California isn't just the land of sunshine, avocados, and tech startups — it's also one of the biggest pickleball states in America. With more registered pickleball players than any other state, it's no surprise that the Golden State has a tournament scene to match.
Based on our tournament database, California has hosted over 700 pickleball tournaments across more than 100 cities — from Newport Beach to Sacramento, Palm Desert to Palo Alto. Whether you're a casual 3.0 player looking for your first tournament or a 5.0+ competitor chasing PPA Tour points, California has something for you.
Here's everything you need to know about pickleball tournaments in California heading into 2026.
California's Top Pickleball Tournament Cities
Not all California cities are created equal when it comes to tournament action. Here's where the most events happen:
| Rank | City | Tournaments | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newport Beach | 66 | Orange County |
| 2 | Palm Desert | 29 | Inland Empire / Desert |
| 3 | Fountain Valley | 25 | Orange County |
| 4 | Concord | 24 | Bay Area |
| 5 | Fresno | 22 | Central Valley |
| 6 | Roseville | 18 | Sacramento Area |
| 7 | San Diego | 17 | San Diego County |
| 8 | Los Angeles | 17 | Greater LA |
| 9 | Rancho Mirage | 17 | Desert / Coachella Valley |
| 10 | Palo Alto | 15 | Bay Area |
🏆 Newport Beach is California's pickleball tournament capital with 66 events — more than double the next city on the list. The Newport Beach Tennis Club at 11 Clubhouse Drive has become one of the most iconic pickleball venues in the country, regularly hosting major PPA and APP tour stops.
A few things stand out from the data:
- Orange County dominates. Newport Beach and Fountain Valley alone account for nearly 100 tournaments. SoCal's mild weather and dedicated facilities make it a natural hub.
- The desert is a winter hotbed. Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage (the Coachella Valley) host dozens of tournaments, especially from November through March when the weather is perfect and snowbirds flock south.
- NorCal has serious depth. Concord, Roseville, Palo Alto, Richmond, and Campbell all feature prominently — the Bay Area and Sacramento regions together rival SoCal's output.
- The Central Valley shows up. Fresno leads a growing inland scene, proving pickleball isn't just a coastal sport.
🔍 Browse all California tournaments on Tournament Pickle →
When Do California Tournaments Happen?
One of California's biggest advantages is year-round tournament play. But there are definitely peak seasons:
Monthly distribution of California pickleball tournaments
| Season | Months | Tournaments | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🌸 Spring | Mar – May | 247 | Peak season — May alone has 115 events |
| 🍂 Fall | Sep – Nov | 174 | Second busiest — pleasant weather statewide |
| ❄️ Winter | Dec – Feb | 134 | Desert tournaments shine; NorCal slows |
| ☀️ Summer | Jun – Aug | 148 | Inland areas hot; coast stays comfortable |
Weather Tips for Traveling Players
- Winter visitors: Head to the desert (Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage) for 70°F days and packed tournament calendars. The Coachella Valley is California's top winter pickleball destination.
- Spring competitors: May is the sweet spot — perfect weather almost everywhere and the highest concentration of events.
- Summer warriors: Stick to the coast. Inland and desert areas can hit 100°F+. Newport Beach, Monterey, and Bay Area venues stay comfortable.
- Fall players: September and October are excellent statewide — warm days, little rain, and tournaments ramping back up.
California's Most Popular Pickleball Tournaments
Based on registration data in our tournament database, these are the California tournaments that draw the biggest fields:
| Tournament | City | Registrations | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| APP Newport Beach 2025 | Newport Beach | 1,200+ | APP Tour |
| PPA Tour: Palm Springs | Rancho Mirage | 1,000+ | PPA Tour |
| PPA Tour: CIBC The Finals | San Clemente | 1,000+ | PPA Tour |
| PPA Tour: Los Angeles | Fountain Valley | 1,000+ | PPA Tour |
| PPA Tour: Veolia LA Open | Fountain Valley | 980+ | PPA Tour |
California is a marquee stop for both the PPA Tour and APP Tour, attracting the sport's top professionals alongside hundreds of amateur competitors. These multi-day events typically feature divisions ranging from 3.0 through pro-level play, with age brackets from juniors to 75+.
💡 Pro tip: The biggest California tournaments fill up fast — sometimes within days of registration opening. If you're eyeing a PPA or APP tour stop, set a reminder for the registration opening date. Many events now use waitlists, so even signing up on day one doesn't guarantee a spot.
