Major League Pickleball undergoes a major overhaul for the 2026 season.

Major League Pickleball undergoes a major overhaul for the 2026 season.

Major League Pickleball is undergoing an unprecedented structural transformation. The league has announced a series of significant changes for the 2026 season, including franchise consolidation, a new competitive format, changes to the player market, and greater financial flexibility in negotiations.

The decisions reflect a clear movement towards the league's maturation, which seeks sustainability, competitive balance, and greater sporting and commercial appeal.

The league will be unified into 20 teams and will eliminate the Challenger level.

The main change announced is the complete unification of the league. Starting in 2026, the MLP will feature 20 teams in a single competitive tier , officially ending the division between Premier Level and Challenger Level.

The reduction in the total number of franchises is due to three strategic moves:

• Nashville Chefs and DC Pickleball Team are finalizing sales processes and will not compete in the 2026 season.

• NY Hustlers was incorporated into the Brooklyn Pickleball Team , ceasing to exist as an independent franchise.

With this, the league opts for a leaner model, with all teams competing under the same rules and schedule, increasing clarity for fans, sponsors, and investors.

Players from these franchises return to the draft.

One important point related to this consolidation involves the athletes. All players with UPA contracts tied to teams that left the league or were incorporated will be automatically released for the 2026 draft .

This significantly raises the level of the market, making the draft one of the most competitive in MLP history.

New event format and more team games.

Maintaining the previously announced model, each team will compete in five of the nine regular season events . However, with 20 active teams, the number of teams per event has been increased.

• Most events will feature 11 teams.

• Walt Disney's event will have 12 teams.

In events with 11 teams, the format will be divided into two groups:

• A group with five teams

• A group with six teams

Each team will play 23 group stage games throughout the regular season. If they advance to Sunday in all events, they could reach 28 games , increasing the competitive volume and exposure for the athletes.

Palm Beach Royals expansion and special rules

The Palm Beach Royals , the league's newest franchise, received specific rules to facilitate its competitive entry into the championship.

The team will be able to:

• Exchange money for up to one male and one female player, respecting the limit of US$200,000 per transaction.

• Sign up to one male and one female player not currently on MLP rosters, subject to keeper fees.

The keeper rules work as follows:

• Players eligible for the 2025 draft, but who finished the year outside of MLP, can be retained for $10,000 for up to three years.

• Players who were ineligible for the previous draft and were recently signed can be retained for $80,000 for up to three years.

With this, the Palm Beach Royals could enter the draft with up to four players already selected , something unprecedented in the league's structure.

Important market dates

MLP has set clear deadlines for the start of the season:

• February 15th, 10 AM : Closing of the first trading window.

• February 15th, 4 PM : Deadline for defining the keepers.

The league will officially announce all retained players by the following day. Even if a team is eligible to retain six players, the maximum limit allowed after this stage is five players , forcing at least one release.

Draft returns to the traditional model.

The 2026 draft returns to the format used previously, prioritizing the formation of the core of the teams.

The rules are:

• All teams must have four starting players before competing for the fifth and sixth player.

• Vacancies 1 through 4 require a minimum bid of US$10,000.

• Vacancies 5 and 6 require a minimum bid of US$1,000.

An important detail is that the concept of a "reserve" player no longer exists. Any drafted athlete counts as part of the team's core group.

For the first time, money officially enters the market.

Another historic change is the authorization of transactions involving money , something unprecedented in MLP.

You can use this tool:

• Teams that were in the Challenger Level in 2025

• Teams with fewer than six players due to a lack of signed UPA athletes.

• Palm Beach Royals, within the expansion rules

Teams that receive money are not obligated to maintain immediate gender balance and can complete their rosters during the draft.

Flexibility for players drafted in 2024

Some teams received exceptions to retain players drafted in 2024 who were acquired in the first trade window. Teams that finished 2025 with zero or one player from this group will be able to retain up to two players under these conditions exclusively for 2026.

Eligible teams include Atlanta, Bay Area, Chicago, Miami, Palm Beach, and SoCal.

A new stage of Major League Pickleball

The changes announced for 2026 clearly indicate that Major League Pickleball is entering a new phase. The league is betting on a more professional model, with greater freedom for negotiation, a more robust calendar, and a clearer structure for the public.

The consolidation of teams, the strengthening of the draft, and the opening up to financial negotiations bring MLP closer to more mature sports leagues, reinforcing its role as the main showcase for professional pickleball in the world.