You played your first padel session three weeks ago, got completely hooked, and now you want to watch the best players in the world do it properly. But unlike football or tennis, you cannot just switch on Sky Sports or flick through BBC iPlayer and find a live padel match. The professional tours exist, they are thriving, and the standard of play is extraordinary — you just need to know where to look.
In This Article
- The Professional Padel Landscape in 2026
- Premier Padel: The Official Tour
- A1 Padel: The Challenger Tour
- Where to Stream Live Padel in the UK
- Free vs Paid Streaming Options
- The Major Tournaments to Follow
- Top Players to Watch in 2026
- UK Padel Events and Domestic Competition
- How Watching Pros Improves Your Game
- Best YouTube Channels and Social Media Accounts
- Tips for Following Padel as a New Fan
- Frequently Asked Questions
The Professional Padel Landscape in 2026
Professional padel has undergone a dramatic restructuring over the past few years. What was once a fragmented mess of competing tours has consolidated into a clearer structure, though it is still not as tidy as tennis with its ATP and WTA.
The Key Tours
The two main professional circuits you need to know about are Premier Padel (the top-tier official tour backed by the FIP and Qatar Sports Investments) and A1 Padel (an alternative circuit that split from the old World Padel Tour). Premier Padel is where the biggest names play and where the most prize money sits. Think of it as the Champions League equivalent — the tournament everyone wants to win.
Why It Matters for UK Fans
Padel is the fastest growing sport in the UK, with the LTA Padel initiative driving court construction and participation. Understanding the professional game helps you improve your own — and honestly, watching elite padel is some of the most entertaining sport you can find once you understand what is happening.
Premier Padel: The Official Tour
Premier Padel launched in 2022 as a collaboration between the International Padel Federation (FIP), Qatar Sports Investments, and the Professional Padel Association. It replaced the World Padel Tour as the primary circuit for the world’s best players.
Tournament Categories
- Major — the four biggest events of the year. These are padel’s equivalent of Grand Slams. Currently held in Qatar, Paris, Rome, and Barcelona.
- P1 — high-level events with full draws and significant ranking points. About 8-10 per season.
- P2 — the next tier down, still featuring top 50 players alongside rising talent.
Format
All Premier Padel events are doubles (padel is overwhelmingly played as doubles at professional level). Matches are best of three sets with golden point (no advantage) at deuce — which creates incredible pressure in close games. Tie-breaks are standard at 6-6.
Season Structure
The season runs from February to December, with events spread across Europe, the Middle East, and South America. The race to the year-end finals in December determines the top 8 pairs who compete for the season-ending title.
A1 Padel: The Challenger Tour
A1 Padel runs alongside Premier Padel as a secondary circuit. Some players compete on both tours, while others are contracted exclusively to one. The standard is still extremely high — think of it as the Europa League to Premier Padel’s Champions League.
What Makes It Different
A1 events tend to be faster-paced in terms of scheduling, with smaller draws and more compact formats. The production quality is good and the matches are freely available to watch. For a new fan, A1 is actually a great entry point because the commentary is accessible and the camera work is excellent.
Where A1 Fits
If you follow both tours, you get a complete picture of the professional padel landscape. Some of the most exciting young players make their names on A1 before breaking into the Premier Padel main draws.
Where to Stream Live Padel in the UK
This is the question everyone asks first, and the answer has improved enormously over the past two years.
Premier Padel Streaming
Premier Padel’s UK broadcast rights sit with several platforms depending on the event:
- YouTube (Premier Padel official channel) — many events stream free on the official Premier Padel YouTube channel. This is the easiest option for casual viewing.
- Viaplay — holds rights to selected Premier Padel events in some European territories
- Sky Sports — has shown selected Premier Padel events in the UK, though coverage is not consistent across the full season. Check the Sky Sports app for upcoming padel listings.
- Premier Padel TV app — the tour’s own streaming platform offers full season coverage
A1 Padel Streaming
- YouTube (A1 Padel official channel) — streams almost all events free with English commentary. This is the most reliable free source for high-quality professional padel.
