French padel continues its progress with  151,834 competitors listed by the FFT including  132 men  for  19 626 women Behind this positive dynamic, the successes of the FFT and the private sector, and a detailed analysis of the leagues, highlight some...  structural imbalances that continue both geographically and demographically. While the  Top P2000 Padel Toulouse  was a success and that the  FIP Bronze from Rivesaltes to ViaPadel  This data is expected to be dense, and it allows us to better understand the reality of padel in France in 2026.

 A concentrated padel: 4 leagues account for almost 60% of the total 

The distribution of competitors by league confirms a trend established for several years: padel remains largely dominated by the South.

THE Occitanie  comes out on top with  27 players , in front, there  Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (25245)  and  New Aquitaine (18,022) . Île-de-France (17,525)  completes this leading quartet. These four leagues alone represent  more than half of French practitioners .

This concentration can be explained by several factors. The historical development of padel in these regions, the density of infrastructure, and also favorable climatic conditions have allowed for faster and deeper establishment. For a long time, the leagues  Occitanie  et  PACA  They have carried French padel. It is therefore logical to find them at the forefront today, since they were the first to benefit from the global boom of the sport.

Conversely, territories such as  Hauts-de-France ,  Grand East  or the  Bourgogne-Franche-Comté  remain behind, despite real progress. This situation should, however, change in the coming years, particularly with areas like  Lille , which are gradually acquiring a substantial network of padel clubs.

Call usOur PlayersNational share
Occitanie27 146 17,9% 
PACA25 245 16,6% 
Nouvelle Aquitaine18 022 11,9% 
Ile-de-France17 525 11,5% 
 TOTAL TOP 4  87 938  57,9% 

A sporting hierarchy directly linked to the number of players

The influence of the Southern leagues is not limited to the number of registered players. It is also reflected in the national hierarchy.

Occitanie has  44 players in the French Top 100 , the New Aquitaine  33 , the PACA  31  and Île-de-France  29 This dominance is confirmed in the wider categories (Top 500, Top 1000), where the same leagues concentrate the bulk of the top level.

This phenomenon is logical: the larger the talent pool, the stronger the internal competition, which fosters the emergence of high-performing players. These regions thus benefit from a  virtuous circle , combining player density, increased number of tournaments and a rise in the overall level.

It should be noted, however, that we find a significant proportion of assimilated players.

Call usTop 100Top 500Top 1000
Occitanie44167316
PACA31152281
Nouvelle Aquitaine33127228
Ile-de-France29134279

The Île-de-France region is making progress but still lagging behind.

With over  17 players The Île-de-France region has established itself as a major player in French padel. The region benefits from a considerable population base and increasing investments in infrastructure.

However, it still lags behind on several indicators. Its proportion of female players, in particular, is one of the lowest, with  8,1% well below the national average. On the sporting front, while it places several players in the elite, it does not yet fully compete with the historic leagues of the South in terms of depth.

 A massive gender imbalance 

Call us% Women
National average 12,9% 
Occitanie14,7%
PACA13,8%
Nouvelle Aquitaine13,5%
Ile-de-France 8,1% 
Guadeloupe 32,1% 
New Caledonia 30,9% 

 Key clue: 

  • Île-de-France is  36% below the national average 
  • The overseas territories have  2 to 3 times more women 

A marked imbalance between men and women

One of the most significant observations concerns the increasing participation of women in padel. Nationally, women represent approximately  13 to 15% of practitioners , a still low rate.

Some leagues show slightly higher ratios, such as Occitanie ( 14,7% ) or the PACA ( 13,8% Conversely, territories like Île-de-France remain behind. Notably, the overseas regions show much higher proportions, with, for example  32,1% in Guadeloupe  et  30,9% in New Caledonia .

These differences show that the potential for the development of women's padel is real, but still insufficiently exploited in metropolitan France.

A predominantly adult population

Analysis by age group reveals another strong characteristic: French padel is primarily an adult sport.

In the major leagues, the category  31 50-years  is largely dominant, followed by  18 30-years Those under 18 remain a minority, as do those over 50, although the latter are well represented.

This profile confirms that padel primarily attracts an active population, often from tennis or other racket sports. Its future development will necessarily depend on stronger youth structures, through clubs, academies, and training programs. The French Tennis Federation's (FFT) policy, as well as the significant private sector investments in this area, are already bearing some fruit. As is often the case with this topic, the effects will be felt mainly in the coming years.

To illustrate these points, we have analyzed the Occitanie league, its  age structure Why Occitanie? Because it represents this national trend well.

age rangeName
-18 years9903,6%
18-307 43827,4%
31-5011 994 44,2% 
51+4 28915,8%

 Key clue: 

  • Young people remain underrepresented
  •  31-50 year olds represent almost 1 in 2 players 

Leagues still in the development phase

While some regions dominate, others have significant room for improvement. Leagues like the  Normandy (4,725 players) ,  Centre-Val de Loire (4,212)  or  Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (3,397)  are still in the structuring phase.

Their development will depend in particular on the creation of new infrastructure, the organization of competitions and the ability to attract new practitioners.

The success of  Top P2000 Padel Toulouse  fits perfectly into this logic. Located in the heart of Occitanie, the leading player pool in France, it benefits from a favorable environment in terms of density and level.

Same observation for the  FIP Bronze from Rivesaltes to ViaPadel Organized in a particularly dynamic area: PERPIGNAN. The strong presence of competitive players and a knowledgeable audience should logically contribute to the success of the event.

FIP Bronze Rivesaltes: the player lists have been released, with a huge French contingent expected at Viapadel

Real growth, but structural challenges to address

Padel in France continues to develop rapidly, driven by strong enthusiasm and a steady increase in the number of competitors. However, several challenges remain.

The discipline still needs  rebalance its territorial distribution ,  accelerate its feminization  et  strengthen its young players base These issues will be crucial in supporting the next phase of growth and in sustainably structuring padel in France.

In this context, the Southern leagues remain the driving force of development. The question remains: for how much longer?

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.

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