The ITF has confirmed key updates to the 2026 Beach Tennis World Tour calendar, including the host venue for the ITF Beach Tennis World Championships and the addition of new premier-level events in Italy.

Portugal to host ITF Beach Tennis World Championships in 2026

Portugal will host the ITF Beach Tennis World Championships for the first time in 2026. The event will take place in Matosinhos from 7–13 September, with the main draw beginning on 9 September.

The event will feature record combined prize money of $115,000, comprising $100,000 for men’s and women’s doubles and $15,000 for mixed doubles - an increase from $60,000 in 2025.

Staged annually since 2009, the ITF Beach Tennis World Championships are recognised as one of the most prestigious annual tournaments on the beach tennis calendar. Italy hosted the event consecutively from 2013, and the move to Portugal reflects the expansion and development of the ITF Beach Tennis World Tour.

Portugal hosted its first Sand Series event in 2025, with the World Championships returning to the same venue at Arena Matosinhos. The country will also stage another Sand Series event in the Algarve in June 2026, further strengthening its presence on the ITF Beach Tennis World Tour.

The competition programme will include men’s and women’s doubles, mixed doubles, and junior events, comprising boys’ and girls’ doubles as well as junior mixed doubles. Winners of the Under-18 categories will qualify for the New Wave competition at the 2026 ITF Beach Tennis Tour Finals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The event will award 1,000 ITF Beach Tennis World Tour ranking points, with Elizaveta Kudinova / Anastasiia Semenova and Nicolas Gianotti / Mattia Spoto returning as the defending champions in the respective Women’s and Men’s categories.

CEO of the Portuguese Tennis Federation, Vasco Costa, said: “It is very gratifying for the Portuguese Tennis Federation to host the Beach Tennis World Championships.

“After the success of organising the largest Sand Series in Europe in 2025, taking on the World Championship of the sport is a new challenge, and we will do everything possible to match and raise the level of organisation we achieved in 2025.

“I would like to highlight that the FPT has hosted the World Masters Championship for several years, and in the past, it also hosted the World Wheelchair Championship. With this experience, we are well-prepared to organise this championship under the ITF’s oversight.

“We are very grateful for the trust placed in us with the awarding of the Beach Tennis World Championships, and we are committed to delivering an outstanding event.”

2025 Beach Tennis World Championships 

Italy to host new Sand Series and BT400 events in 2026

Italy will add three new major events to the ITF Beach Tennis World Tour in 2026, strengthening the sport’s premier tier in Europe.

A new Sand Series event will take place in Cesenatico from 3-6 September offering $100,000 USD in prize money ($90,000 for Men’s/Women’s and $10,000 for Mixed Doubles). Italy will also host two BT400 tournaments, each with $45,000 in prize money as outlined below:

• BT400 Cervia (27-30 August)
• BT400 Marina di Ravenna (17-20 September)

Together, these events expand the premier tier of the ITF Beach Tennis World Tour and underline Italy’s continued commitment to Beach Tennis.

The ITF Sand Series represents the premier tournament tier on the ITF Beach Tennis World Tour, featuring elite, top-ranked players and offering substantial prize money.

FITP President, Mr Angelo Binaghi: “The Italian Tennis and Padel Federation is pleased to once again host some of the most prestigious international beach tennis events in our country. This choice confirms our concrete commitment to supporting the growth of this discipline at the highest level, both nationally and internationally.

"The organisation of two BT400 tournaments in Cervia and Marina di Ravenna, together with a Sand Series event in Cesenatico, reflects a clear strategic vision based on excellence, organisational quality and the long-term development of beach tennis. These events are designed to deliver top-level competition and to engage athletes, spectators and stakeholders from all over the world.

"The Sand Series event in Cesenatico, together with the other international events scheduled for 2026, will represent a sporting and promotional milestone of great significance for the global beach tennis community, further strengthening Italy’s role within the international circuit.”

ITF President, David Haggerty, said: “Portugal hosting the 2026 ITF Beach Tennis World Championships, alongside the expansion of the Sand Series and BT400 events in Italy, represents an important milestone for the ITF Beach Tennis World Tour. I would like to thank the Federação Portuguesa de Ténis and the Federazione Italiana Tennis e Padel for their continued commitment and collaboration in delivering these great events for beach tennis. These developments further strengthen the premier tier of the calendar and reflect the continued growth of the sport.”

The ITF Beach Tennis World Tour 2026 provisional calendar for all BT200 and above tournaments can be found at the ITF website, with calendar being updated regularly.