JOOLA is hosting the fourth annual JOOLA Pickleball Celebration in early September this year, and spots are already filling up fast.

The event (Sept. 4-7) includes a junior clinic in partnership with National Junior Pickleball hosted by pickleball legend Simone Jardim as well as a unique amateur team tournament – all held at the upscale Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando.

The event is truly a celebration of all things pickleball, and continues to see year-over-year growth, says JOOLA events manager Kristen Carr.

She said there are already more than 100 teams signed up for the tournament, and they’re expecting to have 140+ by the time registration ends. It will be the biggest JOOLA Pickleball Celebration yet, she said.

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“Every year we want to try to make it more exciting and more fun and different than the year before, because we have a lot of people who have gone to every one that we’ve done,” Carr said. “You play a ton of pickleball and we want to make sure that you get your money’s worth in that regard.”

Learn more: 2026 JOOLA Pickleball Celebration registration and information

Team tournament takes center stage

When JOOLA says this event is a week full of non-stop pickleball, they’re not kidding. Unlike other tournaments where you’re at the venue all day and somehow end up only playing a few matches, the JOOLA Pickleball Celebration tournament format ensures that all players get plenty of time on court.

There are three doubles matches per round and teams are guaranteed to play six rounds – that’s 18 matches. The tournament is open to players of all skill levels (and grouped into different divisions by DUPR) and players can expect to play 6-8 hours of pickleball per day, JOOLA says.

The ample time on court has been a staple of the event since its inception three years ago, and something that players have appreciated in contrast to other tournament experiences, Carr says.

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Registration costs $1,499 per team – or $299 per person for a team of 5, plus each participant will receive a free JOOLA paddle or Pro bag of their choice along with a free T-shirt. Kitchen readers can use code KITCHEN100 to get $100 off the team registration.

A pickleball player participates in the JOOLA Pickleball Celebration in Orlando.

Simone Jardim junior clinic a new addition to event

New this year, Simone Jardim – one of the best women’s players ever – will host a junior clinic in partnership with National Junior Pickleball.

This elite training experience is designed to elevate every aspect of a junior player’s game.

“She really focuses on developing new skills and then applying those skills immediately,” Carr said. “So they learn the skill and then play in drills or games to put that skill into action, and she’s there to support and guide them in the right direction. Simone has a lot of knowledge to share, and she’s a great teacher for young people.”

Read next: The Kitchen’s top 13 pickleball paddles on the market right now + in-depth reviews for each one

WHAT PLAYERS WILL LEARN

Technique mastery – Build clean, efficient strokes with pro-level precision.
Footwork & movement – Improve speed, balance and court coverage.
Body positioning – Learn how to anticipate, react and stay in control of every point.
Competitive drills – Train in real-game scenarios that sharpen decision-making and execution.

Learn more about the junior clinic here.

Off-court activities

In addition to the time on court, attendees will have access to the 4.5-star resort and several activities around the venue.

There will also be some stars from other sports in the house. JOOLA in recent years has teamed up with several pro athletes – such as Brad Penny (baseball), Eric Decker (football), JD Martinez (baseball) and Tino Martinez (baseball) – who have gotten into pickleball. All of those players are expected to be at the event and available for meet-and-greets and open play throughout the event.

“We’re going to have a fun interactive space with cornhole and other games where people can win prizes when they’re not playing,” Carr said. “It will be a uniquely JOOLA experience with people and activities that you don’t normally get at a lot of tournaments.”