The United States Padel Association (USPA) is proud to announce one of the most significant milestones in the development of padel in America: the inaugural National Collegiate Padel Championships. Scheduled for April 11-12, 2026, in Austin, Texas, this landmark event will bring together the nation’s top collegiate padel players to compete for the first-ever national title at the university level, marking a defining step forward for the sport in the United States.
The Championship will feature a men’s and women’s draw with divisions as appropriate, allowing players of all levels to represent their university with pride.
Click here for more information and to register
A New Chapter for Collegiate Padel in the United States
Since the USPA officially launched its Collegiate Padel program, the growth of campus-based padel clubs has been remarkable. From the founding clubs – Longhorn Padel at the University of Texas at Austin, Canes Padel at the University of Miami, Yale Padel Club, USD Club Padel at the University of San Diego, FIU Padel Club at Florida International University, Babson Padel Club, HBS Padel Club at Harvard Business School, UA Padel Club at the University of Arizona, UTD Padel Club at UT Dallas- the movement has expanded steadily, driven by students who recognized padel’s unique ability to combine athletic competition with community and connection.
The National Championships represent the natural progression of that momentum. The majority of collegiate padel clubs have been running weekly match days and informal tournaments throughout the semester, enabling students to compete regularly regardless of level. The National Championships will serve as the pinnacle of the collegiate calendar, the stage where the best programs in the country meet to determine a national champion.
United States Padel Association President, Bill Ullman, said, “The National Collegiate Padel Championships are a reflection of how far the sport of padel has come and a signal of where we’re going in the US. We believe that college-level padel is critical to continuing to drive the sport’s growth at the junior level and to building a long-term foundation for American padel. Watching these student-athletes compete for a national title for the very first time is something we’ve been working toward and are truly excited to see it happen.”
Rodrigo Ortiz, President and Founder, Longhorn Padel, University of Texas at Austin. “We have been working toward this moment since the very beginning. When we started Longhorn Padel, we knew there was something special here: the energy, the talent, and the passion our students bring every time they step on the court. The National Collegiate Padel Championship gives our club the chance to be amazing hosts and welcome Collegiate Padel Players from around the country. We’re bringing Texas energy, Burnt Orange pride, and Longhorn hospitality to the national stage.”
A Direct Pathway to the FISU World University Championships
The stakes extend well beyond a national title. Performance at the National Collegiate Padel Championships will serve as part of the selection criteria for the U.S. delegation to the FISU World University Championships of Padel, set to take place in Málaga, Spain, in July 2026.
FISU, an international governing body for collegiate sports globally, oversees one of the most prestigious competition platforms for student-athletes worldwide. Representing the United States will be a historic first for American collegiate padel, and the National Championships mark the beginning of that journey.
The USPA is a proud member of the United States International University Sports Federation (UniUSA), the official U.S. affiliate of FISU, as well as NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation, reinforcing its commitment to building padel within US collegiate athletics.
For student players who have been developing their game at local clubs and regional competitions, this is the moment that transforms their competitive experience into something truly national and potentially international.
What to Expect
Registration and complete tournament details, including the host venue, registration deadlines, and draw formats, are available here. Eligible participants must be currently enrolled students at accredited U.S. universities or colleges and be registered members of a USPA Collegiate Padel Club.
Collegiate clubs that have not yet registered with the USPA are encouraged to do so immediately. Registration is free, and member clubs gain access to USPA resources, event support, and eligibility to compete in sanctioned events, including the National Championships. Clubs that register 25 or more student members also unlock access to USPA Club Growth Grants to help fund equipment, court fees, and programming. Join Collegiate Padel as a club.
Individual college students can join the USPA for just $10 annually, unlocking tournament access, exclusive partner discounts, and entry into the national collegiate padel community. Enter COLLEGE at checkout on the USPA Membership page, located here.
Why This Moment Matters
The launch of a national collegiate championship is not just an organizational milestone; it is a signal to the broader padel world that the United States is building a sustainable, structured pathway for the next generation of players. Collegiate sport has always been one of the most powerful drivers of growth for any sport in the United States.
With a competitive ecosystem that now runs from campus clubs through to a national championship and international representation at FISU, the USPA is helping establish one of the clearest and most compelling collegiate development pathways in the sport.
Register your collegiate padel club here!
Ready to compete? View the official tournament page for registration details, draws, and the latest updates on the USA Collegiate Padel National Championships.