10 Pickleball Countries to Watch
The next chapter of pickleball’s story is unfolding around the world
By The Pickleball Weekly Editorial Team
July 22, 2026 • 9 min read
FOR DECADES, PICKLEBALL was considered America’s fastest-growing sport. Today, that description no longer tells the whole story.
Step onto a rooftop court in Mumbai after work and you’ll find young professionals squeezing in doubles matches before heading home. Walk through a municipal park in Ho Chi Minh City and the unmistakable pop of pickleballs echoes long after sunset. Visit an indoor club outside Toronto in the middle of January, and every court is likely to be booked despite the snow piling up outside. In Spain, pickleball is finding a home alongside the country’s thriving padel culture, while in Australia and France, tennis clubs are converting underused courts to accommodate growing demand.
The sport that began on Bainbridge Island, Washington, has become something much larger than anyone imagined.
Around the world, pickleball is no longer viewed as an American export. It has become a sport that countries are adapting to fit their own cultures, climates, existing sports infrastructure, and lifestyles. While the U.S. remains the game’s largest and most influential market, a new generation of pickleball nations is emerging, each following a different path toward the same destination. Some are fueled by government support, others by entrepreneurial investment, and still others by passionate grassroots communities. Together, they are reshaping what the future of pickleball looks like.
India: Building at Unprecedented Speed
Few countries have embraced pickleball as rapidly as India. What began as a niche sport has exploded into one of the world’s fastest-growing markets, driven by the country’s massive youth population, widespread familiarity with badminton and squash, and significant investment in professional competition.
Developers are building courts into residential communities. Entrepreneurs are opening dedicated clubs in major metro areas like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru. International tours have recognized the country’s potential, bringing elite competition and larger prize purses that continue to elevate the sport’s profile. For many observers, India represents pickleball’s greatest long-term growth opportunity.
India’s existing racquet sport culture has played a significant role in accelerating adoption. Badminton courts can often be converted quickly, allowing facilities to introduce pickleball with relatively little investment. That accessibility has made the sport attractive to schools, universities, private clubs, and commercial sports centers alike.
The emergence of internationally recognized players such as Armaan Bhatia has further elevated the country’s profile, giving aspiring athletes visible role models while demonstrating that Indian players can compete with the world’s best. Combined with substantial private investment and a growing calendar of international events, India appears poised to become one of pickleball’s defining global markets.
Canada: A Winter Game Without Winter
Canada’s growth has taken a very different path.
Unlike warmer climates where outdoor courts dominate the landscape, Canadian players have learned to thrive indoors. Long winters have fueled the construction of climate- controlled clubs, converted warehouses, and year-round indoor leagues that have created one of the world’s strongest organized pickleball communities.
While the United States remains the sport’s largest market, Canada boasts one of the highest participation rates per capita, proving that harsh winters are no obstacle to sustained growth.
Rather than slowing participation, Canada’s climate has encouraged innovation. Large indoor facilities now serve as year-round gathering places where leagues, tournaments, coaching programs, and social events continue uninterrupted regardless of the weather outside. Organizations such as Pickleball Canada have helped establish a strong competitive structure, while internationally successful players like Catherine Parenteau and Steve Deakin continue raising the country’s profile on the professional stage.
Spain: From Padel to Pickleball
Spain’s love affair with racquet sports has created fertile ground for pickleball.
Already home to one of the world’s largest padel communities, the country has discovered that many existing facilities can easily accommodate pickleball alongside traditional offerings. Resorts, sports clubs, and tourism destinations are adding courts to attract both residents and international visitors, giving Spain the potential to become Europe’s leading pickleball destination.
Spain’s thriving sports tourism industry has become another important catalyst. Visitors traveling for golf, tennis, and padel are increasingly discovering pickleball during their stays, encouraging resorts to expand their offerings. Innovative events, including the world’s first floating championship court in A Coruña, have generated international attention while showcasing Spain’s willingness to embrace creative ways of promoting the sport.
Vietnam & Malaysia: Southeast Asia’s Momentum
Across Southeast Asia, pickleball has become a social phenomenon.
In Vietnam, public parks and repurposed badminton courts are packed from morning until late evening as players of all ages discover the sport’s accessibility. Malaysia has emerged as a regional hub by hosting major PPA Asia events while capitalizing on its long-established badminton culture. Together, the two countries demonstrate how existing racquet sport infrastructure can dramatically accelerate pickleball’s adoption.
