Growing and Supporting Pickleball in Europe
Growing and Supporting Pickleball in Europe
EUROPEAN PICKLEBALL FEDERATION - LATEST NEWS
Welcome to the European Pickleball Federation News hub, your central source for the latest developments from across the European pickleball community. Here you’ll find official EPF announcements, tournament and championship updates, federation news, partnership announcements, governance updates, and media releases, alongside stories that showcase the continued growth of pickleball throughout Europe. Whether you’re a player, national federation, club, coach, volunteer, sponsor, journalist, or pickleball enthusiast, this page provides the latest information and insights from one of Europe’s fastest-growing sports.
Press Enquiries:
For all press enquiries, please contact: admin@epfpb.org
WPF AND EPF ANNOUNCE HISTORIC ANTI-DOPING INITIATIVE AT THE 2026EUROPEAN OPEN POWERED BY APP PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT
Joint announcement by the World Pickleball Federation and the European Pickleball Federation
The World Pickleball Federation (WPF) and the European Pickleball Federation (EPF) are proud to announce the introduction of official in-competition anti-doping testing at the forthcoming 2026 European Open in Türkiye — a historic first for the tournament and an important milestone in pickleball’s development.
Testing will take place on Thursday, 5 November 2026, within a designated tournament category, in accordance with established international anti-doping practices and the applicable WPF anti-doping rules. All players in the selected category have been notified and will form part of this historic first group of athletes participating in an official anti-doping testing programme at the European Open.
Education will form an integral part of the initiative. Anti-doping educational activities are planned to provide players with an opportunity to learn more about clean sport, understand their rights and responsibilities, and gain a better understanding of the anti-doping testing process.
This initiative represents far more than the introduction of anti-doping testing at a single tournament.
As pickleball continues its rapid international growth, the establishment of robust anti-doping standards is a defining milestone in the sport’s development. It protects clean athletes, strengthens competitive integrity and demonstrates pickleball’s commitment to the standards expected of leading international sports.
Credible anti-doping programmes are an essential element of modern sports governance and an important step towards broader international recognition. While no single initiative can determine a sport’s future, this programme represents meaningful progress in pickleball’s continuing evolution on the world stage.
WPF and EPF are proud to be working together to lead this initiative and warmly thank the players participating in this historic milestone. Their involvement will help lay the foundations for pickleball’s future growth, credibility and international recognition.
Together, we are taking an important step towards a stronger future for clean sport in pickleball.
World Pickleball Federation | European Pickleball Federation
Universidad Europea delivers Europe’s first university-level course developed with the European Pickleball Federation and IPTPA
Pickleball has moved beyond its status as an emerging trend to become one of the fastest-growing sports worldwide. Its accessible, social and easy-to-learn nature has driven its expansion across clubs, recreational programmes, sports centres and educational environments, generating increasing demand for qualified instructors. Against this backdrop, Universidad Europea is positioning itself at the forefront of sports education by becoming the first university in Europe to host a university-level I course developed in collaboration with the European Pickleball Federation.
Read the full article HERE.
European Pickleball Federation Welcomed as Continental Member of the World Pickleball Federation
Luxembourg, 4 August 2026 — The European Pickleball Federation is pleased to announce that it has been welcomed as a Continental Member of the World Pickleball Federation. This follows the recent EPF Annual General Meeting, at which EPF Full Members voted overwhelmingly to authorise the EPF Board to apply for Continental Membership of both the World Pickleball Federation and the Global Pickleball Federation.Read full article HERE.
EPF × IPTPA Level I - A globally recognised coaching certification, delivered for Europe
29th July 2026
The European Pickleball Federation (EPF) is proud to announce a partnership with the International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association (IPTPA) — the world’s leading authority in pickleball coaching certification — to bring its globally recognised Level I credential to coaches across Europe. IPTPA operates the most widely recognised coaching certification system in the sport: its credential is recognised in more than 90 countries and trusted as the international standard for pickleball coach education, delivered through IPTPA’s established certification framework and learning platform. Building on that world-class foundation, EPF has contributed its academic and scientific expertise — in sport science, coaching methodology, and structured coach education — to enhance the IPTPA Level I programme for Europe. The result is a co-branded certification, EPF × IPTPA Level I, that pairs IPTPA’s internationally trusted certification with European academic rigour. IPTPA administers, delivers, and issues the certification globally, maintaining its rigorous standards; as the continental body representing Europe’s national federations, EPF serves as the primary institutional partner supporting the programme across the region.
Read full submission HERE
OFFICIAL EPF RECOGNITION OF THE 2026 PICKLEBALL WORLD CUP EVENT
17th July 2026
On behalf of the European Pickleball Federation, we are pleased to recognise and express our support for the 2026 Pickleball World Cup event, taking place in Da Nang, Vietnam, from 30 August to 6 September 2026.
Read full submission HERE
July 9th 2026
European Pickleball Federation and International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association Announce Strategic Collaboration in Coaching Education
Collaboration integrates specific evidence-based scientific content into IPTPA’s established certification pathway, beginning with Level I courses across EPF’s Territory in Europe
Press Release – 2nd July 2026
European Pickleball Federation Members Give Strong Mandate for Constructive Engagement in Support of International Unification.
June 18th 2026
ASSOCIATION OF PICKLEBALL PLAYERS AND EUROPEAN PICKLEBALL FEDERATION ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
Expanded agreement includes APP support of 2026 European Pickleball Open Powered by The APP in Antalya, Türkiye, November 2026
CHICAGO, USA / HOWALD, LUXEMBOURG (June 18, 2026) — The Association of Pickleball Players (APP), the world’s first professional pickleball tour and leading authority in the sport globally, continues to strengthen its international alliances by announcing today an expanded strategic partnership with the European Pickleball Federation (EPF).
EPF AGM 2026 Announced
The annual European Pickleball Federation AGM has been set for 30th June 2026. If you’d like to attend, you can request the zoom link by emailing us at: admin@epfbp.org
NEWS & PRESS RELEASES 2025
15th July 2025