The State of Pickleball in Australia (2026)
The numbers behind Australia's pickleball boom, from the National Pickleball League.
Updated
The ahm NPL
144 players across 12 Pro teams
24 Division 2 teams across four conferences (VIC, NSW, QLD and NZ)
6 seasons since 2024
168 matches played in 2026
Every Pro game livestreamed on NPL Greenzone (NPL YouTube)
Where Australians play
30,000+ players in the NPL venue network in the last 12 months (The Jar, Powered by NPL, PARK Racquet Club)
40+ indoor pickleball centres in Australia (latest reported, September 2026)
50 venues and 257 courts in NPL's city guides
| City guide | Venues | Courts |
|---|---|---|
| Melbourne | 21 | 119 |
| Sydney | 10 | 65 |
| Brisbane | 2 | 19 |
| Gold Coast | 6 | — |
| Sunshine Coast | 6 | 6 |
| Adelaide | 2 | 24 |
| Perth | 1 | 8 |
| Canberra | 2 | 16 |
Technology
LADER, NPL's competition platform: 200+ organisations, 500+ events, 10,000+ players
LADER ran live scoring, referee management and broadcast integration at the AO Pickleball Slam 2026
Community
20,000 Instagram followers · 3,500+ Facebook · 1,000+ YouTube subscribers · 2,500+ LinkedIn followers
The NPL group
One organisation across the whole pickleball journey, from a player's first game to the pro tour.
The ahm NPL: Australia's professional league. 144 players across 12 Pro teams, plus 24 Division 2 teams across VIC, NSW, QLD and NZ.
The league →NPL venues: The Jar (South Melbourne and Maidstone), The Rally, venues Powered by NPL, and PARK Racquet Club (open at The Gap, Brisbane, with PARK Baringa and PARK Townsville next). More than 30,000 players in the last 12 months.
Where to play →LADER: NPL's own competition platform. More than 200 organisations, 500 events and 10,000 players, and the technology behind the AO Pickleball Slam 2026.
Technology →NPL Greenzone: every Pro game livestreamed.
Watch →NPL Academy: the youth talent pathway.
Academy →Backed by
ahm Health Insurance (Official Sponsor) · Tennis Australia (Official Pickleball Growth Partner) · DUPR (three-year partnership) · Leapmotor (Official Automotive Partner) · Global Pickleball Alliance (founding member)
Milestones
- 17 November 2023: The Jar South Melbourne opens, Australia's first dedicated indoor pickleball centre
- 2024: NPL Season 1 and Season 2; ahm Health Insurance becomes Official Sponsor of the NPL from Season 2, the largest organisation backing pickleball in Australia
- December 2025: Tennis Australia names NPL its Official Pickleball Growth Partner; NPL is a founding member of the Global Pickleball Alliance
- April 2026: three-year NPL × DUPR partnership; every NPL match is DUPR-rated
- 2026: Tennis Australia and NPL launch the Pickleball Community Cup (first event: Gawler, SA, 160+ entrants)
How to cite
Figures from the National Pickleball League (nplpickleball.com.au), updated October 2026.
Partner or invest with NPL
NPL is building the infrastructure for Australia's fastest-growing racquet sport. For partnership, sponsorship or investment conversations, get in touch.