California's Premier Pickleball Venues
Some venues have become true homes for competitive pickleball in California:
- Newport Beach Tennis Club (Newport Beach) — California's busiest pickleball tournament venue with dozens of events annually. Home to both PPA and APP tour stops.
- Los Caballeros Sports Village (Fountain Valley) — A major Orange County venue that regularly hosts PPA Tour events and community tournaments.
- Willow Pass Community Park (Concord) — The Bay Area's tournament hub with 24 events and growing.
- Indian Wells / Rancho Mirage facilities — The desert's premiere tournament venues, especially popular during the winter season.
- Fresno tournament facilities — Central Valley's anchor for competitive pickleball with over 20 events tracked.
- Bay Club Burlingame — A premium Bay Area club hosting high-quality competitive events.
- Monterey Bay area venues — Home to the popular Monterey Bay Pickleball Otterfest and other coastal events.
Upcoming California Pickleball Tournaments in 2026
Here's a snapshot of what's coming up on the California tournament calendar:
| Date | Tournament | City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 31 – Feb 1 | The San Diego Amateur Open @ Marriott Coronado Island | Coronado |
| Feb 6–7 | SUPER PICKLEBALL BASH – Pro-Am / $5K Moneyball | Campbell |
| Feb 6–7 | The Dink MiLP v4 – King and Queens National Qualifier | Palm Desert |
| Feb 7–8 | On The Rise PB – Cupid's Cup | Fountain Valley |
| Feb 14–15 | MBT @ Pickleball Athletic Club | Thousand Oaks |
| Feb 20–22 | NP Palm Desert Winter Classic | Palm Desert |
| Feb 21–22 | Epic Pickleball Tour – Indoor Classic 2026 | Carson |
This is just a fraction of what's scheduled. New tournaments are added regularly as organizers plan their 2026 calendars.
🔍 See the full, up-to-date California tournament list on Tournament Pickle →
What Skill Levels Can Play?
California tournaments cater to every skill level. Most events offer brackets from 3.0 all the way up to 5.0+ and professional divisions. Here's what to expect:
| DUPR Range | Skill Level | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0–3.0 | Beginner | Fun, social atmosphere. Great for first tournaments. |
| 3.0–3.5 | Intermediate | Most popular bracket. Expect solid rallies and strategy. |
| 3.5–4.0 | Advanced Intermediate | Competitive play with consistent third-shot drops and dinks. |
| 4.0–4.5 | Advanced | High-level play. You'll need a solid all-around game. |
| 4.5–5.0+ | Expert / Pro | Elite competition. PPA/APP tour-level play. |
Not sure where you stand? Check out our complete guide to DUPR ratings to understand how the rating system works and what percentile you fall in.
What Makes California Special for Pickleball?
California's pickleball tournament scene is unique for several reasons:
- Year-round play. Unlike states that shut down in winter, California's diverse climate means there's always a tournament somewhere. Desert communities pick up the slack when coastal areas have their rare rainy stretches.
- Geographic diversity. From beach-side courts in Coronado to mountain venues near Lake Tahoe (yes, the Frozen Pickle Snowfest Cup is a real thing), California offers settings that no other state can match.
- Pro-tour presence. Both the PPA Tour and APP Tour make multiple California stops each year, giving amateur players the chance to compete at the same venues as the pros.
- The biggest player base. California has more registered pickleball players than any other state — over 88,000 and counting. That means deeper brackets, better matchups, and a thriving community.
- Innovation hub. California is home to many pickleball startups, paddle companies, and facility developers. The state often gets new tournament formats and technologies first.
How to Find and Register for California Tournaments
Ready to compete? Here's how to get started:
- Browse tournaments — Use Tournament Pickle's search to find upcoming California events filtered by date, city, and skill level.
- Check the registration platform — Most tournaments register through pickleballtournaments.com (Pickleball Brackets) or utrsports.net (UTR Sports). We'll link you directly to the right page.
- Get your DUPR rating — While not always required, having a DUPR rating helps you enter the right bracket and have better matches.
- Register early — Popular tournaments fill up weeks in advance. Set calendar reminders for registration opening dates.
- Find a partner — Many tournaments offer "need a partner" options during registration. Don't let not having a partner stop you from signing up!
🏓 Find Your Next California Tournament
Search hundreds of pickleball tournaments across California and register today.
Browse California Tournaments📋 About This Data
This analysis is based on our tournament database at Tournament Pickle, which tracks pickleball tournaments across multiple platforms including pickleballtournaments.com and utrsports.net. Tournament counts, city data, and registration numbers reflect all tracked California events as of January 2026. For more on how pickleball states compare, see our US states analysis.