Padel continues to gain ground in France, but who are the players today? How often do they play? And above all, what is still preventing some people from taking the plunge?

To answer that,  Padel Now  conducted a national survey in early 2026, carried out by  Appinio  near  1,000 people representative of the French population , on January 20rd.

A short study of six questions, but rich in lessons.

A representative sample of the French population

The panel surveyed aims to be balanced, with an almost identical distribution of men and women and broad coverage of age groups, from 18 to 65 years old.

The study was conducted in France, over a single day, with a clear objective:  to create a realistic picture of padel practice today .

Survey Padel Now 2026 - Study Overview

A practice that is still very much in the minority at the national level

First key lesson:
among all the sports they have already practiced at least once in their lives,  Padel still lags far behind the historical sports. .

  • Swimming: 56%
  • Football: 51%
  • Tennis: 45%
  • Basketball, handball, horse riding or judo follow

Padel, however, is only mentioned by  8,5% of respondents .

A figure that brings to mind a reality often forgotten in the padel microcosm:
despite its media explosion and the massive development of clubs,  Padel is still a young sport in terms of the French population. .

Survey Padel Now 2026 - What sport have you practiced at least once in your life?

Regular practitioners… but not all of them are dedicated.

Among people who have already played padel, habits vary greatly:

  • 21% play  once a week 
  • 10,6% play  several times a week 
  • 20% play  2 to 3 times a month 

But one figure stands out in particular:

 21% report no longer playing padel. 

An interesting indicator, which raises the question of player loyalty over time.
Padel attracts, quickly seduces… but doesn't always translate that into lasting success.

Survey Padel Now 2026 - How often do you play padel?

A player who is often loyal to his club

Another revealing piece of data: the mobility of the players.

Over the last 12 months:

  •  40,1%  only played in  a single club 
  •  33,9%  in  2 to 3 clubs 
  • available in only  11,5%  in  6 clubs or more 

Padel therefore appears to be a predominantly local practice, with strong loyalty to a structure, often linked to geographical proximity.

A key element for clubs, which reinforces the importance of the on-site experience: reception, time slots, entertainment and atmosphere.

Survey Padel Now 2026 - In how many different clubs have you played padel?

Why have some people never tried padel?

The study also looks at those who have never played.

The main obstacles identified are clear:

  •  the lack of interest in sport  (21%)
  •  the fact of not knowing this sport  (31%)
  •  not knowing who to play with  (14,5%)
  •  the perceived cost  (10,8%)
  •  lack of time  (13,6%)

We also find the fear of not having the skill level, or the difficulty in organizing oneself for a first game.

These are very real obstacles, well known to the clubs… and which go far beyond the simple question of available land.

Survey Padel Now 2026 - Why have you never tried padel?

What could really trigger the first step?

This is undoubtedly one of the most interesting aspects of the survey.

The levers identified by respondents are unequivocal:

  •  an invitation or a free trial  : 32,9%
  •  to be invited by friends  : 26,1%
  •  plots of land close to home  : 21%
  •  a more affordable price  : 20,9%
  •  courses or sessions for beginners  : 19,3%

Padel thus appears as a profoundly social sport.
Those are the      invites   first supervised experiences  which trigger action — much more so than traditional communication.

Survey Padel Now 2026 - What would most motivate you to try padel?

A valuable photograph for the future of padel

This survey Padel Now 2026 reminds us of one essential thing:
Padel is progressing rapidly, but  its development potential remains immense .

There is still enormous room for improvement, provided that:

  • reassuring beginners
  • simplify access to the game
  • create trial formats
  • continue to democratize the practice

A clear message for the entire ecosystem: clubs, coaches, brands and platforms.

Padel is attracting attention.
Now remains to  turning curiosity into a lasting habit .

Maceo ZERHAT

Maceo Zerhat discovered padel in 2020 in Savigny-sur-Clairis, Burgundy. He contributed to the club's expansion by bringing his energy and curiosity. Padel Magazinehe transmits his Padel"mania" by skillfully bouncing on all the latest news about your favorite sport!

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