Something is happening on the courts of Los Angeles. Walk past any public park in the city on a Saturday morning and you will hear it before you see it -- the unmistakable pop of paddles, the shuffle of court shoes on concrete, and the kind of laughter that only comes from a sport people genuinely enjoy playing. Pickleball in LA has crossed the threshold from trend to institution, and 2026 is shaping up to be the biggest year yet for the sport in the city.
This is not just a story about a growing sport. It is a story about how a city known for reinventing culture has embraced pickleball and made it unmistakably its own. From dedicated mega-facilities opening their doors to Hollywood A-listers building private courts in their backyards, the LA pickleball scene in 2026 is thriving in ways that would have been hard to imagine even two years ago. Here is what is happening, what is new, and where it is all headed.
The Numbers: LA Pickleball Growth
The growth of pickleball in Los Angeles is not anecdotal anymore -- it is measurable, and the numbers are striking.
LA County now has over 600 public and private pickleball courts, a figure that has more than doubled since 2023. The LA Department of Recreation and Parks alone has added permanent pickleball lines or dedicated courts to over 40 parks in the past 18 months, responding to demand that has outpaced every other recreational amenity request the department receives. According to the department's 2025 annual report, pickleball court reservation requests increased 140 percent year-over-year, making it the fastest-growing sport in the city's parks system.
Participation in Los Angeles mirrors the national picture but with a distinctly LA twist. The Sports and Fitness Industry Association estimated 48.3 million Americans played pickleball at least once in 2025, and Southern California is consistently one of the country's top three metro areas for participation density. In LA specifically, organized league play has grown from roughly 2,000 active league players in 2023 to an estimated 8,500 in early 2026. Drop-in play, which is harder to measure, almost certainly adds tens of thousands more regular players across the county.
What makes the LA growth notable is the demographic breadth. Early pickleball adoption skewed heavily toward retirees, and while the 55-plus crowd remains the backbone of weekday morning play, the sport has exploded among 25-to-44-year-olds in Los Angeles. Young professionals, parents with kids, entertainment industry workers with flexible schedules, and fitness-focused millennials have all entered the mix. The average age of a new pickleball player in LA dropped from 52 in 2022 to 38 in 2025, according to local league registration data.
Court construction is struggling to keep pace. The city has allocated $12 million in its 2026 parks budget specifically for pickleball infrastructure, which includes both new dedicated courts and conversions of underutilized tennis courts. Private investment is filling the gap as well -- at least four major dedicated pickleball facilities have opened or announced opening dates in the LA area for 2026, representing a combined investment of over $30 million in private capital.
New Facilities and Courts Opening in 2026
If 2025 was the year LA's indoor pickleball scene took off (and it was -- check out our guide to indoor pickleball courts in Los Angeles for the full rundown), then 2026 is the year the facilities landscape matures into something truly impressive.
The headline project is the long-anticipated Ace Pickleball Club in Burbank, a 45,000-square-foot dedicated facility scheduled to open in the spring. The club will feature 16 indoor courts with cushioned sport court surfaces, a full-service restaurant and bar overlooking the courts, a pro shop, locker rooms, and a lounge designed as much for socializing as for sport. The ownership group behind Ace has positioned it as a "social club that happens to have world-class pickleball," and the membership model reflects that ambition -- founding memberships include wellness perks, guest privileges, and access to curated events beyond just court time.
In the San Fernando Valley, Pickled LA is expanding its successful Woodland Hills location with eight additional courts, bringing its total to 20 and making it one of the largest indoor pickleball facilities in Southern California. The expansion includes a dedicated training center with ball machines, a video analysis room for coaching sessions, and a kids play area designed to keep younger children occupied while parents hit the courts.
On the Westside, the City of Santa Monica is converting four tennis courts at Memorial Park into eight dedicated pickleball courts, a project that drew both enthusiastic support from the pickleball community and predictable pushback from tennis players. The conversion is expected to be complete by mid-2026 and will include permanent nets, LED lighting for evening play, and a reservation system through the city's recreation portal.
