Pickleball Australia are delighted to announce that the Australian Pickleball Championships have found a home on the Gold Coast for the next four years (2024-2027). The Gold Coast community has embraced our fast-growing sport, with pickleball clubs and communities springing up all over the coast, and now the city has secured the right to host the sport's biggest competition, the Australian Pickleball Championships. The four-year deal will see professional and amateur pickleball players descend on the Gold Coast for six-days every October from 2024-2027, with numbers expected to grow year-on-year starting with close to 1000 players in 2024.

"Pickleball's popularity has exploded across the country and we're excited to be part of the sport's exceptional growth by hosting its premier event on the Gold Coast for the next four years" said Experience Gold Coast CEO John Warn.

"We're proud to be able to add pickleball to the city's already diverse and vibrant calendar of major events. These mass participation sporting events don't just provide a significant economic boost for the local visitor economy but showcase our incredible destination to the rest of the country at the same time."

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said that as the city with the largest pickleball association in Queensland, it made sense to hold the national championships here.

"Pickleball is booming around the country and nowhere more so than right here on the Gold Coast where some of Australia's top pickleball champions live and play" said Mayor Tom Tate.

"We can't wait to welcome the 1000-plus players and their supporters to our city for the first time in 2024 for this six-day festival of pickleball. Give me a paddle and let's see what all the fuss is about!"

The 2024 Australian Pickleball Championship will be held at KDV Sport, in Carrara, from 2-7 October, with the sport and lifestyle facility set to be transformed into the official home of pickleball over the six days. Spectators are invited to not just watch the action on court but pick up a paddle and give it a go themselves.

"Pickleball Australia are delighted to bring the 2024-2027 Australian Pickleball Championships to the Gold Coast" said Brendan Lee, Executive Officer | Pickleball Australia.

"The Gold Coast is the perfect location for our pickleball community to come together to crown our nation's best and celebrate Australia's fastest growing sport."

"As we close in on 10,000 official members nationwide, and approximately 30,000 participants, we know our members from around Australia, and the world, will flock to the event to experience the festival like atmosphere and test themselves against Australia's best. The Gold Coast is home to many of Australia's top opens, senior, junior and parapickleball players including 2024 Australian Pickleball Championships ambassadors Sarah Burr, Dion Reweti, Jenny and Raymond Ware and
Oliver Gray."

"The 2023 Championships saw more than 700 participants compete at Blacktown in Western Sydney and we believe we will see the 2024 event eclipse 1000 entries and set a new Southern Hemisphere record."

Entries for the 2024 Australian Pickleball Championships will open soon and be sure to follow us on social media to stay up to date on the latest announcements.

Kind regards,

Paul Chambers
Media Coordinator | Pickleball Australia