On-Demand Highlights
Even if you cannot watch live, both tours upload full match replays and highlights to YouTube within 24 hours. A typical Premier Padel Major final gets 500,000+ views within a week.
Free vs Paid Streaming Options
Completely Free
- Premier Padel YouTube — selected events live, plus all highlights and replays
- A1 Padel YouTube — virtually all events streamed free live
- Social media clips — Instagram and TikTok are flooded with incredible rally clips from both tours
Paid Options
- Sky Sports — if you already have a subscription, check for padel listings. Available through Sky, NOW, or Sky Glass
- Premier Padel TV — the most complete option for a dedicated fan. Full season access to every court, every match, with multi-camera angles
Our Recommendation
Start with YouTube. Both the Premier Padel and A1 Padel channels are free and the production quality is broadcast-standard. You get English commentary, multiple camera angles, and full replays. If you find yourself watching every week and wanting more depth, then consider the Premier Padel TV app for full tournament access.
The Major Tournaments to Follow
The Four Premier Padel Majors
These are the biggest events in professional padel — the ones where every top pair is desperate to win:
- Qatar Major (Doha, February/March) — the season opener and traditionally one of the most competitive draws. Indoor hard court in the Khalifa International Tennis Complex.
- Paris Premier Padel Major (May/June) — held at Roland Garros alongside the French Open infrastructure. The crowd atmosphere is electric.
- Italian Premier Padel Major (Rome, June) — at the Foro Italico. Italy’s padel obsession means this event sells out weeks in advance.
- Barcelona Master (November/December) — often the de facto season climax. Spain is padel’s spiritual home, and the Barcelona crowd is the most knowledgeable in the world.
Other Key Events
- Premier Padel Finals — year-end championship for the top 8 pairs
- FIP World Championships — national teams competing by country, held every two years
Top Players to Watch in 2026
Men’s Game
- Arturo Coello — the young Spaniard who plays with Head rackets (relevant if you have read our racket brands comparison). Explosive, athletic, and already world number one in his early twenties.
- Agustín Tapia — Argentine with outrageous natural talent. His touch at the net is the best in the game. Famous for trick shots that somehow work under pressure.
- Alejandro Galán — consistency personified. Galán rarely makes errors and his positioning is a masterclass in intelligent padel.
- Juan Lebrón — the creative genius. Watching Lebrón is like watching Federer was in tennis — you see shots that should not be possible.
Women’s Game
- Gemma Triay — dominant force in women’s padel for years. Powerful groundstrokes and commanding net presence.
- Alejandra Salazar — one of the sport’s legends. Tactical brilliance and years of experience at the highest level.
- Ariana Sánchez — aggressive, modern game style that is pushing the women’s game forward.
- Paula Josemaría — speed and athleticism combined with excellent court coverage. One of the most exciting players to watch.
UK Padel Events and Domestic Competition
LTA Padel Tour
The UK domestic scene has its own competitive structure run through the LTA. While nowhere near the level of the professional tours, it is growing rapidly and worth following if you want to see high-level padel without travelling to Spain.
- LTA British Padel Championships — the pinnacle of domestic competition
- LTA Padel Tour events — regional and national level tournaments throughout the year
- County padel — emerging structure for inter-county team competition
Exhibition Events
Professional players occasionally visit the UK for exhibition matches and masterclasses. These events sell out quickly — follow LTA Padel and UK padel clubs on social media for announcements. In 2025, several Premier Padel players visited London clubs for promotional events.
Where to Find Domestic Results
The LTA website publishes results and rankings for all sanctioned events. Your local club likely runs internal leagues and box leagues too — these are a great way to combine watching with playing.
How Watching Pros Improves Your Game
Positioning and Movement
The biggest thing you learn from watching professional padel is where players stand. At club level, most players are either too far forward or too far back. Watch how the pros adjust their position constantly — two steps forward after a good shot, three steps back when they are under pressure. That subtle positioning is what makes their game look effortless.
