPSERIES team presented the pillars of the new circuit: a unified ranking for professional and semi-professional players, standardised prize money across all tournaments, premium audiovisual production from the early rounds, and live experiences designed to maximise impact both on court and on screen.
The main announcement of the evening was the unveiling of the TOPSERIES 2026 International Ultimate Calendar, composed of seven emblematic destinations that reflect the ambition of the circuit. The *ultimate* season will begin in Cairo (April 21–25), continue in Hamburg (May 20–24) and Venice (June 14–28), move on to Tunis (July 1–5), and proceed with the autumn swing in Madrid (September 16–20) and London (October 14–18), before concluding with the Grand Final in Dubai (November 18–22).
This unified calendar positions TOPSERIES Pickleball as the first professional circuit specifically designed to structure and elevate the sport, offering a clear roadmap for players, promoters, fans, brands and partners.
CEO of TOPSERIES Pickleball, Adel Aref: “We are redefining the next era of pickleball in our own way”. On top of the Ultimate events, Aref mentioned that more than 20 other destinations for grassroots pickleball are being planned and can be identified on topseriespickleball.com.
Aref emphasised the importance of this launch and London’s role as the starting point:
“Today, more than 30 million people play pickleball worldwide, with a 500% growth since 2020 and a market valued at €1.8 billion. The momentum is undeniable. TOPSERIES Pickleball was created to offer a structured, international professional tour with a clear roadmap for players, promoters, fans and brands.”
Strong reception from the industry
The event received enthusiastic feedback from both in-person and streaming attendees, including key figures from sports, media and investment. Notable guests included Mustafa Cerulu (French Public Investment Bank), Marina Caiazzo (ASICS), Julien Cassaigne (Tennium), Ben Cawson (professional player) and other representatives of the sports ecosystem, reflecting the sector’s growing interest in the development of pickleball.
Final acknowledgment
TOPSERIES Pickleball extends its sincere gratitude to The Luxury Network, whose support and vision were essential in making this presentation possible and in laying the foundations for a circuit that aims to position and elevate pickleball to the visibility it deserves alongside other major racket sports.
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