LTA marks World Padel Day with record 1.5 million people playing padel in Britain
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To mark World Padel Day, the LTA has today revealed new figures highlighting the continued growth of padel in Britain, with 1,500,000 adults and juniors now playing the sport nationwide across 2,445 courts at 682 venues.
Padel remains one of the fastest-growing sports in the country, with participation and facility expansion continuing to grow at a rapid pace.
This growth builds on an upward trajectory, with participation increasing from 1,000,00 players earlier this year in May, 860,000 players at the end of 2025, 400,000 at the end of 2024, 129,000 in 2023 and just 15,000 in 2019.
Two-thirds of the 1.5 million people now playing padel in Britain also play tennis, highlighting the complementary nature of the two sports and the opportunities for people to enjoy both.
The LTA is committed to making padel more accessible and affordable for people across Britain, with a particular focus on reaching underserved communities. By supporting the development of more public facilities and sustainable private facilities and increasing the number of courts nationwide, the LTA aims to meet growing demand, create more opportunities to play, and enable more people and communities to enjoy the physical, mental and social benefits of padel.
Working in partnership with the UK Government, the LTA is exploring opportunities to secure funding for publicly owned padel courts, with pilot projects set to launch this year across Britain. Increasing the number of courts at leisure centres, parks and other public venues will help improve access, reduce barriers to participation and create more opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to play.
The LTA also works closely with clubs and venues to champion community outreach initiatives. Over 80% of padel venues in Britain actively engage with their local communities, delivering programmes that help introduce the sport to children, young people, women and girls and underserved groups, ensuring more people can experience the benefits of padel.
Reflecting on the milestone, LTA Head of Padel Tom Murray said, "On World Padel Day, these figures demonstrate the remarkable trajectory padel continues to make in Britain. With 1.5 million people now playing the sport, padel has firmly established itself as one of the country’s fastest-growing sports.
"Our focus remains on supporting public courts, sustainable growth and increasing access to facilities, alongside developing and growing our on-court workforce through our LTA Activator and coaching qualifications. By investing in both facilities and the people who bring the sport to life, we can widen opportunities to play and ensure more people can pick up a racket and enjoy padel."
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