Ready to test your skills? The Denver metro hosts dozens of pickleball tournaments throughout the year, from casual rec center events to USAP-sanctioned competitions. Here's how to find and enter tournaments in the area.
2026 Major Tournament Calendar
Mark your calendars for these confirmed 2026 events in the Colorado Front Range (updated April 2026):
April 2026
- Relish Split Age Tournament (April 10-12, 2026): Colorado Springs area. Split age format where partners' combined ages determine bracket. USAP sanctioned.
- Pickleball People Tournament: Denver (April 25-26, 2026): Apex Simms Street Rec Center, Arvada. Round robin format with bracket playoffs. Free entry to Colorado Springs premier event for participants.
- Battle of the Paddles (April 24-26, 2026): Littleton area. Mixed skill divisions, great for intermediate players. Register early—brackets fill fast.
May 2026
- Colorado Amateur Open @ APEX Pickleball (May 2-3, 2026): APEX Pickleball Courts, Arvada. Part of the Amateur Pickleball Association tour. Round robin followed by brackets.
- Life Time Denver West Mixed Tournament (May 9, 2026): Life Time Fitness, Wheat Ridge. Mixed doubles format. Register through Life Time app or pickleballtournaments.com.
- Peak Performance - Victory Pickleball Series (May 15-17, 2026): Peak Pickleball, Colorado Springs. 5-game minimum with ALL teams advancing from round robin to medal brackets. Live streaming on 10+ courts. DUPR and VAIR rated. $65 early registration.
- Denver Iconics Open (May 15-17, 2026): 3rd Shot Pickleball - River Point, Englewood. Supporting event for Senior Pro team. All skill levels, DUPR-rated. Singles, doubles, mixed, and scramble formats.
- Apex Memorial Day Tournament (May 23-24, 2026): Marquardt-Miles Park, Simms Street Rec Center, Arvada. One of Denver's largest with 300+ teams. Benefits Apex Foundation. Register at apexprd.org
- DPC Level Up Cup (May 26, 2026): 3rd Shot Pickleball - River Point, Englewood. Hosted by Denver Pickleball Club. Organized divisions with smooth scheduling. $34 early registration ($39 after April 14). Register at pickleballtournaments.com
- PPA Challenger - Fracas in Fort Collins (May 29-31, 2026): Zero Zero Two, 4401 Innovation Dr, Fort Collins. Pro + Amateur divisions. Play alongside Humana Championship Court. Register at ppachallenger.com
- World Pickleball Tour Denver Open (May 29-31, 2026): APEX Simms Street Rec Center, Arvada. 24-court facility. All skill levels.
June 2026
- AAMD Pickleball Tournament (June 5, 2026): Pickleball Food Pub, Westminster. 10am-3:30pm. Apartment Association of Metro Denver charity event. Great networking opportunity for local players.
- Colorado Senior Games Pickleball (June 5-7, 2026): Springs Pickleball East, Colorado Springs. Ages 50+, all skill levels. Part of the larger Colorado Senior Games. Qualifier for national Senior Games.
- USA Pickleball Wheelchair National Championships (June 18-21, 2026): Peak Pickleball, Colorado Springs. 24 indoor courts. All skill levels, three divisions: Singles, Doubles, and Hybrid. Cash prizes for Open Division.
- Rocky Mountain Championships (June 18-21, 2026): Clement Park Pickleball Complex, Littleton. Colorado's largest pickleball tournament. Hosted by Kyle Yates, presented by The Picklr. All ages and skill levels.
- USA Pickleball Golden Ticket (June 24-28, 2026): Colorado Springs. USAP-sanctioned. Winners earn priority registration for National Championships. Register at usapickleball.org
- Elevated Paddle Battle (June 26-28, 2026): Denver metro area. DUPR-rated event. Multiple skill divisions from 3.0 to 5.0+. Great atmosphere for competitive players.
- Colorado Cup - Denver Qualifier (June 29, 2026): 3rd Shot Pickleball - River Point, Englewood. Indoor with AC—perfect weather guaranteed. Hosted by Denver Pickleball Club. $29 early registration. All games entered into DUPR.
July 2026
- Pickle in the Peaks (July 16-18, 2026): Rainbow Park, Silverthorne. Play at 9,000' elevation! Scenic mountain tournament with stunning views. $30-35 entry. All skill levels welcome. Great summer mountain getaway.
