Padel confirmed as medal sport at European Games Istanbul 2027

Padel will return as a full medal sport at the 4th European Games in Istanbul, Turkey, from 16–27 June 2027, Padel FIPPadel Magazine following its acclaimed debut at Kraków-Małopolska 2023. The European Olympic Committees (EOC) Executive Committee approved the 26-sport programme on 13 March 2026 at its meeting in Rome, European Olympic Committees with the International Padel Federation (FIP) publishing a dedicated confirmation on 17 March 2026. This represents a critical milestone in padel's campaign for Olympic inclusion, Padel FIP with Brisbane 2032 now the primary target The Padel Paper for the sport's Games debut.

The announcement and who made it

The confirmation came in two stages. On 13 March 2026, the EOC Executive Committee approved the complete 26-sport programme for Istanbul 2027 during its meeting in Rome. European Olympic Committees The EOC published its announcement around 16 March 2026 under the headline "4th European Games Istanbul 2027 confirmed with 26 sports in the programme on the road to LA28." Four days later, on 17 March 2026, the FIP released a dedicated press statement titled "From Kraków 2023 to Istanbul 2027: Padel confirmed as medal sport in the European Games programme." padelfip The Padel Federation of Ireland further confirmed the news on 18 March 2026 following a meeting between FIP and European national federations. Padelfederation

This was a joint confirmation involving the EOC, the Istanbul 2027 Organising Committee Padel FIP (led by President Prof. Dr. Veli Ozan Çakır), and the FIP (led by President Luigi Carraro). EOC President Spyros Capralos, who also sits on the IOC Executive Board, endorsed padel's continued presence explicitly. The Padel PaperPadel FIP

European Games 2027 in full detail

Istanbul, Turkey will host the 4th European Games from 16 to 27 June 2027 Wikipedia — a 12-day event and the first European Games held in Turkey. Wikipedia Istanbul was unanimously awarded the Games by the EOC Executive Committee on 20 March 2024, European Olympic Committees with the formal Host City Contract signed on 28 February 2025 at the 54th EOC General Assembly in Frankfurt. Wikipedia

The programme features 26 sports — 22 Olympic disciplines aligned with the LA 2028 programme, European Olympic Committees plus 4 non-Olympic sports European Olympic Committees (padel, karate, kickboxing, and muaythai). Athletes from approximately 49 countries will compete Padel FIPThe Padel Paper (all 50 EOC member NOCs minus Russia and Belarus, which remain suspended). An EOC Refugee Team will also participate. Wikipedia

Sports debuting at the European Games for the first time in 2027:

Rowing (Beach Sprint)

• Weightlifting

Squash (also debuting at LA 2028 Olympics; European Olympic Committees gold medallists earn direct Olympic quota places) Inside the Games

Returning sports (absent from Kraków 2023 but featured in earlier editions): Gymnastics, Volleyball, Wrestling. Inside the GamesEuropean Olympic Committees

Padel itself is not a debut — it first appeared at the 2023 European Games. Wikipedia Its confirmation for 2027 represents continuity rather than a new addition. Padel Magazine

Istanbul requires no new permanent venue construction. Sport EuropeInside the Games Key venues include the Atatürk Olympic Stadium Wikipedia (75,000+ capacity), Sinan Erdem Dome (~16,000), and other existing facilities. Grokipedia The Games also serve as a stepping stone for Istanbul's potential bid for the 2036 Summer Olympics. Wikipedia

Previous European Games editions:

EditionYearHostNationsAthletesSportsI2015Baku, Azerbaijan505,89821II2019Minsk, Belarus504,08215III2023Kraków-Małopolska, Poland486,85729IV2027Istanbul, Turkey~49TBD26

How padel will work at Istanbul 2027

Padel is confirmed as a full medal sport — not a demonstration or exhibition event. Padel FIP The FIP headline states this explicitly. While the specific event categories for 2027 have not yet been formally enumerated, the 2023 precedent (which all parties reference as the template) featured three medal events: men's doubles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles. Padel FIPWikipedia No singles events are expected — padel is played exclusively in pairs at international multi-sport events. Wikipedia

At Kraków 2023, 23 European nations competed Olympic Team Ireland with over 100 players. Padel FIP The number for Istanbul 2027 has not been specified but is expected to grow given padel's continued expansion. Spain dominated at Kraków, winning gold in men's and mixed doubles, while Italy claimed women's gold. GrokipediaJefferson City News Tribune

