A new nationwide competition is aiming to engage more than 25,000 players, with regional champions battling for four national titles at PadelXpo, NEC Birmingham, on 5-6 June 2027.
The UK National Amateur Padel Championship (UKNAPC) will launch in January 2027, offering players of all abilities the opportunity to progress from their local clubs through regional qualifiers to the national finals at the NEC Birmingham.
The finals will take place on PadelXpo’s 2,000-seat show court, giving amateur players the chance to compete for a national title in front of a live audience.
Pivotal time for padel
The championship comes at a pivotal time for the sport.
According to the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), 1.5 million adults and juniors now play padel in Britain, across 2,445 courts at 682 venues.
Participation has risen from just 15,000 players in 2019, underlining the sport’s remarkable growth and its position as one of the UK’s fastest-growing sports.
By connecting grassroots competition with PadelXpo’s celebration of the sport, the championship will give players a new competitive ambition while bringing clubs, brands, retailers and the wider padel community together in Birmingham.
From local clubs to the national stage
The UKNAPC aims to engage more than 25,000 players from up to 256 clubs across eight regions, with the competition running from January to June 2027.
Four national titles will be contested: Men's and Women's championships across two divisions, with pairs grouped according to their combined Playtomic level so that players compete against others of a similar standard.
The competition will follow three stages:
Club qualifiers | January–February 2027: Players register through their local club and compete in round-robin groups of four, arranging their own matches over an eight-week window.
Regional qualifiers | March–April 2027: Winning pairs from the club stage progress to one of eight regional competitions across Britain.
National Finals Weekend | 5–6 June 2027: Regional champions meet in Birmingham, with all four national finals taking place on the PadelXpo show court on Sunday 6 June.
Entry costs £20 per player for the entire championship, covering participation across the competition stages, with no separate entry fees for individual qualifying rounds.
UKNAPC ambassador Ben Burgess said: “For the top level of UK padel there are many opportunities for players to regularly compete around the country and outside of their clubs, but that’s not the case for most amateur players.
“We wanted to create something that worked for clubs in terms of their local communities, but also something that’s aspirational for players of all levels.
“What could be more aspirational than to become a UK National Champion and play in front of 2,000 people!”
Bringing the UK padel community together at PadelXpo
Taking place at the NEC Birmingham on 5–6 June 2027, PadelXpo will bring players, brands and the wider padel community together for a weekend celebrating the sport, with opportunities to play, watch, shop and connect with the latest developments in padel.
Hosting the UKNAPC national finals will put amateur competition at the heart of the event, giving finalists a platform to showcase their talent while allowing spectators to experience the drama of championship padel live.
Mike Seaman, Group CEO of Raccoon Media Group, organisers of PadelXpo, said: “Padel is experiencing incredible growth across the UK, and we want PadelXpo to be at the heart of that momentum.
“The UK National Amateur Padel Championship is a fantastic initiative that gives players of all abilities something to aspire to, while celebrating the clubs and communities driving the sport forward.
“Hosting the national finals at PadelXpo will bring an exciting new dimension to the show, giving amateur players the opportunity to compete on a major stage and allowing visitors to experience the passion, talent and competitive spirit that make padel so special.
“We’re delighted to support a championship that will help connect the grassroots game with the wider padel industry.”
As the sport continues to attract new players and investment, the championship and its PadelXpo finale aim to strengthen connections between local clubs and the wider industry, creating a new competitive goal for amateur players and a national celebration of the game.
How to get involved
Players and clubs can register their interest in the UK National Amateur Padel Championship at www.uknapc.com.
Clubs interested in hosting qualifiers, alongside organisations interested in partnership opportunities, can contact pete@uknapc.com.
For more information about PadelXpo, taking place at the NEC Birmingham on 5–6 June 2027, visit www.padelxpo.com.
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