Further south, the South Bay is getting its first large-scale outdoor pickleball complex at a former retail site in Redondo Beach. The project, developed by a partnership between a local real estate group and a national pickleball facility operator, will feature 12 outdoor courts with shade structures, a clubhouse, and a small retail component. It is targeting a late 2026 opening.
The LA Department of Recreation and Parks is also moving forward with its own pipeline of smaller projects. New dedicated pickleball courts are planned for Lincoln Park in Lincoln Heights, Jesse Owens Park in Crenshaw, and Lanark Park in Canoga Park. These neighborhood-level additions are arguably as important as the big splashy facilities -- they bring the sport to communities that have not had convenient access to courts, expanding who gets to play and where.
The Tournament Scene
Los Angeles has always been a destination city, and the professional pickleball tours have taken notice. The 2026 tournament calendar for the LA area is the most robust it has ever been, spanning everything from neighborhood-level round-robins to stops on the national professional tours.
The Professional Pickleball Association confirmed an LA-area stop on its 2026 tour, scheduled for late summer at a venue in the South Bay. The event is expected to draw top-ranked professional players from around the country and will include amateur brackets that are open to local players. For the LA pickleball community, having a PPA tour stop in the backyard is a significant milestone -- it validates the city's status as a major market for the sport and gives local fans a chance to watch elite play in person.
The Association of Pickleball Professionals has also included Southern California on its 2026 schedule, with a tournament planned for the spring in the greater LA area. Specific venue details are still being finalized, but the event is expected to feature both professional and amateur divisions.
Beyond the national tours, LA's local tournament scene has grown substantially. The SoCal Pickleball Open, now in its third year, has expanded to a three-day format and moved to a larger venue to accommodate the growing field of entrants. Regional tournaments in Pasadena, Long Beach, and the San Fernando Valley run nearly every month, and charity tournaments -- often organized by entertainment industry groups -- have become a popular way to combine competition with fundraising.
League play is the backbone of the LA tournament ecosystem. Organizations like ZogSports, PIKL LA, and the newly formed LA Metro Pickleball League offer structured seasonal leagues with divisions for every skill level from 2.5 to 5.0. These leagues feed the tournament pipeline by giving players consistent competitive experience and a community of playing partners who push each other to improve.
Community and Social Pickleball
One of the most distinctive aspects of pickleball in Los Angeles is how thoroughly it has integrated into the city's social fabric. This is not just a sport people play -- it is a social scene, a networking tool, and for many people, a primary way they meet friends and build community in a city that can feel isolating despite its size.
Facebook groups dedicated to LA pickleball have ballooned in membership. "Pickleball Los Angeles" has over 15,000 members and serves as a central hub for finding games, sharing court updates, and connecting with other players. Neighborhood-specific groups for the Westside, Valley, South Bay, and Eastside provide more localized options. These groups are active daily, with posts seeking playing partners, advertising drop-in sessions, and sharing tips on everything from paddle recommendations to which courts have the best lighting.
The Meetup platform has seen similar growth. There are now over 30 active pickleball Meetup groups in the LA area, with the largest -- Los Angeles Pickleball Meetup -- topping 5,000 members. These groups organize regular play sessions, social events, and beginner clinics, and they serve as an on-ramp for people who are new to the sport and do not yet have a regular playing group. The social component is explicit: many Meetup events include post-play drinks or food, and some groups organize non-pickleball social events specifically to strengthen the community bonds.
Social leagues, where the emphasis is as much on the hangout as the game, are one of the fastest-growing segments of the LA scene. These leagues typically include a structured play session followed by socializing at a nearby bar or restaurant, and they attract a younger demographic than traditional competitive leagues. It is not uncommon for social league nights to have 40 or 50 players -- many of whom did not know each other six months ago -- sharing a beer and recapping their games like they have been friends for years.
The community aspect extends to how players find courts and organize games. Apps like Pickleheads and Playtime have become essential tools for LA players, allowing you to find open courts, join scheduled sessions, and connect with players at your skill level. If you are new to the LA pickleball scene and want to find your people, these platforms and our guide to the best pickleball courts in Los Angeles are the best places to start.
Celebrity and Entertainment Industry Adoption
It would be impossible to write about pickleball in LA without addressing the elephant in the room: Hollywood has gone all-in on pickleball. What started as a pandemic-era hobby among a handful of entertainment industry figures has become a full-blown cultural phenomenon in the entertainment world.