August 2026
- World of Pickleball - Denver (August 7-9, 2026): Apex Pickleball Courts, Arvada. DUPR Verified event. Under 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 and Open divisions. Benefits National Alliance on Mental Illness. $55 early registration.
- Pikes Peak or Bust (August 14-16, 2026): Peak Pickleball, Colorado Springs. Age/Skill tournament for all ages and levels. Men's/Women's singles and doubles, mixed doubles, and wheelchair divisions.
- Colorado Cup - Fort Collins Qualifier (August 28-30, 2026): Zero Zero Two, Fort Collins. Hosted by Denver Pickleball Club. Qualify for the Colorado Cup finals. All games entered into DUPR.
September 2026
- Mountain Town Classic (September 2026): Steamboat Springs. Dates TBD. Check Rocky Mountain Pickleball for registration when available. Great end-of-summer mountain tournament.
- Believe Big Charity Tournament (September 21, 2026): Gates Tennis Center, Denver. Charity event supporting cancer research. All skill levels welcome. Register at believebig.org/pickleball.
October 2026
- Apex Boos & Paddles (October 2026): Marquardt-Miles Park, Arvada. Halloween-themed fall tournament. Dates TBD.
Recent Tournament Results
Colorado Powerball Amateur Championships (March 20-22, 2026): Zero Zero Two in Fort Collins hosted 234 players in this PPA Tour-powered state championship. Winners qualify for the 2026 Worlds Championship in Dallas. Skill levels 3.0 to 5.0 across multiple age divisions.
March Madness Moneyball (March 28, 2026): Peak Pickleball in Colorado Springs hosted this one-day event with prize money. Open division featured $1,000 for 1st place.
USSP Southwest Regional Championship (March 13-15, 2026): Peak Pickleball in Colorado Springs hosted this senior tournament (ages 50+) presented by Humana. Men's and Women's singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events across all skill levels.
MILP Team Tournament (February 21-22, 2026): The Picklr Fort Collins hosted the first Minor League Pickleball event of 2026 in Colorado. The team format (4 players: 2 men, 2 women) featured men's doubles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles matches. Rocky Mountain Pickleball is now the exclusive MiLP host in Colorado, with more events planned throughout the year.
Types of Tournaments
- USAP Sanctioned: Official tournaments with USAP ratings impact. Require USAP membership ($50/year). Points count toward national rankings.
- DUPR Rated: Matches affect your DUPR rating but may not require USAP membership. Growing in popularity across Denver.
- Local/Rec Center: Casual tournaments, often no membership required. Great for beginners. Hosted by South Suburban, Foothills, Apex, and Denver Parks.
- Club Championships: Internal tournaments at facilities like Epic Pickleball Club, Club Greenwood, and The Picklr locations.
Where to Find Denver Tournaments
- PickleballTournaments.com: The main listing site for USAP tournaments
- DUPR app: Lists DUPR-rated events in your area
- Pickleplay.com: Another tournament listing resource
- Local facility websites: Check Epic Pickleball Club, rec centers directly
- Facebook groups: Denver Pickleball and Colorado Pickleball groups post events
What is a Golden Ticket Event?
Golden Ticket events are highlighted USA Pickleball tournaments where category and division winners earn priority registration access ("Golden Tickets") to the USA Pickleball National Championship. Colorado Springs hosts this prestigious event for the second consecutive year in 2026.
Tournament Formats
- Singles: 1v1 play, less common but growing
- Doubles: Most popular format. You'll need a partner.
- Mixed doubles: Male/female teams
- Round robin: Play multiple matches, points determine winner
- Double elimination: Lose twice and you're out
Skill Brackets
Tournaments divide players by skill level:
- 2.5-3.0: Beginner divisions
- 3.5: Intermediate
- 4.0: Advanced intermediate
- 4.5+: Advanced/competitive
- 5.0+: Expert/pro divisions
Enter at your actual skill level—sandbagging (entering below your skill) is frowned upon and can result in disqualification.
Tournament Tips
- Register early: Popular brackets fill fast
- Know your partner: Practice together before the event
- Arrive early: Check-in, warm up, find your court
- Bring everything: Multiple paddles, balls, water, snacks, sunscreen
- Know the rules: Tournament rules may differ from casual play
- Stay hydrated: Altitude + competition = extra water needed
Build Your Skills First
Not ready for tournaments? Build experience through league play or open play sessions first.