The 2026 Proflex English Open Powered by the APP made pickleball history by hosting the world's largest-ever indoor pickleball event, welcoming more than 3,500 players. The landmark event in Birmingham, England delivered six memorable days of nonstop international pickleball, attracting nearly 10,000 live attendees to the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham, England.

Held Aug. 11-16, the record field brought together players from 56 countries who competed in a remarkable 7,987 total matches. More than 120 different brackets were played, culminating in 596 medals awarded to top finishers. Live coverage from the event generated more than 160,000 YouTube livestream viewers on Pickleball England and the APP's channels.  

“The remarkable scale and success of the 2026 Proflex English Open powered by the APP showcased strength of the global demand for pickleball and the significant opportunity ahead for the APP,” said Ken Herrmann, founder of the APP. “With a record field on display to the world, the tournament brought together amateur and professional players, attracted a worldwide audience and created meaningful value for our proud partners at Pickleball England. Birmingham was powerful evidence that our global strategy is translating into sustained growth and an increasingly compelling sports and entertainment proposition.”

The world's top pickleball pros from the APP Tour, the official tour of pickleball, plus elite international stars rounded out the podium at the pro level. Jack Munro, Richard Livornese, Jr., Roos Van Reek, Shelby Bates and Domenika Turkovic, plus Ignasi de Rueda out of Spain all brought home gold medals from their trip to England.

APP’s Affiliated International Events Continue to Grow
In late 2025, the APP and several other international pickleball entities formed the Global Pickleball Alliance (GPA), with the goal of uniting pickleball players across the globe, establishing a coordinated schedule and ranking system, and sharing resources to grow the game. The 2026 Proflex English Open powered by the APP was the latest such event under the GPA umbrella, combining elite professional competition with extensive amateur programming to bring players together with emerging players from across England and around the world.

The tournament’s unprecedented scale, featuring a record field of players from 56 countries, 62 courts, two livestreamed Championship Courts and more, reflected the GPA's commitment to connecting players, federations and tour operators while advancing pickleball on the international stage.

Munro and Van Reek Highlight Elite Pros
In the Open Pro divisions, APP Tour pro players Roos Van Reek and Jack Munro were the big winners, taking home two gold medals each, including the mixed doubles title as partners. Van Reek fell just short of a triple crown, earning silver in women’s singles as Domenika Turkovic took the title. Ignaci De Rueda, a top-ranked pro out of Spain, claimed the men’s singles gold medal. Munro paired with Richard Livornese, Jr. for men’s doubles gold, while Van Reek teamed up with Shelby Bates for the women’s doubles title.

In the age 50+ pro side, Marcello Jardim stole the show with a Triple Crown – winning gold medals in men’s singles, men’s doubles alongside Richard Love and in mixed doubles with Lee Whitwell.

Strengthening the APP’s position in Europe and Across the Globe
The Proflex English Open Powered by the APP represented the APP’s latest international endeavor, following the footsteps of recent successful partner events in Malaysia, India and Vietnam that welcomed well over 1,000 competitors each. Through the leadership of the APP and Pickleball England, the sport’s future couldn’t be brighter in England, Europe and beyond.

Additional Details
Full individual tournament results from the 2026 Proflex English Open Powered by the APP are available here.