The third edition of Padel World Summit (PWS) upped its game in Barcelona in May, with the three-day event staging its largest edition to date with a total of 7,208 attendees, 20% more than the previous year.
The halls were full of busy professional activity and organisers report more than half of visitors were international. New trends and products were showcased by 140 exhibitors from more than 30 countries during 26-28 May.
Jointly organised by Fira de Barcelona and the International Padel Cluster in Hall 6 of the Gran Via venue, Padel World Summit provided a platform for 1,175 business meetings took place between exhibitors and professional attendees.
Director of the event, Àlex Ponseti, said that an edition that has broken all previous records highlighted the need of the padel sector to have a first-class international trade fair that drives the significant business opportunities presented by this sport.
The exhibition space also grew by 34% with companies exhibiting including Padel Nuestro, Skechers Padel, Playtomic, HIT-X by Padelgest and Realturf, alongside leading brands such as Adidas, Joma, HEAD, Babolat, Lusotendas, Endless, TenCate Grass, Mondo, LED Projects, Matchi and Okatent.
Innovation played a central role at the event through the Innovation Arena, sponsored by Padel Galis, which brought together 20 start-ups. The space showcased solutions ranging from the first-ever padel videogame to pressurisers designed to extend the lifespan of balls.
A jury comprised of investors and representatives of Padel World Summit and Padel Galis selected the three best start-ups. First prize went to VAM-OS, a finance and operations platform for clubs that offers real-time visibility of profitability and cash flow. Second place went to CourtBrain, a neutral shot detection system that integrates multiple tracking solutions into a single tool. And third place was awarded to Bopa, a ball re-pressurisation solution designed for club rental use, combining sustainability with operational efficiency.
The Innovation Stage also hosted leading international investors, including Alan Flatt (InvestTrek Capital), Ali Al Arif (SPADREC Investment Group), Hale Yildiz (Lumia Partners) and Oriol Cortada (Tripelsum Investments), who discussed the key factors in financing the next generation of padel clubs worldwide.
The Padel Global Conference helped shape the sector’s roadmap through a diverse range of high-profile speakers, including Ben Hanley, responsible for the development of padel within the British Armed Forces, introduced a unique model of social and sporting integration between service members and their families.
Playtomic and consulting firm PwC presented the 2026 Global Padel Report. According to the study, in 2025, a total of 4,969 new clubs were established and 7,898 courts were built.
In addition, the show was transformed into a large indoor padel club, with ten courts installed. Renowned figures such as Argentine player Fernando Belasteguín and Spanish player Carolina Navarro took part in activities on court.
The fourth edition of Padel World Summit will take place 4-6 May 2027 at Fira de Barcelona.
Source: www.exhibitionworld.co.uk
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