Kuwait padel tournament upgraded to major status

09/05/2026

MADRID, May 9 (KUNA): The International Padel Federation has announced the elevation of Kuwait’s tournament from P1 to Major status in the 2026 Premier Padel calendar.

According to the federation, Kuwait will host one of the prestigious Premier Padel Major events from October 26 to 31, featuring the world’s top-ranked players. The statement also noted that the Pretoria tournament in South Africa has been upgraded from P2 to P1.

Federation President Luigi Carraro said the decision reflects a balanced strategy aimed at ensuring calendar stability while supporting the continued global expansion of professional padel.

For its part, the Kuwait organizing committee described the upgrade as a significant sporting milestone, highlighting growing international confidence in Kuwait’s ability to host major global events.

BNK Holding Chairman Bader Al-Kharafi praised the support of Kuwait’s political leadership and government institutions for national sports, saying hosting a Major tournament reinforces Kuwait’s presence on the global sports map and will positively impact the sports, tourism, and economic sectors.

Kuwait Premier Padel Tournament Director Mishal Al-Ansari called the development a historic achievement for padel in Kuwait and the wider region. He noted that Major events represent the highest tier in professional padel in terms of competition level, prize money, and ranking points.

Al-Ansari added that this success follows Kuwait’s previous hosting of the World Padel Championship, which received strong praise from the international federation, players, and fans.

The International Padel Federation, founded in Madrid in 1991 and based in Lausanne, oversees the sport globally through 100 affiliated national federations.