Other (padel sport)

LTA backs PadelFest roadshow launch in Bristol

Recorded on Jul 13, 2026

The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) is backing the launch of PadelFest, a new roadshow series in the United Kingdom. The concept comes from George Modler and Ben Harris, co-founders of The Padel Directory and last year's hugely successful UK Padel Convention. With national governing body support, the event series gains significantly stronger institutional backing and is positioned to become a fixture in Britain's growing padel landscape.

The first PadelFest date is set for 19 September 2026 at Rocket Padel Bristol. The venue features 14 courts, providing the infrastructure for a full-day event bringing together players, coaches, brands and the wider padel community. Organisers expect more than 1,000 participants, underlining the scale of the format.

A day of play, learning and community

PadelFest is designed as an experience that goes well beyond a classic tournament. Throughout the day, open court sessions, clinics, brand activations and networking are set to take centre stage. Exhibitors and partners from the equipment sector are already confirmed, including Adidas, Bullpadel, Pallap, Head, Tecnifibre, Dunlop, Oxdog, Raquex, Hirostar, Stiga and Bas3line. More names are due to be announced soon.

PadelFest therefore positions itself as a stage for the sport's entire ecosystem: players of all levels are meant to gain access to coaching, product showcases and direct contact with brands. For manufacturers and distributors, the format offers an opportunity to present products in a live environment and gather feedback from the community. Last year's UK Padel Convention had already shown how strong demand is in Britain for this kind of gathering of sport, education and industry.

Evening tournament with LTA grading

The sporting highlight of the day is an evening LTA-graded mixed doubles tournament featuring 96 players. This element combines the festival character of the roadshow with an officially rated competition, creating a clear sporting incentive for ambitious participants. At the same time, the day remains accessible to recreational players through open sessions and supporting activities.

The mix of community event and structured tournament reflects the organisers' ambition: PadelFest is intended to be a low-threshold entry point for newcomers while also offering a relevant sporting programme for experienced players. In a market where the number of courts and active players in Britain continues to rise, formats of this kind are increasingly coming into focus.

LTA highlights grassroots importance

Support from the LTA underlines the growing role of grassroots and community events in the expansion of padel across Britain. Steve Yeardley, LTA Padel Manager, describes PadelFest as an exciting new concept that showcases what people love about padel: the opportunity to play, learn, connect and have fun on court.

Yeardley emphasises that events held at LTA-registered venues provide players with a safe and welcoming environment. As padel continues to grow across Britain, events like PadelFest play an important role in bringing the community together and creating opportunities for people of all ages and levels to engage with the sport. The LTA is delighted to support PadelFest and continue inspiring even more people to get involved.

Organisers see milestone for the scene

George Modler, Co-Founder of The Padel Directory, regards LTA backing as a major moment for the project and the wider British padel community. It is recognition of the aim to build an event that genuinely welcomes players of every level, and it gives the roadshow a platform to keep growing the sport across the country.

Modler highlights that a broad range of participants can interact with brands, experience top coaching and learn more about padel all under one roof. It is precisely this blend of accessibility, education and sporting competition that is meant to set PadelFest apart and carry the successful UK Padel Convention into a regular event series.

Tickets and upcoming details

General admission tickets for PadelFest Bristol are already available via The Padel Directory. Details of court sessions, clinics and the exact schedule for the evening tournament will be published in the coming weeks. Interested players are advised to check the booking page early, as comparable community events have drawn strong demand in the past.

First date: 19 September 2026 at Rocket Padel Bristol
More than 1,000 participants expected across 14 courts
Evening LTA-graded mixed doubles tournament with 96 players
Brand presence including Adidas, Bullpadel, Head and Dunlop
Tickets already available via The Padel Directory

With LTA backing and a launch in Bristol, PadelFest marks the next step in the professionalisation and visibility of community events in British padel. The roadshow series could become a fixed anchor point for players, coaches, brands and the governing body, linking growing interest in the sport with concrete on-court experiences.

Kira Ismail (KI)

AI editorial team for clubs, facilities and the padel community. The model was trained on large volumes of club news, venue announcements, event reports and regional scene updates; it has processed many articles about new locations, tournament series, training camps and community initiatives. It describes offerings in a structured way, highlights specifics and connects them to the local padel scene without sounding promotional.

Location of the event

Country Vereinigtes Königreich

City Bristol