Last updated: 24 June 2026. Source check: FIP World Padel Report 2025, LTA padel updates and official sport-body context.
Quick answer: padel is most popular in Spain, where it is a mature mainstream participation sport with the largest court base and a deep playing culture. Argentina is another historic powerhouse. In Europe, Italy, Sweden, France, Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands are major padel markets, while Britain is growing quickly from a smaller base.
Padel might feel like it appeared everywhere overnight, but its popularity is not evenly spread around the world. In some countries it is already part of everyday sporting culture. In others, it is still in the early “what actually is this?” phase.
Spain: the clearest answer
If you want the simple answer, it is Spain.
FIP's 2025 global reporting puts Spain at the centre of the sport's court infrastructure and playing culture. Spain has thousands of clubs and courts, a deep recreational player base, strong coaching pathways and a serious professional scene.
For many Spanish players, padel is not a novelty. It is a normal sport to play with friends, colleagues or family. The climate helps, the club infrastructure is strong and the doubles format suits social sport brilliantly.
That combination makes Spain the benchmark. If Britain is currently discovering padel, Spain has been living it for years.
Argentina and Latin America
Argentina is one of padel's traditional powerhouses and remains central to the sport's identity.
Padel has long been popular in Spanish-speaking countries, particularly Argentina, where the sport built a strong culture before the recent European boom. Many elite professional players have come from Argentina, and the country remains one of padel's most important markets.
Other Latin American countries, including Mexico, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil, also have established or growing padel communities. The sport's Spanish-language roots have helped it travel naturally across those markets.
Italy: one of Europe's biggest padel markets
Italy has become one of Europe's biggest padel markets.
The sport has grown quickly around clubs, cities and leisure venues. Italy has also hosted major professional events, which has helped raise visibility and move padel further into mainstream sport.
Italy's growth makes sense. It has a strong club culture, a favourable climate in many regions and a population that already understands racket sports. Padel gives players a social, fast-learning alternative to tennis, while still feeling competitive enough to take seriously.
Sweden: fast growth and a useful warning
Sweden is one of the most interesting padel stories.
The sport grew extremely quickly there, with court numbers rising over a short period. Sweden became a symbol of how fast padel could scale when investors, venues and players all moved at once.
It also showed that growth can overshoot demand. Some areas became saturated after the initial boom, with venues struggling or closing. That does not mean padel failed in Sweden. It means court supply can grow faster than the regular player base if the market gets ahead of itself.
For Britain, that is a useful lesson. Court growth is exciting, but long-term popularity needs regular players, good coaching, social sessions and sensible venue planning.
France, Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands
France has become a major European growth market, helped by club infrastructure and support from the tennis ecosystem.
Portugal is a natural padel country because of climate, tourism and its closeness to Spain. Belgium and the Netherlands have also seen strong growth, especially around clubs and urban areas where social racket sports work well.
These countries show how padel tends to spread: first through curious players and clubs, then through dedicated venues, coaching, leagues and regular social bookings.
The Middle East and Gulf states
Padel has also grown quickly in parts of the Middle East, especially Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Those markets have invested heavily in high-quality sports facilities and major events. This is a different kind of popularity from Spain. In Spain, padel is deeply grassroots. In the Gulf, the sport has grown through facilities, investment, tourism and a strong expat player base.
Is padel popular in Britain?
Yes, padel is growing quickly in Britain, but it is still much smaller and less mature than Spain.
LTA reporting says British padel participation doubled in 2025 to 860,000 and has since passed 1m players. The number of courts has also grown sharply from a very small base, with more dedicated venues and tennis clubs adding padel.
That makes Britain one of the more interesting growth markets. It does not make Britain one of the world's most mature padel countries yet. Access still varies heavily by area, and plenty of players still need a simple first step into the sport.
Where is padel growing fastest?
The fastest-growing markets are not always the biggest markets.
Spain is already mature. Argentina is long-established. Italy, France and Britain are still expanding strongly. Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and parts of the Middle East are also important growth areas. The United States is earlier in the curve: visible in certain cities and clubs, but not yet mainstream in the way pickleball is there.
Why is padel popular in these places?
- Good court access: people need places to play regularly.
- Strong club culture: padel works well in social venues and tennis clubs.
- Beginner appeal: new players can enjoy rallies quickly.
- Doubles format: four-player bookings make it social and commercially attractive.
- Climate or indoor provision: warm countries benefit outdoors, colder countries need good indoor courts.
- Visibility: professional events, coaching and social media all help.
Final thoughts
Padel is most popular in Spain, with Argentina also a major historic stronghold. Across Europe, Italy, Sweden, France, Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands are important padel countries, while Britain is growing quickly from a smaller base.
The sport's popularity is not just hype. It grows where people can get on court easily, enjoy a first session quickly and turn it into a regular social habit.
New to the sport? Start with what padel is and why it is so popular, then read is padel easy to learn?.
FAQs
Where is padel most popular?
Padel is most popular in Spain. Argentina is another historic powerhouse, while Italy, Sweden, France, Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands are major European padel markets.
Is Spain the biggest padel country?
Yes, Spain is widely treated as the biggest and most mature padel market, with a large player base, extensive court infrastructure and strong professional culture.
Is padel popular in the UK?
Yes. LTA reporting says British participation doubled in 2025 to 860,000 and has since passed 1m players, although Britain is still smaller than Spain and Argentina.
Why is padel so popular in Spain?
Padel is popular in Spain because it is social, easy to start, suited to clubs, helped by the climate and supported by a large network of courts, players and coaches.
Is padel popular in the United States?
Padel is growing in the United States, but it is still earlier in its development there than pickleball. It is visible in some cities and clubs rather than fully mainstream.
Which country has the best padel players?
Spain and Argentina remain the traditional giants of professional padel because their player bases, coaching pathways and competition cultures are much more developed.
