SAN DIEGO—USA Pickleball has announced that the 2026 USA Pickleball National Championships will be held at Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego from October 31 to November 8. This will mark the second consecutive year the sport’s national championships are held in Southern California.
As the longest-running national championships in pickleball, the event brings together athletes across age and skill divisions to compete for national titles. Barnes Tennis Center offers the facilities and infrastructure to support championship-level play and large-scale events.
“Barnes Tennis Center has proven to be an exceptional home for our national championships,” said Mike Nealy, CEO of USA Pickleball. “Returning to Barnes allows us to continue delivering a world-class championship experience while honoring the legacy and competitive excellence that defines Nationals in our 18th year of the event.”
The 2026 championships will welcome athletes, officials, families, and fans from across the country. Jesse Steinberg, COO of Barnes Tennis Center, said the venue is continuing its partnership with USA Pickleball to host the event and showcase San Diego as a sports destination. “Looking ahead to 2026, we’re proud to continue working with such a great organization in USA Pickleball whose values align closely with our own. San Diego is an incredible sports destination, and we’re excited to showcase our city while delivering a world-class experience for athletes, fans, and the pickleball community.”
The 2025 national championships drew more than 10,000 attendees, featured more than 2,500 players, 3,900 matches, and generated an estimated $3 million in economic impact. The event also included 50 permanent courts, making Barnes one of the largest pickleball facilities in the country.
Mark Neville, CEO of Sports San Diego, said the 2026 event will continue to support competitive play and regional economic activity while highlighting San Diego as a destination for national championships, adding, “We’re proud to once again welcome the nation’s best players to our city.”
