Italy continues to reinforce its position as one of the world's leading padel markets. With more than 10,300 courts and 2.2 million players, the country has entered a new stage focused on market maturity, business optimisation and enhancing the overall player experience.
According to data released by the International Padel Federation (FIP) during the BNL Italy Major Premier Padel 2026, Italy now has 10,352 courts across 3,840 clubs, approximately half of them indoor facilities.
The market has experienced remarkable growth in recent years. In 2022, when the first Italy Major was held, the country had 7,128 courts, representing an increase of almost 45% in just four years.
The Lazio region, led by Rome, remains the country's main padel hub with more than 2,000 courts. The Italian capital also continues to rank as the third city worldwide by number of padel courts, behind only Madrid and Barcelona.
A market entering a new stage of maturity
The FIP World Padel Report 2025 estimates that Italy now has 2.2 million players, compared with 1.5 million the previous year, including both licensed players and recreational participants.
The sector's economic value is already estimated at around €1.5 billion, within Italy's broader sports industry, which exceeds €8 billion.
The Playtomic Global Padel Report 2026 also classifies Italy as one of the world's "Padel Heartland" markets, where padel has become part of everyday sporting culture and future growth is increasingly driven by occupancy optimisation, pricing strategies, operational efficiency and customer experience, rather than simply building more courts.
The report also highlights the growing integration of padel into residential developments, hospitality projects and mixed-use real estate as a value-creating amenity.
Current forecasts point to more sustainable annual growth of between 3% and 5%, potentially taking Italy beyond 11,000 courts by 2028.
Naples strengthens its position with Padelness
Alongside the market's continued expansion, Italy is further developing its calendar of industry events. From 20 to 22 November 2026, Naples will host the third edition of Padelness, Italy's leading exhibition combining padel and fitness, which has also been included in the official programme of Naples European Capital of Sport 2026.
Held at Mostra d'Oltremare, the event has grown steadily since its launch. The 2025 edition attracted nearly 15,000 visitors, including industry professionals, companies, athletes and fans, establishing itself as one of Italy's most important specialised exhibitions.
Padelness combines a strong B2B exhibition featuring court manufacturers, infrastructure suppliers, sports equipment companies and service providers with consumer-focused activities, international competitions, educational sessions and conferences for club managers and industry professionals.
A benchmark for Europe's evolving padel industry
Italy's evolution illustrates the natural progression of a mature padel market, shifting from rapid expansion towards greater efficiency, profitability and value creation. At the same time, the emergence of new regional hubs such as Naples and southern Italy demonstrates that significant growth opportunities still exist within one of the world's most established padel markets.
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