Major League Pickleball (MLP) officially announced the group divisions and venue changes for the four opening tournaments of the 2026 season. The San Diego and Newport Beach schedules were swapped, and each tournament’s group configuration was also revealed.
What: The group divisions and venue changes for the four opening tournaments of the MLP 2026 season
Who: All teams, including Colorado, Dallas, and New Jersey
When: The four opening tournaments of the 2026 season (Dallas → Columbus → St. Louis → Austin)
Where: The venue in each city, with a venue change in San Diego and Newport Beach
Why: Group divisions considering competitive balance and operational efficiency
How: At each tournament, 5 to 11 teams are split into two groups to compete
The notable venue change: San Diego ↔ Newport Beach
What draws attention in this announcement is the swap of venues. San Diego (Barnes Tennis Center), initially scheduled, was changed to the regular-season match of Season Match 7 (July 16–19). On the other hand, the Newport Beach Tennis & Pickleball Club becomes the stage for Playoff Round 2.
The group divisions for the four opening tournaments
Match 1: MLP Dallas
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| Colorado, Dallas, New Jersey, Orlando, Phoenix | Bay Area, Carolina, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Texas, Utah |
Match 2: MLP Columbus
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| Atlanta, California, Chicago, Colorado, Miami, New Jersey | Carolina, Florida, Las Vegas, Palm Beach Royals, St. Louis |
Match 3: MLP St. Louis
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| Brooklyn, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, SoCal, Utah | Atlanta, Bay Area, Orlando, Palm Beach Royals, St. Louis |
Match 4: MLP Austin
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| California, Carolina, Colorado, Miami, SoCal | Atlanta, Bay Area, Dallas, Florida, New Jersey, Texas |
Point system
At each MLP tournament, the following points are awarded according to standing.
| Standing | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Point | 25 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 |
How many points you can pile up in the first four tournaments holds the fate of the whole season. The start in the two opening matches, Dallas and Columbus, is especially important.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. Are the MLP group divisions random?
A. The group divisions change from tournament to tournament. The same team may be placed in a different group across multiple tournaments, and fresh matchups are created every tournament.
Q. Has the San Diego tournament been dropped?
A. It hasn’t been dropped; its schedule was changed to Regular Season Match 7 on July 16–19. Newport Beach has been promoted to a playoff venue.
Q. Where can I buy tickets?
A. You can buy tickets for each tournament from the official MLP website (majorleaguepickleball.com). Popular tournaments can sell out early, so we recommend checking early.
Related Articles
For the domestic pickleball scene, also check outthe NPL 2026 Senior Elite League.Also, the latest information onthe MILP Regional Showdown 2026is being updated. For Golden Ticket information, seeUSA Pickleball Golden Ticket 2026..
[Sources]
andThe Dink: MLP 2026 Groups and Venue Updates
andMajor League Pickleball official website
