Premier Padel Pretoria P1 2026: South Africa Welcomes the World’s Best

For the first time ever, the Qatar Airways Premier Padel Tour will stage a P1 tournament on South African soil, bringing the world’s biggest stars of one of the fastest-growing sports to Pretoria. From 26 July to 2 August 2026, the SunBet Arena at Time Square, Pretoria, becomes the centre of the international padel world as elite men’s and women’s players battle for valuable ranking points and a prize fund worth approximately R10 million (€479,068).

Whether you’re already hooked on padel or simply curious about the sport everyone seems to be talking about, this tournament promises an unforgettable week of explosive rallies, incredible athleticism and a festival atmosphere.

The arrival of Premier Padel marks a major milestone for South African sport.

Padel has exploded in popularity across the country over the past few years, with hundreds of new courts opening and participation numbers growing rapidly. Now local fans will finally get the chance to watch the sport’s biggest names compete without travelling overseas.

Even better, 33 South African players are expected to feature across the tournament through qualification, wildcards and main draw opportunities, giving local supporters plenty of home-grown talent to cheer for.

The Pretoria event forms part of a new multi-year partnership between Premier Padel and Primedia Sport, signalling South Africa’s growing importance on the international sporting calendar.

Premier Padel is the official global professional padel tour sanctioned by the International Padel Federation (FIP).

The tour visits countries across Europe, Asia, North and South America, and the Middle East, with tournaments classified as:

A P1 tournament is among the most prestigious events outside the four Majors, attracting virtually every top-ranked player in the world while offering significant prize money and 1,000 ranking points to the winners.

Fans attending Pretoria can expect many of the sport’s household names, including:

• Arturo Coello
• Juan Lebrón
• Paula Josemaría
• Gemma Triay

These players have dominated Premier Padel in recent seasons and will headline one of the strongest fields ever seen on African soil..

Premier Padel tournaments are known for combining elite sport with entertainment. Besides world-class matches, spectators can expect:

• Live music and DJs.
• Food and beverage experiences.
• Family-friendly entertainment.
• Interactive sponsor activations.
• Opportunities to watch South African stars compete against the world’s best.

Organisers are hoping the event becomes an annual fixture on the international sporting calendar.

If you’ve never watched professional padel before, this is the perfect introduction.

The sport combines:

• Tennis power.
• Squash reflexes.
• Tactical doubles play.
• Fast-paced rallies.
• Incredible athleticism.

Matches are typically shorter than tennis, making every point feel important and creating an exciting experience for spectators. With international television coverage and thousands expected to attend throughout the week, Pretoria will become the global home of padel for eight days.