The biggest week on the pro pickleball calendar is nearly here. The 2026 Opendoor Pickleball World Championships settle in at Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch, Texas, from November 2 to 8, and five world champions will be crowned on the last day. Whether you are going in person or watching from your couch, here is a plain-language guide to what is at stake and where to tune in.
What happened
The Dink published a preview of the event. Pro qualifying starts Monday, November 2, and the main draws begin the next day. Each division's champions collect 3,000 ranking points, so a deep run can reshape the standings, and an early loss costs more than usual.
Storylines to follow
- Anna Leigh Waters: In Hong Kong she won women's doubles gold alongside Anna Bright and mixed doubles gold alongside Ben Johns, and both finals ended in straight games. Singles is back on her Worlds schedule, which puts a triple crown in play. She is the top seed in singles and also part of the top-seeded teams in women's doubles and mixed doubles.
- Men's doubles: Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin beat Ben Johns and Gabriel Tardio 11–6, 11–8 for the Hong Kong title. They are also the defending Worlds champions. Johns and Tardio hold the top seed, and the top two seeds sit on opposite sides of the draw, so another meeting with a world title on the line is possible.
- Men's singles: Christopher Haworth is seeded first, but The Dink notes that seed numbers offer little protection in this draw. Hunter Johnson beat Tama Shimabukuro for gold in Hong Kong, and this time the two could meet in the quarterfinals.
A festival around the draws
The pro matches are only part of the week. The MLP Nations Cup, an international team competition with eight regional teams, kicks things off from October 30 to November 1. On Thursday, November 5, Mark Wahlberg headlines a celebrity pro-am, airing 7 to 9 p.m. Central on Tennis Channel and PickleballTV. The PPA Challenger Showdown runs November 5 to 7, with eight 2027 PPA Tour contract offers on the line. Around the courts, Pickleball Boulevard offers live music, clinics, social play and family activities.
Weather and how to watch
The early outlook calls for daytime temperatures in the low 70s and overnight lows in the low 50s. Tuesday and Sunday currently carry morning shower chances, while Wednesday through Saturday look brighter.
PickleballTV carries the main-draw action Tuesday through Sunday, and the PPA Tour YouTube channel streams Monday's qualifiers. Times below are Eastern:
- Monday, November 2 (pro qualifying): 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
- Tuesday, November 3 (Round of 64): noon–8 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 4 (Round of 32): noon–8 p.m.
- Thursday, November 5 (Round of 16): noon–7 p.m., plus the celebrity pro-am from 8 to 10 p.m.
- Friday, November 6 (quarterfinals): noon–8 p.m.
- Saturday, November 7 (semifinals): noon–8 p.m.
- Sunday, November 8 (championship Sunday): 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
What it means for you
You do not have to be a touring pro to get something out of this week. With several hours of live play every day, it is a good chance to watch how top players handle tight matches and pick up ideas to try at your own courts.
If you are traveling to Texas, The Dink suggests leaving room in your itinerary between matches. With the Nations Cup, the celebrity event, the Challenger Showdown and Pickleball Boulevard all on the calendar, there is plenty to see besides the main draws. Plan for mild days and cooler nights, and keep an eye on the forecast for Tuesday and Sunday mornings.
The 3,000 points go to division champions at this event. If you are curious about how ratings work for everyday players, the Vara Performance ratings explainer is a good place to start.
If the week leaves you wanting to see pro play in person, Vara Performance lists two upcoming Utah tournaments on its events page: the Greater Zion Cup (a PPA Cup) at Black Desert Resort on Monday, March 22, 2027, and the Black Desert PPA Challenger (PPA Challenger 125) in Ivins on Friday, April 30, 2027. Vara Performance also lists 684 places to play in Utah on its Utah courts page, so you can add some court time to a trip.
Source
This explainer draws on reporting by The Dink in its article The Big One: PPA World Championships Tournament Preview.