World Pickleball Convention adds sponsors as turnout expectations climb

The 2026 World Pickleball Convention & Conference in West Palm Beach is heading toward its biggest year yet, with Humana as title sponsor, new exhibiting sponsors and attendance expected to top 10,000. Exhibit space is nearly sold out as tickets and tournament registration open ahead of the sixth annual event.

Why it matters: - The 2026 World Pickleball Convention & Conference is expected to be the largest in the event’s six-year run. - Organizers are planning for more than 10,000 participants, up from more than 5,000 attendees last year. - The event is becoming a bigger commercial hub for the pickleball industry, with exhibitors, championships, players and fans all in one place.

What happened: - The convention takes place in West Palm Beach, Florida, and is scheduled for 2026. - Humana is the official title sponsor. - Humana is extending invitations to 1.4 million members nationwide. - Two major championships will be played inside the convention. - The Palm Beach County Convention Center has begun increasing security and operational staffing ahead of the event. - Exhibit space is essentially sold out. - Admission tickets are on sale at National Pickleball Expo, and tournament sign-ups are open for players. - Attendees will get access to the convention’s mobile app for scheduling appointments with exhibitors and planning their visit.

The details: - Enlio Sports Flooring is joining as a premier exhibiting sponsor. - Enlio was the official flooring supplier for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the 2024 Paris Olympics and the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. - Enlio’s pickleball flooring will be used inside the convention for the NPL National Championships and the PPA Championships. - Dropshot is bringing a rapid-deploy electronic scoreboard system. - Dropshot’s system is designed to set up on any court in under 60 seconds. - Dropshot tracks score, server number and side automatically. - A smartwatch or remote can trigger scoring with a single tap. - Healthy Touch LLC is joining with its commercial-grade massage chairs. - Healthy Touch says the chairs can help facilities monetize relaxation spaces and generate passive income. - The Pickleball Weekly Magazine is also among the new exhibitors. - The publication says it is pickleball’s only weekly magazine. - Each new issue is available at The Pickleball Weekly. - The Prana Maya Island Resort is another exhibitor. - The resort says it is Belize’s only five-star distinctive luxury destination for pickleball enthusiasts. - The resort features courts surrounded by turquoise waters.

Between the lines: - The sponsor list points to pickleball’s growing mix of sports, wellness, travel and consumer brands. - The convention is leaning into the rise of pop-up pickleball experiences at trade shows and events. - Bigger sponsorships and near-full exhibit space suggest the event is becoming more valuable for companies trying to reach players and facility operators.

What’s next: - Organizers will continue preparing the convention center for a crowd above 10,000. - More attendees are expected to use the mobile app to pre-book exhibitor meetings and organize their schedules. - Tournament fields and exhibitor activations should become clearer as the event approaches.