Pickleball isn’t just a game; it’s a booming industry redefining sports, recreation, and community engagement. As the fastest-growing sport in North America, pickleball has sparked a wave of conferences and conventions dedicated to collaboration, innovation, and education.
These events are more than just gatherings—they’re where the future of pickleball is shaped.
At IPOP, we know the power of connection and knowledge-sharing in driving growth. That’s why we’re passionate about these events and even envision hosting a pickleball conference of our own someday in beautiful Penticton, BC.
As leaders in pickleball facility development and community building, we recognize how critical it is for businesses, facility operators, and enthusiasts to engage with the broader ecosystem.
Understanding the role of these conferences isn’t just useful—it’s essential for staying competitive and connected in the ever-evolving pickleball industry.
Want to get a leg up in the pickleball industry? Read on.
The Evolution of Pickleball Conferences
A few years ago, dedicated pickleball conferences were virtually nonexistent. While tournaments and casual community events were commonplace, industry-focused gatherings were rare. Fast forward to 2024 and 2025, and the landscape has shifted significantly:
PickleCon 2024 was marketed as "the pickleball industry's first convention," reflecting a newfound emphasis on formalized industry events.
New additions in 2025 include the expanded APP Tour calendar and conferences like the National Pickleball Convention & Conference in Palm Beach, showcasing the growing demand for structured industry meetups.
Forbes recently ran an article about how pickleball is similar to other major North American sports in that it has seminal events (massive tournaments) and conferences (such as Picklecon).
As pickleball’s popularity keeps growing, so has the number of conferences. In 2023, over 11,885 locations in the U.S. offered pickleball facilities, and participation rates continued to climb — according to USA Pickleball, participation has grown 51.8% from 2022 to 2023 and 223.5% from 2020 to 2024. To keep up with this momentum, industry stakeholders are creating more conferences and expanding existing ones.
Essential Pickleball Conferences in 2025
Are you looking to get into the pickleball business next year? Or maybe you want to scope out the latest equipment and apparel?
Whatever the case, check out one or more of the following pickleball events (shout out to David Johnson, Founder of the International Association of Pickleball Facilities, or IAPF, and PickleballCentral for putting together a great little graphic on LinkedIn that had some fantastic information):
Pickleball Minds Dubai Chapter 2025
Date: January 16, 2025
Location: Taj Dubai, Business Bay, Dubai
Details: This premier industry forum convenes leading professionals from the pickleball ecosystem to collaborate and drive business growth in the burgeoning multi-billion-dollar industry.
Six panels with over 25 speakers, including 100+ industry leaders, will cover trends, recreational and club business models, growth strategies, business plans, investment models, funding, capital raising, and much more.
Engage with investors, decision-makers, club owners, manufacturers, tech providers, and service professionals to forge valuable partnerships.
Details: Hosted on Sir Richard Branson's private island, this exclusive week-long event brings together top professionals, coaches, celebrities, investors, and pickleball enthusiasts for a unique blend of sport and networking.
Engaging in discussions on topics such as the business of pickleball, real estate opportunities, brand and product development, the role of women in sports, and community impact.
Daily clinics for all skill levels, round-robin matches, glow-in-the-dark pickleball sessions, exhibitions, and Pro-Am events.
Fundraising activities throughout the week support Virgin Unite, the non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group and the Branson family.
