DALLAS, TX - The United Pickleball Association (UPA) announced a new series of international events on Thursday that will expand the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball’s reach via an international competition circuit.

The events - held in Australia, India, Canada, Asia and Europe - will also bring many of the 150+ best pro players in the world, who play exclusively with the UPA, into these regions to compete in the world’s first top-tier global pickleball tour.

The UPA International Championship Series will launch in 2025 and will be operated between the UPA and leading operational organizations in each country.

Names like Ben Johns (USA), Anna Leigh Waters (USA), Catherine Parenteau (CAN), Federico Staksrud (ARG), Anna Bright (USA), Jay Devilliers (FRA), Lucy Kovalova (SVK), Tina Pisnik (SVN) and Quang Duong (VNM) will highlight international tour stops.

The first two partners to be announced were Pacific Pickleball (now PPA/MLP Australia) in Australia and Global Sports in India.

The series underscores the sport's global appeal and offers a platform for elite competition across continents, culminating at the World Championships in Dallas in November 2025.

Top pickleball athletes from each region will join many of the top PPA Tour professionals and hundreds of local amateurs at each stop.

Here is the event schedule:

• Australia Pickleball Open - Melbourne, Australia - Jan. 29-Feb. 2: The inaugural international event kicks off the series in late January, hosted by PPA Tour Australia.

• India Pickleball Open - Mumbai, India - Feb. 5-9: Following Melbourne, the series moves to Mumbai, India, hosted by PPA Tour India.

• Canada Pickleball Open - Toronto, Canada in September: Pro pickleball heads to the Great White North.

• Asia Pickleball Open - TBA, Asia in October: The third event in October expands the series' reach and participation within Asia, with exact location to be announced, hosted by PPA Tour Asia.

• Europe Pickleball Open - TBA, Europe in October: The fourth event is scheduled for October at a European venue yet to be announced.

• UPA World Championships - Dallas, TX, USA in November: The third consecutive year of record-breaking pickleball festivities will welcome athletes from all over the world and celebrate the best the sport has to offer.

Each of these regional operating partners will host PPA Tour-sanctioned events that offer PPA Tour ranking points, which will bring the best players in the world to compete in the first top-tier professional competitions in these regions for the first time. 

In addition to the launch of the PPA International Series, future plans include Major League Pickleball’s unique co-ed team league format and brand continuing its global expansion. Details will be announced once finalized.