Padel’s biggest stars are heading back to one of tennis’s most famous venues this month, with the Alpine Paris Major Premier Padel set to take place at Stade Roland-Garros from September 6 to 13, 2026. The fifth edition of the event marks the first tournament of this scale ever hosted in the French capital, and it continues padel’s rapid growth as one of the fastest-expanding racquet sports in the world.
Organised by the French Tennis Federation (FFT), the tournament transforms the clay-court home of the French Open into a padel arena for the week, complete with six specially built courts, including one on the iconic Philippe-Chatrier show court.
What Happened?
The Paris Major is one of the marquee Major events on the 2026 Qatar Airways Premier Padel Tour, sitting alongside long-running Majors in Doha, Rome and Mexico as one of the circuit’s most prestigious stops. This year’s edition follows the long-term renewal of the Paris Major agreement, reaffirming Roland-Garros’ place on the global padel calendar.
Ahead of the main event, Roland-Garros hosted a Padel Festival on Sunday, September 6, featuring taster sessions on the venue’s courts, exhibition matches, a celebrity tournament and amateur competitions, designed to introduce newcomers to the sport before the professional action begins.
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Tournament Format and Venue
Six courts have been installed at Roland-Garros for the tournament, built on synthetic grass and enclosed with the glass walls and fencing typical of professional padel courts, a striking contrast to the clay surfaces the venue is traditionally associated with during the French Open. The men’s draw features 48 players while the women’s draw includes 40, with both events also featuring qualifying rounds in the days before the main draw begins.
The setting adds a unique atmosphere to the tournament, with organisers promising entertainment, outdoor DJ sets from 6pm and relaxation areas throughout the week, aiming to create a festival-like environment around the professional matches.
Why This Tournament Matters
The Paris Major is part of the wider 2026 Premier Padel season, which features 26 tournaments across 18 countries this year, including new markets in London and Pretoria as the sport continues its international expansion. Majors carry the highest ranking points on the circuit outside of the season-ending Tour Finals, making strong performances in Paris significant for players chasing a place among the top 16 pairs who will qualify for the Qatar Airways Premier Padel Finals in Barcelona in December.
For fans, the tournament also offers a rare chance to see top-level padel played inside one of tennis’s most storied venues, with the Philippe-Chatrier show court giving the sport a stage it wouldn’t typically have access to outside of dedicated padel venues.
Player and Team Analysis
Padel’s leading pairs, including those who have dominated Premier Padel rankings in recent seasons, are expected to headline the draw as they continue to battle for ranking points on the road to Barcelona. With the season entering its final stretch after the Paris Major, results here could play a significant role in shaping the qualification picture for the Tour Finals later in the year.
What This Means Going Forward
With the Premier Padel season continuing after Paris toward stops in new markets like London in October, and ultimately concluding with the Mexico Major in Acapulco before the Barcelona Finals in December, the Paris Major represents an important mid-to-late season staging post for players looking to cement their positions in the world rankings.
The tournament’s scale and setting also reflect padel’s broader ambitions as a sport, with organisers clearly using high-profile venues like Roland-Garros to raise its profile among audiences more traditionally associated with tennis.
Upcoming Fixture: Paris Major Quarter-Finals to Finals
Live coverage of the tournament’s knockout stages, from the quarter-finals through to the final, is available via Red Bull TV between September 7 and 13, with full match replays from the earlier rounds available on the Premier Padel YouTube channel.
8. FAQ SECTION
When is the Paris Major Premier Padel 2026?
The tournament runs from September 6 to 13, 2026, at Stade Roland-Garros in Paris.
How many courts are used for the Paris Major?
Organisers have installed six courts at Roland-Garros, including one on the Philippe-Chatrier show court.
How many tournaments are on the 2026 Premier Padel calendar?
The 2026 season features 26 tournaments across 18 countries, including new markets in London and Pretoria.
Where can I watch the Paris Major Premier Padel?
Quarter-final, semi-final and final matches are being shown live on Red Bull TV, with earlier rounds available on the Premier Padel YouTube channel.