The list of celebrity pickleball enthusiasts who call LA home reads like a credits scroll. Leonardo DiCaprio, who has been photographed playing at private courts in Malibu, reportedly hosts regular games with a rotating group of industry friends. The Kardashian family documented their pickleball games on social media in 2025, introducing the sport to an audience of hundreds of millions. George Clooney, Jamie Foxx, and Larry David have all been spotted at various LA courts, sometimes at public parks where they play alongside regular community members.
But celebrity adoption goes beyond casual play. Several high-profile entertainment figures have invested in pickleball businesses. Major League Pickleball, the team-based professional league, counts multiple Hollywood investors among its ownership groups. At least two LA-based pickleball facilities in development have entertainment industry backing, and the intersection of pickleball and content creation has spawned social media accounts, YouTube channels, and podcast episodes that blend sport instruction with celebrity culture.
The entertainment industry's flexible schedules have made weekday pickleball a genuine networking activity. Writers, producers, agents, and talent regularly meet on the courts during the day for games that blur the line between recreation and business. Multiple industry figures have described pickleball as "the new golf" for Los Angeles -- a social sport where relationships are built, deals are discussed, and the playing field (literally) feels more casual and accessible than a country club.
This celebrity and industry adoption has a real effect on the broader LA scene. It raises the sport's profile, attracts new players who see their favorite stars playing, and drives investment into facilities and programming. Whether you think celebrity involvement is great for the sport or an eye-roll-inducing sideshow, the practical impact in LA is undeniable: more courts, more money, and more people picking up a paddle for the first time.
Youth Pickleball Programs
One of the most encouraging trends in the LA pickleball scene is the growing investment in youth programs. For a sport that initially grew through older adult recreation, the expansion into youth athletics represents a critical step toward long-term sustainability.
The LA Unified School District has begun incorporating pickleball into physical education curricula at several middle and high schools, recognizing its accessibility and low barrier to entry. Unlike sports that require specialized equipment, extensive coaching, or large team rosters, pickleball can be taught quickly, played with minimal gear, and adapted to any gym or outdoor space with a flat surface. PE teachers report that students who are reluctant to participate in traditional sports like basketball or soccer engage enthusiastically with pickleball because the learning curve is forgiving and rallies happen almost immediately.
Junior pickleball leagues have emerged across the county. The SoCal Junior Pickleball League, launched in 2025, now has over 300 registered players between the ages of 8 and 17, organized into age-appropriate divisions. The league runs seasonal play with weekly matches at rotating venues, and its growth trajectory suggests it will double in size by the end of 2026. Several dedicated facilities, including Pickled LA and The Pickleball Club LA, offer youth clinics and summer camp programs that combine instruction with play.
The USA Pickleball Association has supported these efforts through its ambassador program, which trains volunteer coaches and provides equipment grants to schools and community organizations. In LA, the ambassador network has placed certified coaches at over a dozen parks and recreation centers, offering free or low-cost youth instruction that would otherwise be out of reach for many families.
High school pickleball clubs have started appearing at campuses across the county, often student-organized and faculty-advised. These clubs compete informally against each other and are laying the groundwork for what many expect will eventually become a sanctioned CIF sport in California. When that happens -- and most people in the pickleball world consider it a matter of when, not if -- LA will already have a generation of young players ready to compete.
For parents looking to get their kids into the sport, our guide to how to play pickleball covers the fundamentals that apply to players of any age.
What to Expect for the Rest of 2026
The LA pickleball scene is not slowing down. If anything, the pace of growth is accelerating, and the rest of 2026 promises to bring more of everything that has made the past year so exciting.
On the infrastructure front, expect the new facility openings to continue driving both supply and demand. As the Ace Pickleball Club, the Redondo Beach complex, and the city's park additions come online, total court availability in LA County should increase by 15 to 20 percent by the end of the year. That added capacity will not just serve existing players -- it will bring in new ones, as proximity to a court remains the single biggest factor in whether someone picks up the sport.
