Padel tennis market expands in Germany with 2,000 courts

The padel tennis market in Germany is experiencing rapid infrastructure growth and a shifting demographic profile. According to data from Padelfinder.de, the number of recorded courts in Germany surpassed 2,000 in August 2026, representing a 115% increase from the 937 courts recorded in August 2025.

A study by sports market research firm ONE8Y, titled ‘Padel Decoded 2026’, highlights that the sport is primarily driven by experience rather than traditional advertising. The research indicates a significant shift in interest: while 64% of those interested but not yet playing prefer tennis, among active players, the split is nearly equal at 50% to 48% in favor of padel.

The study also identifies the player base as being largely composed of the established middle and upper classes. Approximately 39% of active players are executives, over half hold university degrees, and one-third earn more than 4,500 euros net per month. Despite the growth, structural issues remain the primary barriers to expansion, specifically the difficulty of finding playing partners and a lack of local facilities.