290 players head to Mijas for huge Costa del Sol pickleball tournament

Mijas is getting ready for a major pickleball weekend as 290 players descend on the Costa del Sol for the Costa del Sol Mijas Open 2026 from September 11 to 13.

Matches will be played across 17 courts at the new El Gran Parque in Mijas, with the tournament forming part of the national Pickle Pro Tour organised under the Real Federacion Española de Tenis (RFET). The event is free to watch, with play starting at 9am.

Competition will cover 26 categories, including PRO, 3.5 and 4.5 levels, plus age groups for players over 50 and 60. A total of 866 matches are scheduled during the three-day tournament.

Sunday will bring the five PRO finals, covering men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles and mixed doubles.

Pickleball or padel? What is the difference?

Confusion between pickleball and padel is understandable, particularly in Spain where padel has become hugely popular. Pickleball uses a solid paddle and a lightweight plastic ball with holes. The court is smaller than a tennis court and has no walls, while a special seven-foot area beside the net is known as the “kitchen”, where players cannot volley.

Padel uses a different solid racket and a tennis-style ball. Matches are generally played in doubles on an enclosed court measuring 20 by 10 metres, with glass walls forming part of the game. Players can use those walls to return the ball, creating longer and more tactical rallies.

Pickleball is often easier for beginners to learn, while padel involves a little more running and movement. Both sports share some similarities with tennis but have their own rules and playing styles.

Mijas event open to spectators

Mijas hosted the Pickle Pro Tour last year, when local player Maria Costantino won the mixed doubles title.

This year’s tournament is the penultimate event on the 2026 calendar and follows stops including Madrid and A Coruna. With hundreds of matches packed into one weekend, visitors will get a close look at one of the world’s fastest-growing racket sports.