Social media has helped fuel Vietnam’s extraordinary rise, with thousands of new players discovering the sport through videos, community groups, and local events. Malaysia, meanwhile, has become an important gateway for international competition, attracting elite athletes while introducing new players to the sport through high-profile tournaments. Both countries demonstrate how quickly pickleball can flourish when an established racquet sport culture already exists.
China: The Sleeping Giant
For years, China played a critical role in pickleball without most players realizing it.
The country manufactures much of the world’s paddles, balls, and equipment. Now, it is becoming a player on the court as well. Municipal governments, developers, and sports organizations are investing in facilities and tournaments, transforming China from the sport’s manufacturing center into one of its most promising participation markets.
China’s experience with table tennis and badminton provides a natural foundation for the game’s growth, while its ability to rapidly develop sports infrastructure gives the country enormous long-term potential. If domestic participation continues to expand alongside equipment manufacturing, China could become one of pickleball’s most influential nations both on and off the court.
Australia: Reinventing the Tennis Club
Across Australia, underused tennis courts are finding new life.
Local clubs have discovered that converting existing facilities into pickleball courts attracts younger players, families, and recreational athletes looking for a more social experience. Combined with the growth of the National Pickleball League, Australia has positioned itself as one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most exciting emerging markets.
Australia’s relaxed outdoor lifestyle aligns naturally with pickleball’s social appeal. Weekend competitions, community leagues, and club events continue drawing newcomers, while the National Pickleball League has provided a professional platform that is helping elevate both the visibility and quality of play throughout the country.
Japan: Growth Through Wellness
Japan’s expansion has been steady rather than explosive, but no less significant.
Corporate wellness initiatives, active-aging programs, and multi-use indoor sports centers have introduced pickleball to an increasingly health-conscious population. In densely populated cities where space is limited, the sport’s compact footprint makes it an attractive addition to existing recreational facilities.
Japan’s emphasis on healthy aging, lifelong fitness, and organized recreation makes pickleball particularly well suited to the country’s demographic trends. Corporate fitness programs and community recreation centers continue introducing new participants to the sport, creating steady and sustainable growth rather than short-term spikes in popularity.
France: A Federation-Driven Future
France is taking perhaps the most structured approach of any European nation.
With support from the French Tennis Federation, clubs across the country are introducing pickleball through established tennis programs, creating organized pathways for coaching, competition, and long-term player development. Rather than growing organically, the sport is expanding through an existing national sports infrastructure.
That institutional support gives France a unique advantage. Rather than building a network from scratch, pickleball can leverage thousands of existing tennis clubs, certified coaches, and recreational programs. As awareness continues to grow, France appears well positioned to become one of Europe’s strongest long-term markets.
South Africa: Leading a Continent
While pickleball is still emerging across much of Africa, South Africa has established itself as the continent’s early leader.
Rapid membership growth, expanding club networks, and enthusiastic community organizations are introducing the sport to players already familiar with tennis and squash. As participation continues to increase, South Africa appears well positioned to become the gateway for pickleball’s continued expansion throughout Africa.
Clubs in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban continue introducing leagues, instructional programs, and competitive events that are building a strong foundation for future growth. As neighboring countries begin exploring the sport, South Africa is likely to play a leading role in developing coaches, tournaments, and regional competition across the continent.
A Global Game
Although each country’s journey is unique, common themes connect them all.
Some are driven by youth participation. Others by tourism, professional tours, indoor facilities, or government support. Existing badminton, tennis, squash, and padel communities have all helped accelerate adoption in different parts of the world, proving there is no single formula for success.
That diversity may ultimately become one of pickleball’s greatest strengths. The sport has demonstrated an unusual ability to adapt to local cultures while preserving the qualities that made it successful in the first place. Whether introduced through a tennis federation in France, a badminton club in Malaysia, an indoor warehouse in Canada, or a luxury resort in Spain, the game remains approachable, social, competitive, and fun.
North America may have written pickleball’s opening chapter, but it no longer owns the entire story. Every new court built in India, every club opened in Australia, every tournament hosted in Vietnam, and every player picking up a paddle in South Africa represents another step in the sport’s global evolution.
The next chapter of pickleball won’t be written in one country. It will be written in dozens of languages, across every continent, by millions of players who are discovering that the fastest-growing sport in America has become one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. ●
About The Pickleball Weekly Editorial Team
The Pickleball Weekly Editorial Team produces in-depth reporting and cover features that examine the sport’s growth, innovation, competition, and culture. With contributors who understand both the strategy of the game and the forces shaping its future, the team is committed to telling the full story of modern pickleball.
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