News
The Madrid Open pickleball tournament arrives free of charge at Plaza de España
Plaza de España will become an open court this June to discover one of Madrid’s fastest-growing sports. The Madrid Open 2026 pickleball tournament arrives on the 20th and 21st with free entry, an international atmosphere and matches in the heart of the city.
The tournament will bring together players from different parts of Spain and from more than 26 nationalities. For many people in Madrid, it will be an easy opportunity to get close for the first time to a sport that combines elements of tennis, padel and badminton, but has a pace that is easy to follow even for people who do not know the rules.
The event is part of the Pickle Pro Tour, a circuit that has helped promote pickleball in Europe. The competition will be organised by the Real Federación Española de Tenis and will include singles, men’s and women’s doubles, mixed doubles, junior events and inclusive formats.
Free admission makes the event an accessible plan for people passing through the centre at the weekend. There is no need to buy a ticket or organise the visit too much: simply go to Plaza de España, take in the atmosphere and stay to follow the most interesting matches.
The appeal is not only in the competition. Pickleball is expanding because it is quick to learn, requires less space than other racket sports and suits very different audiences. This combination has made it increasingly present in clubs, sports centres and urban plans.
Plaza de España thus once again acts as a showcase for new trends in Madrid. After its redevelopment, the space has become established as a meeting point for cultural events, outdoor activities and sporting proposals that seek to move beyond the usual venues.
The Madrid Open also adds a practical reading for the city: when a new sport occupies a central square, it stops being something reserved for clubs or specialist courts and becomes a visible experience for anyone passing by. That proximity may be key to encouraging more people to try it.
For two days, central Madrid will trade traffic noise and usual strolls for paddles, balls and short matches. Pickleball comes to Plaza de España as a fashionable sport, but also as an excuse to see the city differently: more open, more participatory and with room for plans that combine curiosity, sport and street life.