Pickleball has exploded into one of the fastest-growing sports in America, and nowhere is that more visible than at tournament registration desks. The biggest events now draw thousands of players competing across hundreds of events over multi-day weekends.
But which tournaments are the most popular? We looked at registration data from thousands of pickleball tournaments tracked on Tournament Pickle to find the Top 10 most popular events in America — ranked by total player registrations.
Here's what the numbers say.
The Complete Top 10 Rankings
| Rank | Tournament | Location | Registrations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pickleball World Championships (2025) | Farmers Branch, TX | 3,554 |
| 2 | USA Pickleball National Championships (2023) | Dallas, TX | 3,366 |
| 3 | Minto US Open (2024) | Naples, FL | 3,074 |
| 4 | NSGA National Pickleball Tournament (2025) | Des Moines, IA | 1,973 |
| 5 | PPA Tour: Carvana PPA Masters (2026) | Rancho Mirage, CA | 1,777 |
| 6 | APP Tour: Newport Beach Open (2024) | Newport Beach, CA | 1,742 |
| 7 | PPA Tour: Orange County Cup (2025) | San Clemente, CA | 1,698 |
| 8 | PPA Tour: Atlanta Slam (2024) | Peachtree Corners, GA | 1,573 |
| 9 | APP Tour: Sacramento Open (2024) | Roseville, CA | 1,470 |
| 10 | PPA Tour: Carvana Mesa Cup (2025) | Mesa, AZ | 1,466 |
🏆 The top three events each exceeded 3,000 registrations — a remarkable threshold that only the sport's premier championship events have reached. The #1 and #2 spots are separated by fewer than 200 players.
Let's break down what makes each tier special.
The Championship Tier: 3,000+ Registrations
1. Pickleball World Championships — Farmers Branch, TX
The undisputed king. The 2025 Pickleball World Championships drew a staggering 3,554 registered players across 861 events over a full week in November. Held at the Brookhaven Country Club complex in Farmers Branch (just outside Dallas), this event has cemented Texas as the epicenter of championship pickleball.
What makes the World Championships stand out isn't just the player count — it's the sheer variety of competition. With 861 events spanning Pro, Senior Pro, and Amateur divisions in men's, women's, mixed, and coed formats, there's literally a bracket for everyone from ages 8 to 85+.
The 2024 edition drew 2,447 registrations, meaning the World Championships saw a 45% year-over-year increase — a sign that this event's momentum is accelerating.
2. USA Pickleball National Championships — Various Locations
The USA Pickleball National Championships are the sport's official national tournament, sanctioned by USA Pickleball (the national governing body). The 2023 Biofreeze-sponsored edition in Dallas drew 3,366 registrations, making it the second-most-popular tournament ever tracked.
The Nationals rotate locations — from Dallas (2023) to Mesa, AZ (2024) to San Diego (2025) — which helps spread the sport's premier event across the country. Recent editions have consistently pulled between 2,300 and 3,400 players.
3. Minto US Open — Naples, FL
The Minto US Open Pickleball Championships in Naples, Florida is pickleball's most iconic event. Held annually at the East Naples Community Park — often called the "pickleball capital of the world" — the 2024 edition attracted 3,074 registered players across 260 events.
Naples has long been synonymous with pickleball culture, and the US Open's weeklong format combines world-class competition with a festival atmosphere that draws players and fans from across the country.
The National Event Tier: 1,700–2,000 Registrations
4. NSGA National Pickleball Tournament — Des Moines, IA
The National Senior Games Association (NSGA) National Pickleball Tournament proves that competitive pickleball has no age limit. The 2025 edition in Des Moines drew 1,973 registrations, making it the largest senior-focused pickleball event in the country.
The NSGA tournament is part of the broader National Senior Games and attracts competitive players age 50+ from all over America. Its presence in Des Moines — not exactly a sunbelt city — shows that pickleball passion knows no geographic bounds.
5. PPA Tour: Carvana PPA Masters — Rancho Mirage, CA
The PPA Masters is the crown jewel of the PPA Tour's season, held at the stunning Rancho Mirage location in the California desert. The 2026 edition pulled 1,777 registrations, making it the most popular PPA Tour stop by far.
As a Masters-level event, it attracts the deepest field of professionals alongside a massive amateur draw — a combination that makes the atmosphere electric.
