Padel Status 2026: UK & Global Statistics, Courts, Players and Growth Data
Updated June 2026 · Sources: LTA, FIP, Playtomic/PwC, Playskan
Padel is the fastest-growing sport in Great Britain and one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. The LTA confirmed 860,000 players in the UK in 2025 — more than double the 400,000 recorded in 2024. There are now approximately 1,600 courts across the country. Globally, the FIP World Padel Report 2025 counts 35 million players, 77,300 courts and 24,600+ clubs across 150 nations. This page tracks the key numbers, what is driving them, and what comes next.
UK padel: the headline numbers
| Metric | Figure | Source / Date |
|---|---|---|
| Players (2025) | 860,000 | LTA, March 2026 |
| Players (2024) | 400,000+ | LTA, 2024 |
| Players (2023) | 129,000 | LTA, 2023 |
| Players (2019) | 15,000 | LTA baseline |
| Courts (2026 est.) | ~1,600 | LTA, March 2026 |
| Courts (end 2025) | 1,553 | LTA / UK Padel Guide |
| Courts (July 2025) | 1,004 | LTA milestone announcement |
| Courts (end 2024) | 763 | LTA |
| Courts (2019) | 68 | LTA baseline |
| Venues (end 2025) | 559 | LTA |
| Interested in trying | 10 million+ | LTA, 2026 |
| LTA investment in padel | £7.5m+ (leveraging £18m total) | LTA, 2026 |
| UK Govt investment (2026/27) | £2.5m+ in covered facilities | LTA, 2026 |
UK player numbers grew 6,633% between 2019 and 2025. Court numbers grew 2,253% in the same period. In 2024 alone, 413 new courts were built.
UK padel courts: regional distribution
| Region | Courts (July 2025) | Share |
|---|---|---|
| London & South East | 297 | ~29.6% |
| North & West Midlands | 179 | ~17.8% |
| North & East Midlands | 153 | ~15.2% |
| Scotland, Wales & other | Remainder | Growing from low base |
UK padel: court economics
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Estimated UK market revenue (court bookings) | £228.9m annually |
| Average court booking price | £33/hour (range: sub-£20 to £60+ in London) |
| Average club monthly court booking revenue | ~£44,072 |
| Average court occupancy (indoor/covered) | ~71–74% |
| Average court occupancy (outdoor) | ~45–50% |
| Revenue per covered court (annual est.) | ~£160,000 |
| Build cost per court | £60,000–£120,000 |
| Long-term UK court potential | 7,000–8,000 (industry estimate) |
Global padel: the headline numbers
| Metric | Figure | YoY change |
|---|---|---|
| Global players | 35 million+ | — |
| Global courts | 77,300 | +15.2% |
| Courts built in 2025 | 14,355 | — |
| Global clubs | 24,600+ | +16.1% |
| Nations with padel | 150 + 20 dependent territories | +26 vs 2024 |
| Fed. registered members | — | +42% |
| FIP tournaments (2025) | 290 | Up from 182 in 2024 |
| Gender split | 60% male / 40% female | — |
| Player return rate | 92% | — |
Global padel: country comparison
| Country | Courts (approx.) | Players (approx.) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 17,300+ | 6 million+ | Heartland — mature market |
| Italy | 10,000+ | — | Entering consolidation phase |
| Sweden | 4,220 | 600,000+ | Post-boom, stabilising |
| France | 4,000+ | — | +55% courts in 18 months |
| Great Britain | ~1,600 | 860,000 | Fastest growth phase — demand > supply |
| Germany | 875+ | — | +50% courts, accelerating |
| USA | 688 (Q2 2025) | 112,872 (Q2 2025) | Fastest-growing untapped market |
| Asia (30 countries) | 4,600 | 2.2 million | +20% YoY courts |
The professional tour
- Premier Padel is the top-tier professional tour, backed by Qatar Sports Investments and the FIP. All official world rankings are issued through this structure.
- CUPRA FIP Tour is the second-tier professional circuit.
- FIP Promises covers the junior pathway.
- FIP Beyond launched in April 2026 — the first global amateur circuit, targeting 35 million recreational players.
- FIP tournaments grew from 182 in 2024 to 290 in 2025.
- A Premier Padel P1 event comes to London in 2026 — the first top-tier event staged in the UK.
World No. 1s (March 2026): Men — Agustín Tapia and Arturo Coello (20,910 FIP points each). Women — Gemma Triay and Delfina Brea (17,300 FIP points each).
UK padel: structural challenges
- Site scarcity: around 90% of prospective operators still lack a confirmed site.
- Planning complexity: reports and consultation can cost £18,000+ per application and take 8–10 months.
- LTA loan terms changed: interest-free loans replaced by 5% interest loans, with a 15-hours/week public access requirement per court.
- Demand-supply gap: with 10 million+ interested and ~1,600 courts, the ratio is approximately 6,250:1. Spain’s is approximately 353:1.
- Indoor vs. outdoor split: ~55% outdoor, 45% indoor. Outdoor courts average ~45% occupancy vs ~71% for indoor/covered.
Padel in Nottingham
Nottingham is one of the UK’s most active padel cities, with five venues operating and significant expansion planned. James Taylor — brand ambassador for the planned Padelplex multi-court complex — describes himself as a “padel addict.” An eight-court development on Lenton Lane received planning approval in March 2026. Full Nottingham padel venue guide →
Play padel. Look the part.
Corcuera padel clothing — the brand named after the man who invented the sport.
- Where did padel come from?
- How padel conquered the world
- Where to play padel in Nottingham
- Footballers who play padel
- Cricketers who play padel
- Beginner’s guide to padel
Sources
- LTA — 860,000 players: latest UK padel figures (March 2026)
- LTA — Great Britain reaches 1,000 padel courts (July 2025)
- FIP — World Padel Report 2025 (December 2025)
- Playtomic / PwC Strategy& — Global Padel Report 2026
- Playskan — UK Padel Market Report (live data)
- Live For Padel — UK Padel Statistics 2026 (March 2026)
- Find Padel UK — The UK padel market (March 2026)
Data compiled from the sources above. Last updated: June 2026.