At the “Palm Beach International Boat Show” held March 25-29, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the first time this yeara pickleball court set up on the water (a floating court)appeared. Play on a court floating in the marina became a talking point, once again making an impression of the spread of the “pickleball anywhere” culture.
Why pickleball at a venue lined with luxury yachts worth over $100 million?
The Palm Beach International Boat Show is one of North America's largest boat and yacht exhibitions, held every March in West Palm Beach, Florida. At the lavish venue lined with ultra-luxury cruisers and sailing yachts worth over $100 million (about ¥15 billion), a pickleball court was newly installed this year.
The court is a floating-platform type set up on the marina's water surface. An official-size court appearing in a space surrounded by yacht decks and piers, with participants enjoying rallies, brought a fresh contrast to the boat-show scenery.
What about the actual play?—Yacht crews took part too
On the court, tournament-format matches were also held, with yacht owners and crews taking part. Boat-show visitors could also do trial play in the gaps between matches. The out-of-the-ordinary experience of “pickleball on the water” functioned as new headline content for the boat show.
The ease of installing a pickleball venue (the compact court size) made play possible even at a place like this. A standard pickleball court is about 13.4m × 6.1m, only about a quarter the size of a tennis court, making it easy to set up even in limited space.
“Pickleball anywhere”—the cultural spread of the sport
Boat shows, rooftops, beaches, hot-spring facilities… cases of pickleball advancing into “every kind of place” have surged in recent years. The court's compactness, the ease of learning the rules, and its cross-generational approachability make the sport an entity that transcends the genre of space.
In Japan too, outdoor courts and temporary courts are increasing. Related articles:PPA Greater Zion Cup 2026 final report、PPA ASIA 500 Sansan TOKYO OPEN 2026 makes its first Japan landing
FAQ
Q. Is playing on a floating court safe?
A. This court is a dedicated float-material platform with anti-slip treatment. Because pickleball has a relatively compact range of movement, it can be enjoyed safely even on the water.
Q. Can you do water pickleball in Japan too?
A. At present there are no permanent water courts in Japan, but an event-installation type could appear in the future. Facility rollouts referencing advanced overseas cases are also anticipated domestically.
Q. What do you need to set up a pickleball court?
A. It can be set up with a space of at least 13.4m × 6.1m (recommended 19.8m × 9.1m), a net, and line tape (or paint). Because it's a quarter the area of a tennis court, it can be set up in many places.
