With more than 10,000 courts and 2.2 million players, Italy is the world’s second-biggest padel market. The IPC’s Naples exhibition presence is aimed at finding a local development partner.
The International Padel Cluster (IPC) will take part in the third edition of Padelness e Sport, running from November 20 to 22, 2026, at the Mostra d’Oltremare exhibition center, following a collaboration agreement with the event’s organizers. The Cluster has named Italy, now the world’s second-largest padel market with more than 10,000 courts, as one of its key territories for international expansion.
Under the agreement, the IPC will occupy its own 12 m² stand to present its international network to visitors and exhibitors. Cluster member companies will also receive VIP invitations and a 50 percent discount on stand rental if they choose to exhibit independently.
Naples expands Padelness into multi-sport expo as European Capital of Sport 2026
Padelness, originally a padel-only exhibition, has broadened its remit for this third edition, now rebranded Padelness e Sport, to include fitness, boxing and martial arts, dance, team sports and wellness. The show is part of Naples’ official program as European Capital of Sport 2026 and runs alongside the city’s wider sports calendar, which Naples has also linked to its America’s Cup 2027 preparations. According to the IPC’s announcement, the second edition drew more than 16,000 visitors and 100 exhibitors across 12,000 m² of floor space, alongside a FIP Silver tournament, more than 160 masterclasses and 13 conferences.
Italy, one of the world’s “Padel Heartland” markets
Italy’s scale underpins the IPC’s interest. According to data from the FIP World Padel Report 2025, the country counts more than 10,300 courts and 2.2 million players, up from 1.5 million a year earlier, with the sector valued at roughly €1.5bn. Courts have risen from 7,128 in 2022 to today’s total, an increase of roughly 45 percent over the period.
The Playtomic Global Padel Report 2026 classifies Italy among the world’s “Padel Heartland” markets, where expansion is increasingly driven by occupancy optimization, pricing and customer experience rather than new construction alone, with forecasts pointing to more than 11,000 courts by 2028. The Lazio region, led by Rome, remains the country’s leading hub with more than 2,000 courts and hosts two Premier Padel events, the BNL Italy Major and the Oysho Milano Premier Padel P1.
The standardization effort led by IPC
Italy is also active in standardization efforts the IPC has promoted internationally. UNI, the Italian standards body, recently published UNI 12023:2026, a national standard for padel courts developed with the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation (FITP). UNI has said it will feed that work into the forthcoming ISO 25808 standard, now under development at ISO/TC 83, a proposal originally put forward by the IPC.
The Cluster said its presence at the fair is also intended to help identify a future International Development Partner for Italy and to build ties with companies in a market where its membership remains limited.
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