No specific qualification pathway has been announced yet. The EOC notes that "the inclusion of all sports and disciplines remains subject to the conclusion of agreements with the respective federations." European Olympic Committees For context, qualification for Kraków 2023 was based on World Championship performance: NOCs that qualified for Padel World Championship finals could enter two pairs per gender; those from European qualifications entered one pair. Wikipedia

Padel is not among sports offering direct Olympic quota places at Istanbul 2027 (those are archery, sport climbing, modern pentathlon, shooting, squash, and triathlon), Wikipedia since padel is not yet an Olympic sport. WikipediaThe Padel Paper No specific venue for padel has been announced. At Kraków, padel was staged on a spectacular temporary court in the historic Main Square Olympic Team Ireland (Rynek Główny), attracting approximately 20,000 spectators Inside the GamesPadel FIP — widely hailed as a standout success. Inside the Games +2

Padel's growing multi-sport event footprint

The European Games 2027 confirmation sits within a rapid accumulation of multi-sport event inclusions. Padel FIP Here is padel's complete verified history:

EventYearStatusLocationSouth American Games2022Demonstration sportAsunción, ParaguayEuropean Games2023 (debut)Medal sportKraków, PolandAsian Games2026 (debut)Medal sportAichi-Nagoya, JapanAsian Beach Games2026 (debut)Official sportSanya, ChinaMediterranean Games2026 (debut)Medal sportTaranto, ItalyFISU World University Championship2026 (debut)ChampionshipMálaga, SpainEuropean Games2027Medal sportIstanbul, TurkeyMediterranean Beach Games2027ConfirmedPortimão, Portugal

Padel has not featured at the World Games (IWGA), Pan American Games, African Games, or Southeast Asian Games. The 2023 European Games debut in Kraków was padel's first-ever appearance as a medal sport at a major continental multi-sport event. WikipediaJefferson City News Tribune

For the Mediterranean Games 2026 in Taranto, five new padel courts are being constructed (€850,000 investment). ICMG Among the 26 Mediterranean nations, there are 32,000+ padel courts and 9.5 million active players — roughly 50% of the world's padel infrastructure. Inside the Games

Key quotes from officials

Luigi Carraro, FIP President (17 March 2026):

"We are deeply proud of this new milestone. Padel at Istanbul 2027 is the confirmation of a journey that grows day after day and continues to find its place within the Olympic movement. This is an achievement that belongs to all of us. I would like to sincerely thank EOC President and IOC Executive Board Member Spyros Capralos and his entire team. Since Padel's debut at the European Games 2023, they have believed in our vision and in the potential of our sport, which at that time thrilled athletes and spectators with a vibrant atmosphere in the square of Krakow. A heartfelt thank you to the Turkish Organising Committee, the city of Istanbul, our Turkish Federation, and the National Federations around the world, whose constant work makes this unstoppable growth possible." Padel FIP

Spyros Capralos, EOC President & IOC Executive Board Member (17 March 2026):

"Following the successful debut of Padel at the European Games Kraków–Małopolska 2023, where the sport showcased its growing popularity across the continent, we are pleased to see it continue its journey within the European Olympic Movement. The inclusion of Padel in the official programme reflects our commitment to innovation and to embracing sports that inspire new generations of athletes and fans. The Padel PaperPadel FIP We look forward to seeing Europe's best players compete once again in this prestigious event." Padel FIP

Veli Ozan Çakır, Istanbul 2027 Organising Committee President (17 March 2026):

"I'm thrilled that Padel has been included in the sports programme of the European Games 2027. As one of the people who took the first steps to introduce and develop Padel in Türkiye, it is extremely rewarding to see this fast-growing sport take its place in one of the most prestigious competitions in the Olympic world, the European Games. With its easy-to-learn nature, social atmosphere and dynamic rallies played off the walls, Padel has rapidly gained popularity across Europe. Padel FIP I'm confident it will bring great energy to the Games, and I look forward to welcoming Europe's top Padel players to Istanbul in 2027." The Padel PaperPadel FIP

Mihai Covaliu, EOC Coordination Commission Chair (13 March 2026):

"Istanbul 2027 will be a key milestone on the road to Los Angeles 2028. With 26 sports, including 22 Olympic disciplines, and significant qualification opportunities, the Games will provide Europe's athletes with a high-level platform to perform and qualify for the Olympic Games." European Olympic CommitteesInside the Games

