PPA Tour announces expansion of Challenger Series for 2026

Alex Lantz

Director of Content

Last Edited

Oct 29 2025

Category

News

The PPA Challenger Series has announced that it will expand to 16 events in 2026, up from 10 events this year, which was the inaugural season for the PPA Tour's developmental tour.

This year the Challenger Series hosted players from nearly all 50 states, more than 30 countries and six continents. The events are designed to give lower level pros and aspiring amateur players a shot at earning PPA Tour rankings points and cash prizes.

Think of it like the NBA G League or the minor leagues in baseball.

“After an exceptional first year of the PPA Challenger Series, we are thrilled to expand on the tremendous foundation we laid in 2025 with new series stops in exciting locations like Houston, Newport Beach, Grand Rapids and of course Seattle, where pickleball was founded in 1965,” said Tanner Groff, Vice President of the PPA Challenger Series. “This series was created to provide more access for amateur and aspiring pro players across the United States, and after hosting over 4,000 players in our first season, we have achieved that goal and now intend to expand and solidify this series as a mainstay on the pro pickleball calendar.”

2026 PPA Challenger Series schedule

Raleigh, North Carolina -- Pin Point Indoor Pickleball and Golf; Dec. 12-14, 2025

Punta Gorda, Florida -- PicklePlex; Jan. 9-11, 2026

Tucson, Arizona -- South Kino Sports Complex; Jan. 23-25, 2026

Houston, Texas -- Life Time Fitness in Kingwood; Feb. 20-22, 2026

Harbour Island, Florida -- Life Time Harbor Island; March 6-8, 2026

Newport Beach, California -- The Tennis & Pickleball Club at Newport Beach; April 4-5, 2026

Auburn-Opelika, Alabama -- Opelika Pickleball Club; April 17-19, 2026

Wilson, North Carolina -- Burt Gillette Athletic Complex; May 22-24, 2026

Fort Collins, Colorado -- Zero Zero Two; May 29-31, 2026

Boise, Idaho -- The Flying Pickle; June 12-14, 2026

Portland, Maine -- The Picklr; June 26-28, 2026

Macon, Georgia -- Rhythm & Rally Sports & Events; July 17-19, 2026

Eau Claire, Wisconsin -- Lake Hallie Pickleball, Gower Park; July 31-August 2, 2026

Seattle, Washington -- Sideout Tsunami Pickleball Center; August 14-16, 2026

Grand Rapids, Michigan -- Meijer Sports Complex; Sept. 18-20, 2026

Rochester, New York -- Pickle City Social; Sept. 25-27, 2026

*Dates are subject to change

Players can register to compete in PPA Challenger Series events by going to ppachallenger.com and navigating to the schedule page. Spectator tickets for the tournament will be priced at $15 and event ticketing information can also be found on the Challenger Series website.

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