World Pickleball Conference heads to Las Vegas July 16-17

The World Pickleball Conference will hold a two-day event July 16-17 at Chicken N Pickle in Las Vegas, with a new veteran-focused tournament and programming tied to the sport’s business growth. Organizers say the event will spotlight wellness, industry networking and community development as pickleball keeps expanding nationally.

Why it matters: - The Las Vegas conference puts pickleball’s business, wellness and veteran-focused communities in one place. - The event adds another sign that the sport is moving beyond recreation and into a larger industry ecosystem. - The new tournament is designed to support veteran wellness initiatives while connecting the sport to America’s 250th Birthday observance.

What happened: - The World Pickleball Conference will take place July 16-17 at the Chicken N Pickle complex in Las Vegas. - The two-day event is being hosted at Chicken N Pickle Henderson. - Founder Carl Foster launched the conference as a grassroots effort to bring together leaders, innovators and wellness experts across pickleball. - Foster also hosts Inside World Pickleball, a nationally televised program that has appeared on CBS Sports Network.

The details: - The conference was built around two goals: promoting pickleball’s mental and physical health benefits and helping grow the business side of the sport. - Foster has emphasized pickleball’s role as a therapeutic outlet for veterans, with support tied to emotional resilience, physical activity, social connection and post-service reintegration. - The event will bring together brands, entrepreneurs, facility operators, technology developers and industry leaders for networking and partnership opportunities. - Scheduled programming includes keynote sessions, industry panels, skills clinics and veteran-focused wellness sessions. - A new patriotic tournament, the “Paddle Battle of the Branches,” will celebrate all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. - The tournament will include active-duty service members and veterans. - Proceeds and programming from the tournament will support veteran wellness initiatives. - Foster said, “Veterans deserve tools that help them heal, reconnect, and thrive.” - Foster added that pickleball gives veterans movement, camaraderie, joy and a sense of belonging. - The conference describes the Las Vegas expansion as a major milestone in its national growth. - Tickets for the next World Pickleball Conference will go on sale July 20, 2026. - The next conference will be held as part of the 2026 World Pickleball Convention at the Palm Beach Convention Center, Oct. 16-18, 2026. - A social media link in the source points to more information.

Between the lines: - The conference is positioning pickleball as both a health platform and a commercial category. - The veteran focus gives the event a community mission that extends beyond standard sports-industry programming. - Las Vegas offers a high-visibility setting that can help the conference widen its national profile.

What's next: - Organizers will open ticket sales on July 20, 2026. - The conference will return later in the year in Palm Beach as part of the 2026 World Pickleball Convention. - The Las Vegas event will run July 16-17 with industry sessions and the new Armed Forces tournament.