Every late summer, Cary, North Carolina turns into the center of the pro pickleball world.
What started in 2024 as the Veolia North Carolina Open has grown into the sport’s biggest stage.
For 2026, the event has been upgraded to the first-ever Veolia Pickleball National Championships, a Carvana PPA Tour Slam with the largest prize purse and most ranking points on tour.
It runs August 31 through September 6, 2026, at Cary Tennis Park.
Basics
- Date: August 31 – September 6, 2026
- Venue: Cary Tennis Park, 2727 Louis Stephens Dr, Cary, NC 27519
- Website: pbnationals.com
- Sanctioning Body: Carvana PPA Tour
- Prize money: Largest purse on tour – details on request via finance@ppatour.com
- Ranking points: 2,000 PPA Tour points (Slam)
- Surface: Outdoor hard courts (RollX)
Divisions
- Pro — Men’s & Women’s Singles, Doubles, Mixed
- Senior Pro — Doubles & Mixed (50+)
- Amateur — Age + skill brackets from 19U through 70+
- Junior — Boys & Girls 18U
Players
Confirmed Pros
- Anna Leigh Waters — Singles, Doubles, Mixed
- Ben Johns — Doubles
- Gabe Tardio — Mixed
- Chris Haworth — Singles
- Kate Fahey (NC resident, world No. 2)
- Brooke Buckner (NC resident, world No. 4)
- Mehvish Safdar (Durham, NC)
- James Delgado (High Point, NC)
Defending Champions
- Men’s Doubles: Gabriel Tardio & Ben Johns
- Women’s Doubles: Jorja Johnson & Tyra Black
- Mixed Doubles: Jorja Johnson & JW Johnson
- Men’s Singles: Gabriel Tardio
- Women’s Singles: Kate Fahey
Results
- Full 2025 Results & Brackets — PPA Tour
Tickets
- Purchase: Tixr
- Amateur registration: $85 via pickleballtournaments.com (open through Aug 29, 2026)
- Premium parking: Cary Tennis Park main lot — advance purchase on Tixr
- General parking: Free at Green Hope High School, short walk to the gate
Watch
- PickleballTV — full daily coverage
- CBS Sports — Championship weekend broadcast
- PPA Tour YouTube — select matches and highlights
Hotels
- The Mayton — boutique hotel in downtown Cary, 10 minutes from the venue
- The Umstead Hotel and Spa — 5-star property in Cary, 15 minutes away
- Hyatt House Raleigh / RDU / Brier Creek — easy freeway access, near the airport
- Vrbo / Airbnb — rentals throughout Cary, Apex, and Morrisville
Sponsors
- Veolia
- Carvana
- Humana
- DUPR
- Selkirk
- JOOLA
- Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance
- Town of Cary
- Visit Raleigh
FAQs
Why is this event now called the Nationals?
For 2026, the PPA upgraded the Cary event to a Slam and rebranded it as the Veolia Pickleball National Championships. It kicks off the 2026-2027 season.
What is a PPA Slam tournament?
A Slam is the PPA’s highest-tier event, offering the biggest prize purse and the most ranking points. The Cary Slam awards 2,000 points to singles and doubles winners.
Can amateurs register and play at the event?
Yes. Amateur registration costs $85 and stays open through August 29, 2026. Players compete in age and skill brackets alongside the pro draws.
Where is Cary Tennis Park located?
Cary Tennis Park sits at 2727 Louis Stephens Drive in Cary, about 20 minutes west of downtown Raleigh and 15 minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
