Da Nang, a port city in central Vietnam, held from August 30 to September 6, 2026,Pickleball World Cup 2026has been officially decided as the host. This is its first time being held in Asia. About 4,000 players from 80 countries and regions worldwide are expected to gather, making it an event that symbolizes the spread of pickleball within Vietnam. The announcement was made on April 24 by the Da Nang City Pickleball Federation.
Tournament overview: the third World Cup, held in Asia for the first time
The Pickleball World Cup 2026 is the third edition of the international tournament for which Hercilio Cabieses serves as CEO. The venues are operated by making use of multiple standard-compliant facilities within the city, such as the Tien Son Sports Centre and Tuyen Son Sports Complex in Da Nang.
The competition format isa two-track structure of country-vs-country team competition and individual competition, with multiple categories set up by age division and skill level. CEO Cabieses praised it, saying, "Da Nang's natural environment, modern infrastructure, and the strong support of the local authorities make it an ideal place to hold a world-class sports event."
The port town of Da Nang lands a world championship in one year—the federation was founded only in March 2025
What's notable is the point that Da Nang City isthe first municipality in Vietnam to establish a city-level pickleball federation. The federation was founded in March 2025. From then, in just over a year, it succeeded in bidding for a world championship.
Da Nang has also to datethe Ironman Triathlonandthe Da Nang International Marathonand has a track record of hosting large-scale international events like these. Its steady building of a foundation as a sports-tourism city is seen as directly connected to this successful bid.
Tran Phuoc Son, standing vice chairman of the Da Nang City People's Council and chairman of the city's pickleball federation, commented, "Hosting this tournament demonstrates the city's ability to run large-scale international sports events and, at the same time, projects Da Nang's image to the world and boosts the tourism, service, and sports economy."
Tournament data at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Tournament Name | Pickleball World Cup 2026 |
| Dates | August 30 to September 6, 2026 (8 days) |
| Location | Da Nang, Vietnam |
| Main venues | Tien Son Sports Centre / Tuyen Son Sports Complex, plus multiple venues within the city |
| Scale of participation | Over 80 countries and regions / about 4,000 players |
| Competition format | Country-vs-country team competition + individual competition (categories by age and skill) |
| Host | Da Nang City Pickleball Federation + Pickleball World Cup organizing headquarters |
| CEO | Hercilio Cabieses |
| Edition | 3rd (held in Asia for the first time) |
Industry and local reactions
1. Da Nang City authorities: "a prime opportunity for city branding"
Vice Chairman Tran Phuoc Son said the tournament would be connected to revitalizing the tourism, service, and sports economy, and clarified a strategy positioning Da Nang as a "hub of racket sports connecting Asia and the world."
2. Tournament organizers: "infrastructure and the natural environment were the deciding factors"
CEO Cabieses praised Da Nang's natural conditions, modern facilities, and the municipality's support structure as "conditions suited to a world-class sports event," and promised safe, fair, and effective operation in partnership with domestic and overseas partners.
3. Vietnam's domestic pickleball world: "a bridgehead to the international stage"
For the domestic scene where Vietnam's top players such as Ly Hoang Nam are active, a world championship held at home is a prime opportunity to maximize the home advantage. The PPA Tour Asia was already held in Hanoi in April 2026, and combined with the World Cup that follows in August-September, Vietnam is rapidly rising as an "Asian pickleball base."
Impact on Japanese pickleball players and enthusiasts
For Japanese players, the World Cup 2026 will be a world championship withtravel cost and time difference both in the smallest class. There are direct flights from Kansai/Narita to Da Nang, flight time is about 5-6 hours, and the time difference is 2 hours. Compared with events held in North America or Europe, the barrier to participation and spectating drops significantly.
The fact that a country-vs-country team competition is built in is also notable.The new body "Pickleball Japan," merged in April 2026,and how it advances Japanese national team selection becomes a future focus. Because categories by age and skill are set up, it's a structure where chances extend not only to pros but also to the masters segment and the upper amateur tier.
Participating for spectating purposes also becomes a realistic option. Da Nang is also one of Vietnam's foremost resort cities, and there's a high chance it becomes a strong travel destination for "pickleball tourism" combining spectating with a vacation.
Ripple effects on the industry: the contest for leadership in Asia gets serious
The movement in the Asian pickleball market since entering 2026 is accelerating.The PPA Tour Asia's first Hanoi Cup was held in April,gathering the world's top players just now at a scale of 800 people with over 30 million yen in prize money. With the World Cup being held in Da Nang in the following August-September, the picture of Vietnam becoming the center of Asian pickleball in 2026 has become clear.
On the Japanese side too,the PPA ASIA 500 Sansan Tokyo Open decided for July,and the competition to attract international tournaments has begun. Regarding leadership of pickleball in Asia, the moves of Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, and India will proceed in parallel.
Practical information for travel and spectating
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Japan to Da Nang direct flights | Operated from Narita and Kansai (flight about 5-6 hours) |
| Time difference | 2 hours behind Japan (JST-2) |
| Best season | During the tournament period (end of August to September), around the rainy season, temperatures are 28-32°C |
| Access to main venue | Tien Son Sports Centre: about 15 minutes by car from Da Nang International Airport |
| Visa | Japanese nationals are exempt from a tourist-stay visa for up to 45 days |
| Tourism resources | Hoi An Ancient Town (World Heritage), My Son Sanctuary, Ba Na Hills, etc. |
| Official information | To be announced from time to time on the tournament official site and the Da Nang City Pickleball Federation's social media |
Summary: an "Asia-first" World Cup Japan can't miss either
The Pickleball World Cup 2026, opening at the end of August 2026, is the first world championship held in Asia, and it becomes a historic milestone for Japan's pickleball world too. Da Nang's driving force in landing a world championship just over a year after founding a city-level federation is also a touchstone for forecasting how Asian countries will move going forward.
Pickle Times will continue to follow updates on Japanese national team selection, spectator tours, related sponsor movements, and more.
Source
・Malay Mail "Vietnam’s Da Nang named host of Pickleball World Cup 2026, Asia’s first edition" (April 25, 2026)
https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2026/04/25/vietnams-da-nang-named-host-of-pickleball-world-cup-2026-asias-first-edition/217672
・Vietnam News "Pickleball World Cup 2026 to be held in Đà Nẵng" (April 25, 2026)
https://vietnamnews.vn/sports/1780211/pickleball-world-cup-2026-to-be-held-in-da-nang.html
