veolia pickleball tournament – PPA Tour Big News (2026)
The Professional Pickleball Association (PPA Tour) just dropped some big update: they’re launching a brand-new major event called the Veolia Pickleball National Championships. This is going to kick off the entire 2026–2027 season and give pickleball fans something they’ve been waiting for.
When will this championship start?
The veolia pickleball tournament 2026 runs from August 31 through September 6, 2026, at Cary Tennis Park in North Carolina. They’re turning the whole place into a massive pickleball setup with around 30 courts, live matches happening nonstop, and hundreds of players competing at once.
What makes this one special? It’s the first-ever PPA Slam event in North Carolina. Slam tournaments are the biggest deals on the tour—they hand out the largest prize money and the most ranking points, so you know the top players from around the world will be showing up.
Amateur players get a sweet deal, too. You can enter different skill-level categories, and some of you might even end up sharing a court with the pros. Registration is already open—it started March 28, 2026, and runs through August 29, 2026. The entry fee is just $85 per player.
Qualifying rounds for the pro matches begin on August 31, with the finals scheduled for September 6. But it’s not just about the games. There’ll be live music, food trucks, family-friendly activities, and even coaching sessions so the whole weekend feels like a real festival.
PPA Tour CEO Connor Pardoe said North Carolina already loves pickleball, and this event is going to push the sport even further in the state. Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht is just as excited about hosting it.
The title sponsor, Veolia, is keeping things green too—they’re setting up water refill stations and a program to recycle all the used pickleballs.
Big names like Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns are expected to compete, along with plenty of other top pros.
Whether you play the game or just love watching it, this is going to be one of the most exciting pickleball weekends of the year. It’s clear the sport is still growing fast, and events like this are proof of it.