The Lob as a Weapon
Club players underuse the lob. At professional level, the lob is arguably the most important shot in padel — it buys time, moves opponents off the net, and creates opportunities to advance. Watch how often Lebrón or Tapia throw up a defensive lob when under pressure. It is not a weakness — it is intelligent play. For more on wall play, see our guide on using the glass walls in padel.
Net Play and Volleys
Professional padel is won at the net. Watch how pairs coordinate their movement forward, how they split the court, and how they communicate. If you are looking to improve your own volley technique, watching pros in slow motion on YouTube replays is enormously helpful.
The Bajada and Bandeja
Two shots that separate intermediate players from advanced ones: the bajada (overhead smash off the glass) and the bandeja (a controlled overhead slice). You will see these dozens of times per match at professional level. Study the technique — the compact swing, the wrist position, the follow-through direction.
Best YouTube Channels and Social Media Accounts
YouTube
- Premier Padel (official) — live streams, full replays, highlights. The production quality improved massively in 2025.
- A1 Padel (official) — free live coverage with English commentary
- Padel Review — English-language analysis, technique breakdowns, and equipment reviews
- The Padel School — coaching content using professional match examples
- Sandy Farquharson — British padel coach and commentator with excellent breakdown videos
- @premierpadel — match highlights, behind-the-scenes content
- @arturocoello_ — Coello’s personal account with training and match clips
- @agustintapia — Tapia’s incredible shot compilations
- @paboruno — Paquito Navarro’s entertaining content
TikTok
Padel content on TikTok is enormous. Search “padel highlights” and you will find hours of incredible rallies. The algorithm quickly learns to serve you more once you start watching.
Tips for Following Padel as a New Fan
Start with Highlights
Full matches last 60-90 minutes. If you are new to the sport, start with 10-minute highlight packages on YouTube to learn the flow of the game. Once you understand the scoring, the strategy, and the key moments, full matches become much more engaging.
Learn the Scoring
Padel uses the same scoring system as tennis (15, 30, 40, game, set), but with golden point at deuce — meaning there is no advantage. When the score reaches 40-40, the next point wins the game. The receiving pair gets to choose which side the serve goes to. This creates enormous pressure and dramatic finishes.
Pick a Pair to Follow
Professional padel is doubles, so you follow pairs rather than individuals. Pick a pair whose style you enjoy — Coello/Tapia for explosive power, Lebrón/Galán for tactical chess, Triay/Fernández for dominant women’s padel — and follow their season. It gives you a storyline to care about.
Understand the Positions
In professional doubles, one player typically plays the left side (the more aggressive position, favouring right-handed forehands down the middle) and one plays the right (more defensive, controlling the wider angles). Understanding this helps you read the game. For more on doubles strategy, see our padel doubles guide.
Join the Community
The padel community on Reddit (r/padel), Facebook groups, and Discord servers is welcoming and knowledgeable. Match threads during big events are excellent for learning from experienced fans. The UK-specific groups often share information about watch parties and pub screenings for Major finals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch padel for free in the UK? Yes. Both Premier Padel and A1 Padel stream many events free on their official YouTube channels with English commentary. You can also find full match replays and highlights uploaded within 24 hours of events finishing.
Is padel on Sky Sports in the UK? Sky Sports has shown selected Premier Padel events, but coverage is not consistent across the full season. Check the Sky Sports app or TV guide for upcoming padel listings. YouTube remains the most reliable free option for complete coverage.
What is the biggest padel tournament in the world? The four Premier Padel Majors (Qatar, Paris, Rome, and Barcelona) are the biggest events. Barcelona is often considered the most prestigious due to Spain being the heartland of professional padel and the crowd atmosphere being unmatched.
How long does a professional padel match last? Most matches last between 60 and 90 minutes. A tight three-set match can stretch to around 100 minutes, while a dominant straight-sets win might finish in 45 minutes. Golden point (no advantage at deuce) keeps games moving.
What is the difference between Premier Padel and A1 Padel? Premier Padel is the top-tier official tour backed by the International Padel Federation, featuring the highest-ranked players and biggest prize money. A1 Padel is a secondary circuit with a high standard but smaller draws. Both are worth watching.