The Association of Pickleball Players (APP) Tour announced the 2026 APP Asia Tour, marking one of the most significant steps yet in the organization's global pickleball expansion strategy.
- July - APP Penang Open, Malaysia
- October - APP China Open, China
- October - APP Bangkok Open, Thailand
- November - APP Taipei City Open, Chinese Taipei
- November - APP India Open, India
- December - APP Ho Chi Minh City Open, Vietnam
The APP Tour is part of the Global Pickleball Alliance (GPA), which has already held events in Malaysia, Japan, Vietnam, and India this year. During the initial GPA announcement, the APP Tour was listed as the USA-based partner, but is now expanding its role internationally as well.
The APP Tour had already been solidifying its global expansion footprint before this Asia Tour announcement, making this the next logical step in a multi-year strategy.
With this global expansion, the APP Tour has made two key hires: Yui See Lau and Yuki Chen, have been named the Senior Vice President of Global Expansion and Director of Global Expansion for the APP, respectively. Lau and Chen will work in tandem to expand the APP’s role internationally, specifically in Asia to begin.
“It is both an honor and a privilege to join the longest-standing professional pickleball tour in the world and to lead its global expansion efforts in Asia. I look forward to drawing on my experience growing the game internationally to ensure the APP’s world-class standards continue to define the sport on a global stage.” - Yui See Lau
How this Affects the Global Pickleball Alliance
This move helps to strengthen the global pickleball structure the GPA is building across Asia. Some of the previous GPA events in Asia were "Powered by" the APP Tour. Now the APP Tour will have six standalone events of its own in the Asian market.
Additionally, three of D-Joy's events (Vietnam) later in the year will be "Powered by the APP", reinforcing the strong relationships between the different GPA bodies. PPA Vietnam set a world record for single-day pickleball event attendance last year, which signals exactly how large the appetite for professional events in the region already is.
What this Means for the Game Globally
There is no doubt - everyone involved in the professional side of pickleball sees global expansion as a very real goal within the next three to five years. This expansion by the APP Tour displays the organization’s commitment to growing the sport internationally and growing its presence specifically in Asia.
Nearly a year and a half ago, I wrote a piece about the "International Tour Wars". So many things have changed in the 17 months since, including one step closer to pickleball in the Olympics via a new global governing body merger, that it feels like a good time for an update on the subject. Stay tuned for more.
A full copy of the APP Tour News Release can be found by clicking here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2026 APP Asia Tour?
The 2026 APP Asia Tour is a six-event professional pickleball circuit spanning Malaysia, China, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, India, and Vietnam, announced by the Association of Pickleball Players Tour as part of its expanded international role within the Global Pickleball Alliance.
How does the APP Asia Tour relate to the Global Pickleball Alliance?
The APP Tour is the USA-based anchor partner of the GPA, and the Asia Tour represents its evolution from a supporting role to a standalone organizer in the Asian market. Three of Vietnam's D-Joy events will also be "Powered by the APP," reinforcing the collaborative framework the GPA is built on.
Who is leading the APP Tour's global expansion?
Yui See Lau (SVP of Global Expansion) and Yuki Chen (Director of Global Expansion) have been hired specifically to lead the APP's international push, beginning with the Asian market. Lau brings direct experience growing pickleball internationally and will focus on maintaining the APP's world-class standards across all new markets.
Why is Asia such a major focus for professional pickleball expansion?
Asia has demonstrated extraordinary demand for professional pickleball, including a world record for single-day event attendance set at PPA Vietnam and strong participation numbers across Malaysia, Japan, India, and China. The region represents the sport's fastest-growing international market and the most strategically significant expansion opportunity for any professional tour.
What does the APP Asia Tour mean for the sport's global growth?
It signals that professional pickleball is moving from an aspirational global vision to an operational one, with concrete event infrastructure, dedicated leadership hires, and a multi-country schedule in place. Combined with the GPA's unified rankings framework, the 2026 Asia Tour is one of the clearest signs yet that the sport is on a credible path to becoming a truly global world pickleball tour.
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