The 2026 Global Report certifies the maturity of our market: high frequency of play, professionalism of clubs, increasingly premium models
It is no longer a trend: padel in our country has reached a maturity that few markets in the world can boast: this is certified by the ‘Playtomic Global Padel Report 2026’, created together with Strategy& by PwC, which places Italy among the so-called “Padel Heartlands”, i.e. a small group of ecosystems in which this sport is now rooted in people’s daily free time.
the numbers
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The report introduces for the first time an alternative way to five archetypes to classify the world padel markets, and the Italian one ends up in the most advanced category: no longer in the race to win new members or inaugurate new fields, but already beyond, focused on the quality of the offer, on operational efficiency, on the construction of premium experiences capable of generating value in the long term. The global numbers give the measure of the explosion of the phenomenon: in 2025 alone, almost 5,000 new clubs and 8,000 new fields were opened in the world, for a total that today exceeds 20,900 structures, 58,300 fields and 19.4 million players. By 2028, according to the report’s estimates, there will be over 91,000 camps globally. The equipment market also tells an extraordinary story: 598 million euros in turnover in 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 34% from 2019.
INVESTMENTS
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In this context, Italian primacy is no longer measured in terms of expansion, but of depth. The most advanced clubs are investing in occupancy optimization, revenue management, hospitality and wellness services: the challenge is not to open a new pitch, but to maximize the value of every available hour of play. The strong Italian indoor ecosystem continues to guarantee high usage rates and profit margins. Padel is therefore increasingly becoming an asset. Institutional funds, real estate developers and hospitality operators are integrating the fields into residential projects, resorts and facilities mixed-useas a tool for enhancing assets and attracting customers. The report also photographs a deeper transformation, which goes beyond sport: In the most dynamic urban markets, padel is no longer a side service, but an element of identity, a symbol of lifestyle.
statements
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Pablo Carro, co-founder and CCO of Playtomic, put it this way: “What makes the Italian market particularly strong is the depth and regularity of demand, combined with increasingly professional clubs and a growing premiumization of the entire ecosystem.”
La Gazzetta dello Sport
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