2026-27 College Pickleball Event Slate Announced

The APP Selkirk Collegiate Series kicks off at the prestigious USA Pickleball National Championships in San Diego this fall

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The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) has announced today the event calendar for the 2026-27 APP Selkirk Collegiate Series, the nation’s premier pathway to crowning the college pickleball national champions. Beginning in fall 2026, eight qualifier events will pave the path to the 2027 APP Selkirk U.S. Collegiate Championships in Las Vegas.

The 2026-27 APP Selkirk U.S. Collegiate Series features the following qualifier events:

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Oct. 31–Nov. 1, 2026 | San Diego, Calif. | Barnes Tennis Center

Nov. 21–22, 2026 | Washington, D.C. | Down the Line Sports Center

Jan. 16–17, 2027 | St. Louis, Mo. | Chicken N Pickle

Jan. 23–24, 2027 | Punta Gorda, Fla. | PicklePlex

Jan. 30–31, 2027 | Chattanooga, Tenn. | The Flying Pickle

Feb. 6–7, 2027 | Houston, Texas | Chicken N Pickle

Feb. 13–14, 2027 | Springfield, Mass. | Pickleball Kingdom

Feb. 20–21, 2027 | Boise, Idaho | The Flying Pickle

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In total, 48 teams will compete at the 2027 APP Selkirk U.S. Collegiate Championships, held Mar. 12-14 at The Flying Pickle in Las Vegas. The top four teams from each regional qualifier will receive automatic bids to the national championships (totaling 32 teams), plus 16 at-large bids to be accepted. The nation’s elite college players will battle for $90,000 in prize money, including $5,000 per qualifier and $50,000 in the APP Selkirk U.S. Collegiate Championships.

Selkirk Sport, a pioneer of USA-manufactured pickleball paddles and equipment, returns as the official title sponsor of the APP Selkirk Collegiate Series. A standout partner of the APP, Selkirk will continue to play a prominent role in fueling the growth of college pickleball across the nation.

Also returning are key partners National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) and USA Pickleball. NIRSA is a leader in higher education and the advocate for the advancement of recreation, sport, and wellbeing, and the go-to resource for campus recreation professionals looking to start or grow their campus’ pickleball programs. The APP Selkirk Collegiate Series is a NIRSA Championship Series event and officially sanctioned by USA Pickleball – making it the only college pickleball property sanctioned by the sport’s governing body.

“We have built an incredible college platform with Selkirk, NIRSA and USA Pickleball and are excited to enter another year serving this community,” said Shannon Dan, EVP of Strategy and Growth at the APP. “We continue to see a rise in participation and skill level among college students and can’t wait to see more schools and more players joining the APP.”

“The APP is the global leader in youth player development and our commitment to college is a big part of that effort,” added APP Director of College Pickleball Dominic Catalano. “The future of pickleball is certainly bright and I can’t wait to see what these student-athletes bring to the court this year.”

For the 2026-27 season, the APP Selkirk Collegiate Series and Championships will be adjusting its player eligibility requirements from previous years. Undergraduate students must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours, while graduate students must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours to be eligible. Scholarships, sponsorships, and other name/image/likeness (NIL) benefits are all approved for competing players.

“With the growth of collegiate pickleball across the country comes natural growth within our rules and regulations as well,” Catalano continued. “As a former college athlete myself, we always wanted every team to be on an even playing field.  In making these changes to our eligibility requirements, we are taking steps in the right direction.”

More information on 2026 APP Selkirk Collegiate Series events, including eligibility requirements, will be available via TheAPP.global. The pickleball community can stay in the know on the latest APP updates by following the APP’s Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok, Facebook and LinkedIn channels.

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