Technology integration is an emerging trend to watch. Several LA facilities are experimenting with automated scoring systems, court cameras for replay analysis, and app-based matchmaking that pairs players by skill level in real time. The intersection of LA's tech scene and its pickleball culture is creating a testing ground for innovations that may spread to the rest of the country.
The social league model is expected to expand significantly. At least two new social league operators are planning LA launches for mid-2026, and existing operators are adding locations and nights to meet demand. The social-first approach to pickleball aligns perfectly with LA's culture, and these leagues are proving to be the most effective gateway for converting curious beginners into regular players.
On the competitive side, the presence of PPA and APP tour stops will raise the sport's profile locally and give aspiring competitive players something to aim for. Expect to see more formalized pathway programs connecting recreational leagues to competitive tournaments to professional-level play.
And the community will keep growing. Every new court, every new league night, every new player who shows up for their first drop-in session adds another thread to the fabric of LA pickleball. The sport has found something in this city -- a combination of climate, culture, celebrity, and community -- that makes it feel like it belongs here. In a city of transplants and reinvention, pickleball has become one of the things that brings people together.
Whether you have been playing for years or you are just starting to think about buying your first paddle, 2026 is a great year to be part of the LA pickleball scene.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pickleball courts are there in Los Angeles?
As of early 2026, LA County has over 600 public and private pickleball courts. This includes dedicated courts at parks and recreation centers operated by the LA Department of Recreation and Parks, dual-lined courts shared with tennis, and courts at private indoor facilities. The number is growing rapidly, with new courts being added at both city-funded parks and private facilities throughout the year. For specific court locations and details, check out our guide to the best pickleball courts in Los Angeles.
Is pickleball still growing in LA in 2026?
Absolutely. Pickleball in Los Angeles is growing faster than ever. Organized league play has quadrupled since 2023, the city has allocated $12 million for new pickleball infrastructure in 2026, and multiple large-scale private facilities are opening this year. The average age of new players is dropping as younger demographics embrace the sport, and the entertainment industry's adoption has raised the sport's profile significantly. All indicators suggest the growth will continue through 2026 and beyond.
Where can I find pickleball games in LA as a beginner?
The best places for beginners to find games in LA are organized drop-in sessions at public parks, beginner clinics at indoor facilities, and social leagues that welcome all skill levels. Facebook groups like "Pickleball Los Angeles" and apps like Pickleheads are excellent resources for finding beginner-friendly sessions near you. Many parks, including Rancho Park and Mar Vista Recreation Center, have welcoming communities where regulars are happy to help newcomers learn. Social leagues through ZogSports and similar operators also offer beginner divisions. If you want to learn the basics before showing up, our guide to how to play pickleball covers everything you need to know.
Are there professional pickleball tournaments in Los Angeles in 2026?
Yes. Both the Professional Pickleball Association and the Association of Pickleball Professionals have confirmed Southern California stops on their 2026 tour schedules. The PPA event is planned for late summer in the South Bay, and the APP event is scheduled for the spring. Both events include amateur brackets alongside professional competition, giving local players a chance to compete. Beyond the pro tours, the SoCal Pickleball Open, regional tournaments, and charity events run throughout the year.
What is the best time of year to play pickleball in LA?
Los Angeles offers year-round pickleball thanks to its mild climate, but the sweet spots are spring (March through May) and fall (September through November). During these months, temperatures are comfortable, days are long, and outdoor play is ideal. Summer can be hot, especially in the San Fernando Valley, making indoor facilities or coastal courts better options during peak heat. Winter is generally mild but can bring occasional rain -- having an indoor court option as a backup is smart. For the social scene, spring and fall also tend to be when leagues launch new seasons and tournaments fill the calendar.
How can I get my kids into pickleball in Los Angeles?
Youth pickleball in LA is growing rapidly. Several indoor facilities, including Pickled LA and The Pickleball Club LA, offer youth clinics and summer camp programs. The SoCal Junior Pickleball League accepts players ages 8 through 17. Many parks and recreation centers have free or low-cost youth instruction through the USA Pickleball ambassador program. Check with your local park's recreation center for scheduled youth sessions, or look into high school pickleball clubs if your child is a teenager. The sport's quick learning curve makes it accessible to kids of all athletic backgrounds.
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