Pickleball continues its rapid rise in the Canary Islands, with federation officials describing the sport’s growth as “unstoppable” ahead of a national championship in Gran Canaria.
Speaking to canarias7, Jose Juan Sepulveda, president of the Canary Islands Tennis Federation, highlighted the sport’s expanding footprint and appeal across age groups. “The growth of pickleball in the Canary Islands is unstoppable,” said Sepulveda.
Gran Canaria is set to host the opening event of the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation’s official season, underlining the region’s growing importance in the sport.
Explaining the sport’s popularity, Sepúlveda pointed to its accessibility and social appeal.
“I think it’s a sport that has managed to combine the best of other disciplines like tennis, padel, and table tennis, adding a key factor: accessibility. It’s ageless; 10, 12, or 13-year-olds can compete with 80-year-olds without hardly any noticeable difference. It’s a simple, fun, and very social sport that, on a competitive level—like the one we’re about to see, is truly spectacular.”
Infrastructure has also played a key role in its expansion.
“It has all the ingredients to continue consolidating its position as a successful sport. And to that is added a fundamental aspect: the infrastructure. Unlike other disciplines that require more specific facilities, pickleball barely needs a smooth surface and a net.”
“Compared to the walled courts of padel, the enclosed spaces of table tennis, or the larger dimensions of tennis, its simplicity greatly facilitates the creation of new courts.”
Providing an update on the sport’s current state in the region, Sepúlveda said participation continues to rise.
“We are experiencing remarkable growth driven by the great interest this sport is generating. We currently have four clubs in Tenerife, four in Gran Canaria, one in El Hierro, and one in Fuerteventura. New venues, especially those within the tennis community, will soon be adding pickleball to their facilities.”
He also highlighted a key milestone in infrastructure development.
“Progress is unstoppable, and in this regard, one of the Federation’s major milestones has been the opening of the first municipal pickleball courts in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in collaboration with the City Council and the Municipal Sports Institute. This initiative has been key to democratizing the sport, allowing anyone to easily and affordably get started in public facilities.”
On participation numbers, Sepúlveda added:
“We have around 300 specific pickleball licenses, although the actual number of players is higher, since tennis has around 4,500 licenses and many of those players also practice this sport. In total, we estimate that there are currently around 800 licensed pickleball players in the Canary Islands, mostly from the tennis world.”
The continued rise of pickleball in the Canary Islands reflects a broader global trend, as the sport gains traction through its accessibility, low infrastructure demands and cross-generational appeal.
