FRISCO, Texas – The PGA Show, the world’s largest and longest-running global golf business gathering, returns to the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, Florida, January 20–23, 2026, with an expanded and energized Racquet Sports at the PGA Show, spotlighted by a new Celebrity Pickleball Pro-Am, complimentary business programming and hands-on experiences designed to meet surging demand for racquet sports offerings at golf and multi-sport facilities.
Debuting as a fully integrated “show within a show,” Racquet Sports at the PGA Show reflects the rapid evolution of club and facility models, where golf, pickleball, tennis and padel increasingly coexist to attract new audiences, boost utilization and drive year-round revenue.
A Growing Category, Elevated Experience
Racquet sports participation continues to climb across the U.S. and globally, with pickleball, tennis and padel reshaping how facilities engage members and communities. At the 2026 PGA Show, Racquet Sports at the PGA Show expands to its largest footprint to date, featuring more than 60 exhibiting brands, two active pickleball courts, a full padel court and live demos, coaching clinics and athlete-led sessions running throughout the week.
“This is the biggest year we’ve had for racquet sports at the PGA Show,” said Nick Mastro, Event Manager for Racquet Sports at the PGA Show. “Facilities are looking for proven ways to grow participation, maximize revenue and retain members. Racquet sports are delivering across those areas and the Show is designed to let attendees see, feel and experience what’s possible.”
Celebrity Pickleball Pro-Am Brings Energy to the Show Floor
A marquee moment for Racquet Sports at the PGA Show arrives on Wednesday, January 21, with the Celebrity Pickleball Pro-Am presented by Matt “Pickleball McNasty” Manasse, bringing high-energy competition and entertainment directly to the Show Floor.
The complimentary event runs from 5:00–7:00 p.m. and features:
- Celebrity Pro-Am, Pickleball Court 2
- Attendee Networking & Happy Hour presented by RADL Wire, Pickleball Court 1
- Complimentary food and beverage service for ticket holders
- Appearances by professional athletes and sports personalities, including NFL legends Calvin Johnson and Eric Decker, professional tennis player Jesse Levine, WTA standout Caroline Dolehide and more!
“We wanted to create something fun, accessible and memorable that brings even more energy onto the Show Floor,” Mastro said. “It’s a celebration of the sport and the community around it — and it’s free for attendees.”
Complimentary Racquet Sports Stage Programming
Reflecting the continued growth of racquet sports at golf facilities, the Racquet Sports Stage delivers complimentary business content focused on pickleball, tennis and multi-sport programming. Sessions explore facility design, community engagement, staffing and revenue strategies, with presentations from leading racquet industry organizations and brands.
A sample of Racquet Sports Stage programming:
● From Court to Community: Designing Pickleball Experiences People Remember, presented by Selkirk
● The Pickleball Profit Playbook: Trends Driving Revenue in 2026
● “The Hire Standard”, presented by the RSPA (Racquet Sports Professionals Association)
● Engaging the Next Generation: Creative Coaching for Tennis & Pickleball presented by PTR (Professional Tennis Registry)
● Leading with Impact: Best Practices for Club Directors, presented by The Directors Club of America
● “Pickleball: The Founding Family” presented by Frank Pritchard
For the first time, select racquet-specific sessions also offer racquet-affiliated association education credits, reinforcing the PGA Show’s commitment to professional development across the multi-sport landscape.
Brands, Partners and Sponsors Power the Experience
More than 60 racquet sports brands will showcase the latest products, equipment, apparel and technology, including adidas Racquet Sports, Centerline Athletics, Gamma Sports, GEARBOX, JOOLA Pickleball, Paddletek, Selkirk, Mizuno, Vulcan Sporting Goods and more.
Industry partners supporting Racquet Sports at the PGA Show include the Racquet Sports Professionals Association (RSPA), Directors Club of America, United States Tennis Association (USTA), Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) and RADL Wire.
The Racquet Sports Professionals Association (RSPA) is hosting a two-hour Padel clinic on Wednesday, January 21st from 3:00pm – 5:00pm. The clinic will consist of a one-hour session led by RSPA CEO Brian Dillman on the Racquet Sports Stage from 3:00pm – 4:00pm, followed by an on-court demo on the Adidas Padel court, with “Godfather of Padel in the USA,” Marcos Del Pilar.
Key sponsors include:
- adidas Racquet Sports — Official Padel Court Sponsor
- JOOLA Pickleball — Official Pickleball Court Sponsor
- Selkirk — Racquet Sports Presenting Sponsor
- AMET International — Racquet Product Zone Sponsor
Hands-On Connection at the Core
From live play and product testing to programming and networking, Racquet Sports at the PGA Show is built around one guiding principle: meaningful, in-person connection.
“Performance-driven categories like golf and racquet sports demand hands-on interaction,” Mastro said. “Those moments — hitting, testing, learning and connecting — are what build confidence, spark ideas and lead to long-term partnerships. That’s what the PGA Show does best.”
About the 2026 PGA Show
The PGA Show, organized in partnership by PGA Golf Exhibitions (part of RX) and the PGA of America, is the premiere destination for the business of the sport, a $102 billion industry in the United States. Held annually in Orlando, the PGA Show attracts some 30,000 industry professionals from around the world and features the latest innovations in golf equipment, apparel and technology from more than 1,100 of the game’s most recognizable brands, veteran manufacturers and emerging small businesses. Additional expert-led educational sessions, collaborative golf industry programming and many peer-to-peer special events create an unmatched industry gathering that drives the global golf industry forward.
Event registration is open to qualified industry professionals at PGAShow.com.
About PGA Golf Exhibitions
The PGA Show and PGA Buying Summit – Frisco are organized by PGA Golf Exhibitions (part of RX) and the PGA of America. Since its inception in 1954, the PGA Show has grown into the largest annual business event for the global golf industry. Both the PGA Show and the midseason PGA Buying Summit drive the golf business by providing opportunities to showcase and source innovative products, develop professional networks, learn new business strategies and connect with peers and golf leaders. Learn more at PGAShow.com and follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.
About the PGA of America
The PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, composed of more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals who love the game, are expert coaches, operators and business leaders and work daily to drive interest, inclusion and participation in the sport. The PGA of America owns and operates numerous championships and events, including major championships for men, women, seniors and the Ryder Cup, one of the world’s foremost sporting events. For more information, visit PGA.com and follow us on X, Instagram and Facebook.
About RX
RX is a global leader in events and exhibitions, leveraging industry expertise, data and technology to build businesses for individuals, communities and organisations. With a presence in 25 countries across 41 industry sectors, RX hosts approximately 350 events annually. RX is committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX empowers businesses to thrive by leveraging data-driven insights and digital solutions. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. For more information, visit www.rxglobal.com.
About RELX
RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. RELX serves customers in more than 180 countries and territories and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs more than 36,000 people, over 40% of whom are in North America. The shares of RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX. *Note: Current market capitalisation can be found at http://www.relx.com/investors
Media Contacts:
PGA Show/Media: Sherry Major, sherry.major@rxglobal.com
PGA of America/Media: Jesse Dodson, PGA, jdodson@pgahq.com