Santiago Brito, FIP Olympic Project Advisor (FIP General Assembly, Doha, late 2024):

"Every morning, we wake up with the hope that the padel racket might one day be united with the five Olympic rings. We work toward this with the seriousness, concreteness and respect that this ambition demands." The Padel Paper

Padel Federation of Ireland (18 March 2026):

"The PFI is delighted to announce that Padel has officially been confirmed as a medal sport at the European Games Istanbul 2027!" Padelfederation

What this means for padel's Olympic ambitions

The FIP holds ARISF status (Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations) — a prerequisite for Olympic inclusion. The Kitchen +2 Padel is not in the programme for LA 2028 (the programme is finalised), making Brisbane 2032 the earliest realistic Olympic debut. Losberger De Boer +2

The IOC requires sports to be practised in at least 75 countries across 4 continents (men's) and 40 countries across 3 continents (women's). Justpadel FIP now represents nearly 100 national federations Padel FIP +3 (up from ~51 when added to the European Games), with approximately 35 million players lvchengThe Padel Paper across 150+ countries The Padel Paper and 80,000+ courts The Padel Paper globally. lvcheng This criterion appears close to being met or already satisfied.

The strategic significance of Istanbul 2027 lies in padel's systematic embedding across Olympic Movement institutions. Padel MagazinePadel FIP The European Games are run by the EOC, Padel FIP the Asian Games by the OCA — both constituent bodies of the Olympic Movement. FIP President Carraro has explicitly called Istanbul 2027 "a fundamental step in the pathway towards the goal of Olympic participation." Padel FIP

An OCA official statement from November 2025, when it formally recognised the FIP, stated that recognition "represents a major step toward global recognition, paving the way for its potential inclusion in the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane, Australia." OCA Padel is widely seen as following the path of squash, which will make its Olympic debut at LA 2028 after years of multi-sport event participation. The Padel PaperTennis Tonic

However, one potential obstacle flagged by Inside the Games: 45 of the top 50 male padel players are still from Spain or Argentina, which could concern the IOC under its pluralism and universality criteria. Inside the Games

Important caveat: As of April 2026, there is no confirmed IOC announcement adding padel to Brisbane 2032. The process remains ongoing.

The UK and LTA perspective

No specific LTA statement about padel's European Games 2027 inclusion was found. The LTA has not issued a dedicated press release, social media post, or quote from any official regarding the Istanbul 2027 confirmation. No mainstream UK media coverage (BBC, Guardian, Telegraph, Sky Sports) was identified — coverage was limited to specialist padel outlets.

However, the UK context is highly relevant. The LTA governs padel in Britain, and the sport's domestic growth is extraordinary:

MetricFigureDateAnnual players860,0002025Courts1,553 across 559 venuesEnd 2025Adults playing twice monthly51,000Sport England 2023-24Awareness43% of UK adultsQ1 2025Interest in trying padel10 million+ Britons2026LTA + Foundation investment£7.5 million (leveraging £10.5m private)Cumulative

Great Britain competed at the 2023 European Games in Kraków LTA Padel and would almost certainly send a team to Istanbul 2027. At the 2024 European Padel Championships in Cagliari, GB men finished 7th and women 10th. LTA PadelLTA Both men's and women's teams qualified for the FIP Euro Padel Cup Final 8 in 2025. LTA Padel

Prominent British players who could feature at Istanbul 2027:

Aimee Gibson — British women's No. 1, first British player to break into the FIP world top 100 The Bandeja (No. 89) LTA Padel

Catherine Rose — British women's No. 2, also reached world top 100 (September 2025)

Christian Medina Murphy — British men's No. 1, world No. 103 LTA Padel

Tia Norton — First British woman The Bandeja to compete on World Padel Tour The Padel Paper and make a Premier Padel main draw

A major milestone arrives in August 2026 when the Premier Padel P1 comes to London LTA Padel — the first-ever Premier Padel event on British soil. LTA Padel

Tom Murray, LTA Head of Padel (2026): "With 860,000 people playing in 2025, over 10 million expressing interest in trying the sport, and around 1,600 courts now in place across hundreds of venues, padel's momentum is undeniable." LTA Padel

Sandy Farquharson, GB Men's Captain: "The game is developing in professionalism and we are making great strides to compete at the highest level. LTA Padel Competition in Europe is getting stronger and stronger."