May 2026 Pickleball Tournaments Ranked By Size

Welcome And What We Ranked

Brent 0:00

So uh to kick things off, we are Brent and April, and welcome to Pickleball Partner, the podcast.

April 0:08

Yeah, welcome in, everyone. We um we have a really great deep dive planned for you today.

Brent 0:13

We really do. We are breaking down the 10 largest pickleball tournaments happening in May 2026.

Where The Tournament Data Lives

April 0:18

Right. And that's uh specifically based on player registration numbers going in chronological order.

Brent 0:24

Aaron Powell Exactly. And just a quick housekeeping note for you all of this information can actually be found over at pickleballtournament.com.

April 0:31

Yeah, which is super helpful because, well, while the specific registration deadlines aren't published for these events, the dates are coming up incredibly fast.

Brent 0:39

They really are. So, you know, jump in now if you want to play.

April 0:42

Definitely. But um, what really stands out today isn't just the dates, it's the money.

Brent 0:47

Oh, the stark contrast in registration costs is wild. We are looking at local community events versus these like major national showdowns.

April 0:55

Right. The landscape is just totally shifting right now.

Atlanta Size Versus Entry Fee

Brent 0:57

Yeah. So let's start with the late April kickoffs. We have the absolute behemoth of the list, which is the Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships.

April 1:07

Down in Peachtree Corners, Georgia.

Brent 1:09

Right. That's running from April 27th to May 3rd. And they have a massive 1,498 players registered.

April 1:16

Wow, that is huge.

Brent 1:18

It is. But it comes with a premium price tag of$115.

April 1:22

Which is pretty steep, especially when you chronologically move to the regional challengers, like um the Dinko de Mayo events.

Brent 1:30

Yes, exactly. Like the one in Long Beach, Washington, from April 29th to May 3rd. They have 139 players, but it's only 60 bucks.

April 1:40

Such a huge difference. And there's another Dinko de Mayo event in Fenton, Missouri.

Brent 1:44

Oh, right. From April 30th to May 3rd, drawing 339 players. And that one is just$50.

April 1:51

$50? I mean, that's less than half the Atlanta costs.

Brent 1:54

It really makes you think, you know. It's kind of like buying a premium arena concert ticket versus going to a$50 local indie club show.

April 2:02

That is actually a perfect way to put it.

Brent 2:04

Thanks. But I have to ask, does the player experience at these national events actually justify double the price? Or is it just like brand markup?

April 2:13

Well, it's mostly the national infrastructure driving up the overhead.

Brent 2:16

Oh, right.

April 2:17

Yeah. You're paying for standardized professional courts, certified refs, and live streaming setups that local events just don't have to build from scratch.

The $60 Regional Tournament Sweet Spot

Brent 2:25

Okay, that makes sense. Which brings us right into the first weekend of May, where there is just this massive rush of rapid-fire regional events.

April 2:35

The schedule is totally packed starting April 30th.

Brent 2:39

It really is. We've got the Tulip City Open in Holland, Michigan. That one has 141 players for$60.

April 2:46

And then there's the Black Desert PPA Challenger in Santa Claire, Utah, right?

Brent 2:50

Right, from May 1st to the 3rd. 106 players for$80, plus the PPX rise of the Challenger in Aurora, Ontario, with 103 players for 65 Canadian dollars.

April 3:02

And don't forget the CT Masters games in Rocky Hill, Connecticut.

Brent 3:05

Oh, yeah, 210 players at$65. And Fever in the Zoo in Kalamazoo, Michigan, 99 players also for$65.

April 3:13

So when you look at all of those, there is a very clear financial pattern.

Brent 3:18

The$60 sweet spot.

April 3:19

Exactly. Regional competitive play is fiercely anchored in that$60 to$65 range. It really serves as the accessible backbone of the sports growth.

Brent 3:30

Because it's affordable for you to just grab a paddle and go play for the weekend.

National Heavyweights And MLP Dallas Pricing

April 3:33

Precisely. But then we jump to the mid to late May heavyweights where things change again.

Brent 3:38

Right, like the PPA finals in San Clemente, California. From May 4th to the 10th, they both$856 players.

April 3:45

And the cost jumps right back up to$105.

Brent 3:48

Yeah, which fits that massive national overhead you mentioned earlier. But I have a glaring discrepancy I need to push back on.

April 3:54

Okay, let's hear it.

Brent 3:55

The late month premium event, MLP Dallas in Carrollton, Texas, from May 22nd to the 25th.

April 4:02

Ah, yes. Minor league pickleball.

Brent 4:05

It is the most expensive event on our entire list at$120. Yet it only has 119 players compared to San Clemente's 800.

April 4:13

Right. It's a fraction of the size.

Brent 4:15

So why is a smaller minor league event charging the absolute highest premium?

April 4:20

Well, it's because it's a highly curated team-based format. You aren't just playing a massive open bracket.

Brent 4:25

Oh, I see. So it's less of a huge city marathon and more of an exclusive boutique fitness class.

April 4:30

Exactly. The player pool is intentionally capp low to maintain that specific team atmosphere. So you're splitting the brand experience and facility costs among way fewer people.

Brent 4:42

Which naturally spikes the overhead per player. That totally makes sense.

Will Premium Fees Price Players Out

April 4:45

It does. But it leaves you with a really provocative question to mull over. As these minor league branded events start charging top-tier premium prices, will it eventually alienate the everyday recreational player?

Brent 4:59

That is a great point. Or, you know, is this simply the new economic standard for competitive play?

April 5:05

Definitely something for everyone to think about next time they register.

Brent 5:08

Absolutely. Well, thank you for listening to Pickleball Partner, the podcast, and we look forward to the next tournament episode.