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UK Padel Statistics 2026: Players, Courts & Growth
The key numbers behind padel’s growth in Britain — players, courts, awareness, competitions and money — each with its original source and date.
Last updated: 21 October 2026
Growth from 2019 to October 2026
Padel participation in Britain has grown a hundredfold since 2019: from 15,000 players to 1.5 million in October 2026 (LTA).
Padel courts in Britain, 2020 to October 2026
Courts in Britain have grown from 69 in 2020, when the LTA took over governance of the sport, to 2,445 in October 2026.
Players, courts and venues
1.5 million adults and juniors now play padel in Britain, on 2,445 courts at 682 venues. Courts have grown from 69 in 2020, when the LTA took over the sport’s governance, to more than 2,400 today.
Adults and juniors playing padel in Britain
LTA · 20 Oct 2026Courts at 682 venues
LTA · 20 Oct 2026Awareness and interest
57% of British adults — about 31 million people — had heard of padel by the end of 2025, up from 38% a year earlier, and more than 10 million say they want to try it.
British adults aware of padel (about 31 million)
LTA · 25 Mar 2026British adults aware of padel in late 2024 (about 20 million)
LTA · 25 Mar 2026Britons want to try it
LTA · 25 Mar 2026Rise since the end of 2024 in Britons who want to try padel
LTA · 25 Mar 2026Sanctioned competitions
The LTA sanctioned 643 padel competitions in 2025, up from 409 in 2024 — growth of 57% in a single year.
LTA-sanctioned competitions in 2025, up from 409 in 2024
LTA · 25 Mar 2026Who plays
Two-thirds of Britain’s 1.5 million padel players also play tennis, and more than 80% of padel venues run community outreach.
Padel players in Britain who also play tennis
LTA · 20 Oct 2026Padel venues actively engaging with their local communities
LTA · 20 Oct 2026Investment
The LTA and LTA Tennis Foundation have put more than £7.5 million into padel court construction, supporting over £18m for 112 courts at 57 venues, and the UK Government has committed £3 million in 2026/27 for covered padel and tennis facilities.
Invested by the LTA and LTA Tennis Foundation in padel court construction
LTA · 25 Mar 2026Total supported for 112 courts at 57 venues
LTA · 25 Mar 2026UK Government commitment in 2026/27 for covered padel and tennis facilities
LTA · 15 May 2026Market value and player spending
Novuna Finance estimates UK padel is already a £180m industry, and that a regular player — around four times a month — can spend about £950 a year on court bookings, coaching and equipment.
UK padel is an estimated £180m industry
Novuna Finance · 3 Aug 2026A regular player (about four times a month) can spend around £950 a year on court bookings, coaching and equipment
Novuna Finance · 3 Aug 2026Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester has 38 padel clubs and 145 courts, and Manchester and Birmingham are the two cities driving padel’s growth outside London.
Greater Manchester: 38 padel clubs and 145 courts
The Padel Paper · 17 Jun 2026Cities driving padel’s expansion outside London
The Padel Paper · 17 Jun 2026Statistics reference table
| Measure | Value | Source & date |
|---|---|---|
| Adults and juniors playing padel in Britain | 1.5 million | LTA · 20 Oct 2026 |
| Courts at 682 venues | 2,445 | LTA · 20 Oct 2026 |
| British adults aware of padel (about 31 million) | 57% | LTA · 25 Mar 2026 |
| Britons want to try it | Over 10 million | LTA · 25 Mar 2026 |
| LTA-sanctioned competitions in 2025, up from 409 in 2024 | 643 | LTA · 25 Mar 2026 |
| UK padel is an estimated £180m industry | £180m | Novuna Finance · 3 Aug 2026 |
| A regular player (about four times a month) can spend around £950 a year on court bookings, coaching and equipment | £950 | Novuna Finance · 3 Aug 2026 |
| Greater Manchester: 38 padel clubs and 145 courts | 145 courts | The Padel Paper · 17 Jun 2026 |
| British adults aware of padel in late 2024 (about 20 million) | 38% | LTA · 25 Mar 2026 |
| Rise since the end of 2024 in Britons who want to try padel | 3 million | LTA · 25 Mar 2026 |
| Padel players in Britain who also play tennis | Two-thirds | LTA · 20 Oct 2026 |
| Padel venues actively engaging with their local communities | Over 80% | LTA · 20 Oct 2026 |
| Invested by the LTA and LTA Tennis Foundation in padel court construction | £7.5m+ | LTA · 25 Mar 2026 |
| Total supported for 112 courts at 57 venues | £18m+ | LTA · 25 Mar 2026 |
| UK Government commitment in 2026/27 for covered padel and tennis facilities | £3 million | LTA · 15 May 2026 |
| Cities driving padel’s expansion outside London | Manchester & Birmingham | The Padel Paper · 17 Jun 2026 |
| Players in Britain — 2019 | 15,000 | LTA · 20 Oct 2026 |
| Players in Britain — 2023 | 129,000 | LTA · 20 Oct 2026 |
| Players in Britain — end 2024 | 400,000 | LTA · 20 Oct 2026 |
| Players in Britain — end 2025 | 860,000 | LTA · 20 Oct 2026 |
| Players in Britain — May 2026 | 1,000,000 | LTA · May 2026 |
| Players in Britain — Oct 2026 | 1,500,000 | LTA · 20 Oct 2026 |
| Padel courts in Britain — 2020 | 69 | LTA · 25 Mar 2026 |
| Padel courts in Britain — end 2024 | 870 | LTA · 25 Mar 2026 |
| Padel courts in Britain — end 2025 | 1,553 | LTA · 25 Mar 2026 |
| Padel courts in Britain — May 2026 | 1,825 | LTA · 15 May 2026 |
| Padel courts in Britain — Oct 2026 | 2,445 | LTA · 20 Oct 2026 |
Demand on the Grid
12 of the last 15 draws sold out
R09: 64-player Men's Mega Open sold out. For brands, a sold-out round is a guaranteed full field.
Rounds played
Public season venues
Players have come back for 2 or more rounds
Players currently waiting
Rounds with a waiting list
25 waiting-list sign-ups since 17 October
Cite this page
Padel Grid, “UK Padel Statistics 2026: Players, Courts & Growth”, updated 21 October 2026. https://padelgriduk.com/padel-statistics-uk. Figures attributed to the original sources and their publication dates.
Please credit the original source alongside individual figures.