The PPA Tour's major tournament "Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships" is held for seven days from April 27 – May 3, 2026, at the Life Time facility in Peachtree Corners, Georgia. It's a Slam-level 2,000-point tournament, a key event that sways the annual rankings battle. Top pros including Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters gather, and the Championship Court action ispickleballtv.comstreamed free on it.
Tournament overview — the weight of a Slam-level 2,000 points
PPA Tour official pageAccording to it, this tournament is positioned as Slam-level, and the winner is awarded 2,000 points. In the PPA Tour's points system, a Slam is a top-rank tournament that greatly moves the direction of the annual title race.
The venue, Life Time Peachtree Corners, is a large fitness facility located near Atlanta, Georgia. Located at 6350 Courtside Dr NW, Peachtree Corners, GA, it has the PPA Tour's characteristic setup where pros and amateurs compete within the same facility.
Schedule details — seven days from qualifiers to finals
| Schedule | Round | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, April 27 | Qualifiers | 8:00〜18:00 |
| Tuesday, April 28 | Round of 64 | All day |
| Wednesday, April 29 | Round of 32 | All day |
| Thursday, April 30 | Round of 16 | All day |
| Friday, May 1 | Quarterfinals | All day |
| Saturday, May 2 | Semifinals | All day |
| Sunday, May 3 | Championships | All day |
Also, on April 27–28 a PPA Camp is held, where you can receive coaching directly from pro players. The fee is $499 (about ¥75,000), and the hours are 8:00–12:00.
Players to watch — the late-season battle of Ben Johns and Anna Leigh Waters
World No. 1 Ben Johns (men) and Anna Leigh Waters (women) are both expected to compete at this tournament. Johnsreturned from the 11 seed at the Sacramento Open, and his Slam-level performance will decide how the second half of the season plays out.
Waters, afterher new paddle deal with Franklin, may be playing her first Slam with a new setup. A title defense in doubles with her mother Leigh Waters is on the line.
At the previous week'sSacramento Open finalStaksrud completed an unbeaten sweep in men's singles, and attention turns to how a head-to-head with Johns plays out.
Viewing and streaming information
All Championship Court matches arePickleBall TVstreamed live free on it. Some matches are also scheduled to air on CBS Sports. From Japan, despite the time difference (Georgia is 13 hours behind Japan time), live viewing is possible.
Local reaction — expectations for a Slam-level tournament
On social media, voices of players aiming to compete at the Atlanta tournament are rising.
One amateur player posted, "Being able to fight from qualifying at a Slam-level tournament is the appeal of the PPA Tour. Life Time's facility is also in top condition." Another fan expressed hope: "If a rematch of Johns and Staksrud happens at this Slam level, it'll be the best match of the season." Among industry media, too, the positioning is shared of it being "one of the most important tournaments beforethe National Championships in August."
Impact on Japanese players — a pathway to amateur participation
The PPA Tour has amateur divisions for skill levels 1.0–5.0, and you can register from pickleballtournaments.com. Traveling from Japan to compete isn't easy, but it's worth knowing you can enter as long as you have a DUPR rating.
Also, the PPA Camp's $499 program is a valuable chance to receive intensive pro coaching over two days. Atlanta is about a 30-minute drive from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, with direct flights from Japan too. It's worth considering as a candidate for a "pickleball trip" combined with spectating.
Ripple effects on the industry — adding Slam-level tournaments and the PPA Tour's expansion strategy
In the 2026 season, the PPA Tour holds multiple Slam-level tournaments, and as the weight of points increases, players' schedule management becomes even more important.The Veolia National Championships at the end of August(Cary, North Carolina) is expected to be the season's biggest Slam, and this Atlanta tournament is positioned as a warm-up for it.
Title sponsor Veolia is a French global company in water treatment and environmental services. That PPA Tour sponsorship is expanding from traditional sporting-goods makers to B2B companies is one indicator of pickleball's commercial maturity.
Practical information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Tournament Name | Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships |
| Schedule | April 27 – May 3, 2026 |
| Venues | Life Time Peachtree Corners（6350 Courtside Dr NW, Peachtree Corners, GA） |
| Tournament rank | Slam (2,000 points) |
| Broadcast | pickleballtv.com(free) / CBS Sports |
| PPA Camp | April 27–28 / 8:00-12:00 / $499 |
| Tournament registration | pickleballtournaments.com |
| PPA official | tournament page |
Summary — follow the mid-season "touchstone" live
The Veolia Atlanta Pickleball Championships is a Slam-level tournament that decides the flow of mid-season. There's plenty to watch: Ben Johns's Slam-level rebound, how Anna Leigh Waters's new paddle suits her, and the challenge of Staksrud riding momentum from the Sacramento Open.
In Japan time it streams late-night to early-morning, but you can also watch the archive on pickleballtv.com. While feeling the Slam-level energy through the screen, look for points you can incorporate into your own play.
- Q. What is a Slam-level tournament?
- It's the top-rank tournament in the PPA Tour's points system. The winner is awarded 2,000 points, greatly affecting the annual rankings battle. A regular Open is around 1,000 points.
- Q. Can I watch from Japan?
- Championship Court matches are streamed live free on pickleballtv.com. In Japan time it's late-night to early-morning, but archive viewing is also possible.
- Q. Can amateurs participate?
- The PPA Tour has amateur divisions for skill levels 1.0–5.0. With a DUPR rating, you can register from pickleballtournaments.com.
