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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Kosmas Pickleball Fest kicks off in Davao

Kosmas Pickleball Fest kicks off in Davao

Published Feb 14, 2026 12:23 pm

At A Glance

  • More than a tournament, Pickle Fest 2026 is designed as a multi-leg national festival, uniting elite players, grassroots enthusiasts and partner brands across key regions.
Team Velaris in action during the PCL Asia Season 2 Manila Section tournament.
Team Velaris in action during the PCL Asia Season 2 Manila Section tournament.
Pickleball’s remarkable surge in popularity in the Philippines reaches a milestone as the Kosmas Pickle Fest 2026 makes its debut on Feb. 25 at Pickletown in Davao City, featuring both Under-19 Rising Stars and adult competition categories.
Introduced in Cebu in 2016 as a little-known sport, pickleball has since surged into a nationwide movement. The Philippines now counts more than 250 clubs and thousands of active players across Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao, cementing its status as one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing pickleball communities.
Davao City has emerged as a key breeding ground for talent, making it a fitting host for the opening leg of the week-long festival. Organized by partner agency Sunrise Events, Inc., and spearheaded by Kosmas Athletic Ventures Corp. (KAVC), a Philippine-based sports, recreation and wellness company led by Sophia Lapus, the event is expected to draw a banner field, concluding on March 1.
Registration is ongoing in both Categories, with the U19 Rising Stars category carrying a registration fee of USD 200 per team. And P 3,000 pesos per doubles for the Adult Categories.
More than a tournament, Pickle Fest 2026 is designed as a multi-leg national festival, uniting elite players, grassroots enthusiasts and partner brands across key regions. After its Mindanao leg, the festival continues in the Visayas – blending high-level competition with community engagement, sports tourism, and brand activation – further cementing pickleball’s place in the Philippine sporting landscape.
The Net and Paddle tournament in Cebu City will be held from March 11 to 15.
At the heart of the event is the U19 Rising Stars, a regional youth championship aimed at identifying, developing, and advancing elite under-19 pickleball athletes across Asia. Structured as a standalone competition, the program emphasizes long-term athlete development, standardized competition and regional collaboration through a team-based format.
The championship serves as an official youth pathway within the PCL (Pickleball Champions League) Asia ecosystem, aligning with international best practices in junior sport development and providing young Filipino athletes a clear route to global competition.
Each Rising Stars team will consist of four players – two males and two females – competing in men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and two mixed doubles events (A and B). Each region will qualify one team through the Sectional Qualifiers, with the Grand Finals set to be held in Hainan Island, China. PCL Asia will shoulder airfare, local transportation, and room and board for all qualifying teams.
Adding to the incentive, qualified teams will receive a US$1,000 development grant, along with paddles, balls, and official apparel – resources aimed at sustaining athlete development beyond the tournament.
The festival also caters to adult players across all skill levels, underscoring pickleball’s inclusive appeal. Competition categories include Newbie (2.0–2.99), Low Intermediate (3.0–3.49), High Intermediate (3.5–3.99), and Open (no skill restrictions) divisions. Events will be contested in men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles for 20+, 35+, and 50+ age brackets.
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