BY CHRIS BEAUMONT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
While the United States continues to solidify its professional calendar with the recently announced APP 2026 schedule, the sport’s international footprint is expanding rapidly in Eastern Europe. The Polish Pickleball Association (Związek Polskiego Pickleballu or ZPP) has unveiled a series of major developments, ranging from organisational expansion to a revamped national tour, signalling a massive push for professionalisation in the 2026 season.
The Federation Expands
The ZPP has officially welcomed new regular members to its governing body, strengthening the sport’s infrastructure across the country. Małopolski Pickleball, representing the Małopolska Voivodeship, has become the fifth regular member of the association.
Led by President Tomasz Kozub and Vice President Szymon Markut, the organisation hosts the Małopolska Open, one of the three largest tournaments on the Polish circuit.
Joining them is Lubelski Pickleball, a club founded by ambassador and instructor Artur Maciejewski. Despite being established only a few months ago, the Lubelski organisation has already built a community of dozens of active players with a specific focus on training children and teenagers. These new additions join existing members like Arki Gdynia, Greater Poland Pickleball, Silesia Pickleball, and Pickleball Floor.
Professionalising the Workforce
To support this growth, Poland is investing heavily in education and certification. The association has appointed Maria Nili, a Florida-based pickleball leader, as the Strategic Lead for training and instructor education. Nili, who manages programs at The Yards in Florida and represented Poland at the European Championships in Rome, brings valuable expertise in building local communities.
Complementing this strategic role is Marta Wiśniewska, the newly appointed Coordinator for ZPP Instructors. She will manage communication with the country’s growing roster of nearly 100 certified instructors, ensuring they remain updated on educational content.
The push for certification recently saw a major milestone in Poznań, where a course held in partnership with Pickleball Coaching International (PCI) certified 23 new instructors. This brings the total number of certified instructors in Poland to 93. On the officiating side, the association successfully completed its second Referee Course, certifying seven new judges under the guidance of Referee Committee Chairman Maciej Walczak.
A New Era for the Polish Pickleball Tour (PPT)
The 2026 competitive season is officially underway, kicking off with a PPT 50 rank tournament in Częstochowa. However, players this year will navigate a revamped ranking system. The ZPP has introduced new tournament categories—PPT 500 (Polish Championships), PPT 300, PPT 200, PPT 100, and PPT 50—to better structure the competitive landscape.
To maintain continuity, all points accumulated in the previous ranking system will be multiplied by a factor of five. The ranking methodology remains performance-based, calculated using a player’s six best tournament results over the last 12 months.
Polish Talent on the World Stage
Polish athletes are also making waves internationally. In the World Pickleball League’s second edition held in Mumbai, India, Mateusz Matysik returned to represent Pune United. Although fellow countryman Bartosz Karbownik had to withdraw from the league due to health reasons, the Polish presence in the world’s biggest league outside the USA remains strong.
Success has also been found in China at the WPC Masters Invitational on Hainan Island. Karolina Owczarek secured a silver medal in women’s doubles, while also reaching the quarterfinals in mixed doubles alongside Karbownik. Meanwhile, Paweł Jankowiak secured a 4th place finish in doubles play.
Local Action
Back home, the grassroots spirit remains alive. The recent Domino’s Cup in Podlasie highlighted the sport’s local appeal, with Radoslaw Bogacewicz taking top honours in a fiercely contested tournament.
As the 2026 season heats up, Poland is positioning itself as a central hub for European pickleball, combining robust local governance with increasing international competitiveness.
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Chris Beaumont
Founder and Editor-in-ChiefChris Beaumont is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of World Pickleball Magazine. Chris follows the global game closely, reporting on the latest news, developments, stories and tournaments from all five continents. He also hosts the World Pickleball Podcast, interviewing people at…
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