Raleigh, N.C. (April 7, 2026) – The Carvana PPA Tour is thrilled to announce that the Veolia Pickleball National Championships will come to the Tar Heel State later this summer to kick off the 2026-2027 season. The event, which will be held at Cary Tennis Park in Cary, N.C., Aug. 31-Sept. 6, will have a “Slam” designation, offering the largest amount of prize money and ranking points in pro pickleball and will feature the very best athletes in pickleball.

Demand is expected to be high for what will be a celebration of America’s fastest growing sport, as the tournament will include world No. 1’s Anna Leigh Waters (Singles, Doubles, Mixed), Ben Johns (Doubles), Gabe Tardio (Mixed) and Chris Haworth (Singles), alongside North Carolina residents such as world No. 2 Kate Fahey and world No. 4 Brooke Buckner. Other local globally ranked professionals competing will include Durham, N.C., resident Mehvish Safdar and High Point, N.C., resident James Delgado. 

New for 2026, the Veolia Pickleball National Championships will have even more fun for the entire family, including live music concerts, sponsor activations, renowned food and fare, pro-led pickleball camps and clinics plus much more! 

The Veolia Pickleball National Championships will feature the PPA Tour’s special blend of professional competition where the best players compete for titles and crucial world ranking points, and vast amateur competitions where players of all ages and skill levels can find themselves competing for medals and bragging rights on the pro courts. The tournament is expected to draw a sizable crowd of players, so it is encouraged to register as soon as possible to secure a spot in the competition. Please click here to register today. For more tournament information, please visit the tournament page here. 

“As pickleball enjoys enormous growth in popularity and participation in the United States and globally, it is critical that we bring the very best of the PPA to the most passionate regions, and North Carolina has shown us year after year how fervent they are about the sport,” said Connor Pardoe, Founder and CEO of the Carvana PPA Tour. “The PPA brings incredible energy and enthusiasm to all our tournaments, and our Slam tournaments are where we shine the brightest, with unmatched entertainment and excitement for everyone to enjoy. The first-ever Veolia Pickleball National Championships will raise that bar even higher as we turn the Greater Raleigh area into the place where every pickleball fanatic wants to be this summer.” 

“It’s exciting to see how much the PPA Tour experience has grown here in Cary,” said Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht. “Our staff does an incredible job making these events special for both players and fans, and our community really shows up. We’re proud to welcome the pickleball world back to Cary.”

“Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in America, and there’s no better place for the Carvana PPA Tour to host its national championship than in Cary, North Carolina,” said Scott Dupree, executive director of the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA). “For one week in late summer, the eyes of the rapidly expanding world of pickleball will be focused on Cary Tennis Park. The GRSA is proud to support the PPA and the Town of Cary in bringing this national championship to our market.”

The PPA Tour’s official sustainability partner, Veolia, will be the title sponsor of the weeklong extravaganza, furthering their commitment to making pickleball a sustainable global sport. Veolia makes a unique impact on the sport by curbing the use of plastic water bottles with their water refill stations and mitigating waste with their used pickleball recycling program.

“Veolia is committed to making pickleball the most sustainable sport in the world and this mission is driven by significant investment in the PPA Tour’s biggest events,” said Carrie Griffiths, chief communications officer for Veolia. “We are thrilled to welcome thousands of fans and players to the inaugural Veolia Pickleball National Championships in North Carolina, home to several critical Veolia water and environmental technologies locations and hundreds of dedicated employees.”

The 2026 Veolia Pickleball National Championships promises to be an exciting and rewarding experience for seasoned pickleball fans and newbies alike. The first-ever PPA Slam tournament in North Carolina will be a milestone for the sport with the Greater Raleigh area becoming the center of the pro pickleball universe as the 2026-2027 pro pickleball season commences. 

  • The Veolia Pickleball National Championships to take place in Cary, N.C., August 31 - Sept. 6, 2026, kicking off the 2026-2027 PPA Tour season
  • Tickets are on sale now, and amateur registration is open for all ages and skill levels
  • Weeklong celebration of pickleball to feature live music, entertainment, engaging fan-friendly activations, exciting pro-led camps and clinics, and so much more 
  • Carvana PPA Tour to turn the Cary Tennis Park into the epicenter of pickleball

About Carvana PPA Tour:
Founded in 2019, the Carvana PPA Tour is where pickleball’s top athletes go head-to-head to determine the best male and female players in the world. The Carvana PPA Tour organizes and conducts tournaments at world-class facilities across the country, establishes player rankings, and showcases the world’s best pickleball week in and week out. Inviting amateur players to also compete and “play where the pros play,” the Carvana PPA Tour offers divisions for every age group and skill level. Characterized by a uniquely festive and fun atmosphere, Carvana PPA Tour events deliver unparalleled experiences for fans on-site, including pro player meet-and-greets, clinics, food, beverages, live entertainment, giveaways, games, shopping, and VIP upgrades. For more information, go to www.ppatour.com, and follow us on social: Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn.

About the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA):
A division of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh) – the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA) markets and promotes Raleigh and all of Wake County to generate and/or retain sports-related businesses (tournaments, championships, special events and meetings) for economic development. Raleigh, N.C./Wake County welcomes 19 million visitors annually, whose spending tops $3.4 billion. The visitor economy supports more than 26,000 local jobs in Wake County and generates $321 million in state and local tax revenues, saving each Wake County household $720 in taxes annually. raleighsports.org

Media Contact:
Visit Raleigh
Dana Goodwin
Public Relations and International Tourism Manager
919.830.1289
dgoodwin@visitRaleigh.com

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