# Sports participation and trends in France

> Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/sports-participation-and-trends-in-france
> Updated: 2026-11-09T15:08:35.000Z. Sources: 3. Developments: 2.

Sports participation in France shows varied growth and popularity across different disciplines. Padel has emerged as a rapidly growing sport, with the number of courts increasing by 41.2% in one year to reach 4,520 by September 2026. The number of practitioners reached approximately 850,000, including 150,500 licensed players, marking a 43.3% increase from late 2025.

General sports licensing remains high, with 119 federations issuing 17.4 million annual licenses in 2025. In terms of popularity, cycling ranks as the fourth most popular sport, followed by 20% of the population, though it attracts a notably older demographic. Meanwhile, women's rugby is experiencing rapid growth, with 52,689 licensed players recorded in 2025.

## Timeline

### 2026-11-09: Sports popularity and growth trends in France

Cycling ranks as the fourth most popular sport in France, while women's rugby shows significant growth in participation and recognition.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sports-popularity-and-growth-trends-in-france

### 2026-10-18: Padel experiences rapid growth in France

Padel is seeing explosive growth in France, with courts increasing by over 41% in a year. Overall sports licensing in the country also remains on an upward trend following the 2024 Olympics.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/padel-experiences-rapid-growth-in-france

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Cite as: Sports participation and trends in France. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/sports-participation-and-trends-in-france