Houston, TX / North Bethesda, MD (February 3, 2026) — Honcho Pickleball, the sport’s leading amateur pickleball community and events operator, today announced the 2026 Honcho Amateur Tour Powered by JOOLA, an eight-stop national tournament series built to celebrate amateur players. JOOLA, a global leader in pickleball equipment and innovation, teams up with Honcho to co-create the tour, bringing festival-scale energy, credibility, and elevated on-site moments to the players who drive the sport.

“The amateur player is the heartbeat of pickleball, but too often tournament experiences feel transactional. Players show up, check in, play, go home,” said Max Berg, Chief Operating Officer at Honcho. “We built this tour to deliver so much more. We’re creating weekends that feel alive, high-energy, intentionally designed, and are genuinely player-first. You can come to compete, but you’ll leave feeling like you just attended a music festival instead of playing in a local pickleball tournament.” 

JOOLA serves as a key partner in the tour, helping design and deliver an experience that feels elevated while staying authentic to the everyday player. 

In 2025, Honcho and JOOLA partnered to pilot a four-stop tour concept that set a new benchmark for amateur tournament experiences. The tour achieved an average player satisfaction rating of 9.3/10, reflecting excellence in both inside and outside-the–lines experiences. In 2026, Honcho and JOOLA will expand the Tour to eight cities across the U.S., bringing a consistent “tour weekend” energy to every stop, anchored by JOOLA on-site activations and player-first recognition moments, all designed to make amateur players feel celebrated.

“At JOOLA, we believe players at every level deserve a bigger moment,” said Rachael Minucciani, Partnerships Marketing Manager at JOOLA. “Honcho is building something different, a tour that treats amateur players like the main act. We’re proud to help bring that vision to life at the scale it deserves.”

March 21-22, Stacks Pickleball — Baton Rouge, LA
April 25-26, Austin Pickle Ranch (APR) — Austin, TX 
May 23-25, Kingsbury PBC — Medfield, MA 
June 27-28, Pickleball America — Stamford, CT 
July 25-26, Dill Dinkers (North Bethesda) — North Bethesda, MD
September 26-27, Houston Pickleball Center — Houston, TX
October 17-18, Arch Pickleball — St. Louis, MO
November 14-15, Side Out Tsunami — Seattle, WA

What Players Can Expect 
The 2026 Tour experience is designed to be the place where amateur pickleball comes alive: high-energy weekends built around moments players talk about long after the final match. Players can expect a steady on-site pulse with music and exciting gameplay throughout the day, dedicated social and activation zones between matches, JOOLA and sponsorship activations with giveaways, and moments that make all amateur players feel like the main event. All of it sits on top of a well-run tournament experience that delivers a ton of matches, clear communication, smooth flow, and dedicated on-site support. 
 
Registration 
Registration for the first stop of the 2026 Tour at Stacks Pickleball in Baton Rouge, LA opens February 9, 2026. For schedule details, registration, and to sign up for the newsletter to receive updates on upcoming stops, visit: honchopickleball.com/honcho-amateur-tour

About JOOLA
Founded in 1952, JOOLA is a globally recognized brand specializing in table tennis and pickleball equipment. With a commitment to innovation and quality, JOOLA continues to lead the way in racket sports, providing athletes and enthusiasts with the tools they need to excel at every level.

About Honcho
Honcho builds big, energetic, memorable amateur pickleball experiences that still feel personal and intentional. Honcho exists to make players feel intentionally celebrated — and to create tournament weekends where amateur pickleball comes alive.