The Major Tour Stop Tier: 1,400–1,750 Registrations
6. APP Tour: Newport Beach Open — Newport Beach, CA
The APP Tour's Newport Beach Open is one of the most popular stops on the circuit, drawing 1,742 players in 2024. As a USA Pickleball Golden Ticket qualifier, it carries extra weight — players can earn their way to the National Championships.
7. PPA Tour: Orange County Cup — San Clemente, CA
Southern California's pickleball scene flexes again with the PPA Tour: Select Medical Orange County Cup, which drew 1,698 registrations in 2025. San Clemente's coastal location makes this one of the most scenic tournament settings in the sport.
8. PPA Tour: Atlanta Slam — Peachtree Corners, GA
Georgia has quietly become a pickleball powerhouse, and the PPA Tour's Atlanta stop proves it. The 2024 Vizzy Atlanta Slam pulled 1,573 players, making it the top-drawing event in the Southeast outside of Naples.
9. APP Tour: Sacramento Open — Roseville, CA
The APP Tour: Sacramento Open in Roseville drew 1,470 players in 2024 — another Golden Ticket qualifier that attracted a deep amateur field alongside professional competition.
10. PPA Tour: Carvana Mesa Cup — Mesa, AZ
Rounding out the top 10, the PPA Tour: Carvana Mesa Cup in Mesa, Arizona drew 1,466 registrations in early 2025. Arizona's year-round outdoor playing conditions and strong local pickleball community make it a natural home for major events.
Where the Biggest Tournaments Happen
When you look at which states host the most major pickleball events (defined as tournaments with 500+ registrations), a clear geographic pattern emerges:
Top 10 states by number of major pickleball events (500+ registrations)
| Rank | State | Major Events | Total Registrations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 32 | 29,144 |
| 2 | California | 21 | 25,184 |
| 3 | Texas | 20 | 20,981 |
| 4 | Georgia | 19 | 15,720 |
| 5 | Arizona | 14 | 13,615 |
| 6 | Utah | 11 | 10,524 |
| 7 | Washington | 11 | 7,294 |
| 8 | Ohio | 9 | 6,581 |
| 9 | Nevada | 7 | 7,202 |
| 10 | Colorado | 7 | 4,777 |
The sunbelt dominance is undeniable. Florida, California, Texas, and Arizona — states with warm weather and strong outdoor recreation cultures — account for the lion's share of major events. But there are surprises too:
- Georgia (4th) punches well above its weight, largely thanks to the PPA Tour's Atlanta stops
- Utah (6th) continues its outsized pickleball presence — the state that leads in per-capita players also hosts plenty of big events
- Nevada and Ohio both show up with strong tournament circuits despite not being traditional pickleball hotbeds
What Makes a Tournament a Mega-Event?
Looking at the top 10, a few patterns emerge that separate the mega-events from the rest:
1. Multi-day formats with deep brackets
The biggest events run for 5–7 days and offer hundreds of event brackets. The World Championships had 861 events — meaning players can enter multiple age groups, skill levels, and formats. More options = more registrations.
2. Championship stakes
Events like the Nationals and World Championships carry the weight of titles and prestige. Golden Ticket qualifiers on the APP Tour also drive registrations because players are competing for a spot at Nationals.
3. Pro-Am crossover
The most popular PPA and APP stops combine professional competition with a massive amateur draw. Players love competing at the same venue where the pros play — it creates a buzz that purely amateur events can't match.
4. Destination appeal
Naples, Newport Beach, Rancho Mirage, San Clemente — these aren't just tournament venues, they're vacation destinations. Combining competition with travel appeal helps events attract players from far beyond the local area.
🏓 Find Your Next Tournament
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Browse Most Popular TournamentsThe Bottom Line
The top 10 most popular pickleball tournaments paint a picture of a sport that's still accelerating. The World Championships grew 45% in a single year. The PPA and APP Tours are consistently filling 1,500+ player draws at their biggest stops. And the geographic spread — from Iowa to Georgia to California — shows that pickleball fever isn't confined to any one region.
If you've been thinking about entering your first (or next) big tournament, there's never been a better time. These events aren't just competitions — they're communities, and the atmosphere at a 1,000+ player tournament is something every pickleball player should experience at least once.
Want to know where you stack up? Check out our complete guide to DUPR ratings to understand your skill level, or look up any player's rating on Tournament Pickle.
📋 Methodology
Rankings are based on registration data from thousands of pickleball tournaments tracked by Tournament Pickle as of January 2026. Registration counts reflect total player registrations (a single player may register for multiple events within a tournament). For recurring tournament series, we used the edition with the highest registration count. Only U.S.-based tournaments are included.