The 2026 Alabama Open promises to be an incredible exciting experience for first-time and seasoned tournament players alike!
USA Pickleball Ambassadors - You play for FREE! Please send an email to jarick@pickleballeventsgroup.org with the events you would like to play. A personal one-time use discount code will be issued. This does not include your partner.
Click to register at PickleballBrackets.
TOURNAMENT FORMAT
Register for the skill level desired (3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5+). Team skill level will be determined by the player with the highest skill level on the team.
Brackets will be created by dividing all registrants in the skill level into groups of 4 - 6 teams based on age. Team age will be determined by the youngest player on the team.
The oldest players will be placed into a bracket and the youngest players will be placed into a separate bracket.
Medals will be awarded for each bracket.
Each bracket will be a round-robin with a playoff.
All matches (round-robin and playoff) will be one game to 15 win by 2.
Top 4 teams will advance to a playoff.
#1 Seed v #4 Seed in Semifinal #1 and #2 Seed v #3 Seed in Semifinal #2.
Winners play for Gold/Silver. Losers play for Bronze.
NOTE: Registration deadline (March 14, 2026) is 2 weeks before the tournament.
We will be back to a 4-day tournament this year! Start times will be 8:00 AM except for Skinny Singles.
THU - 3/26 Skinny Singles (start will be in the afternoon)
FRI - 3/27 Women's Doubles and Men's Singles
SAT - 3/28 Mixed Doubles
SUN - 3/29 Men's Doubles and Women's Singles
Tournament Cost
$70 1/13 - 2/27
$90 2/28 - 3/6
$110 3/7 - 3/14
For doubles events, you are not in the tournament until you and your partner have registered and paid the full tournament fees. For singles events, you are not in the tournament until you have registered and paid the full tournament fees.
DUPR will be used to determine skill levels. Tournament results will be reported to DUPR.
VOLUNTEERS
There are plenty of opportunities for you to be a part of making this event special. Please consider helping out in one of the following areas during your down time at the Alabama Open!
Check-In Desk
Verify player identity
Provide player gift bag
Answer questions
Arrive 30 mins before scheduled start time
Court Monitor
Monitor warm-up activities
Verify correct players on court
Monitor time outs
Review scoresheet before handing to Court Runner
Notify TD or referee to handle disputes
Arrive 10 mins before scheduled start time
Court Runner
Run scoresheets between Operations Desk and Courts so players have more time to warm-up
Arrive 10 mins before scheduled start time
General
Assist Check-In Desk, Operations Desk, and TD with various situations
Monitor tournament activities
Arrive 10 mins before scheduled start time
REFUND \ PLAYER WITHDRAWAL \ UNABLE TO PLAY POLICY
Full refund (less any non-refundable payment charges) if withdrawal is completed by March 7th.
NO refunds for any reason after March 7th, 2026.
Player fees are not transferable.
A player substituting before March 7th will pay full amount. Original player will be provided a full refund.
A player substituting after March 7th will pay a $25 processing fee. Send email to tournament director (jarick@pickleballeventsgroup.org) to obtain a code to substitute.
Wait listed ONLY players will not be charged a processing fee and may remain on the wait list throughout the duration of the tournament
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
This is an outdoor tournament. There is no indoor back up. If weather is a factor, we will do all we can to play matches. We will refund 50% of the registration fee if the tournament is impacted by weather. No need to "purchase" weather insurance.
We will have Senior (50+) and regular (<50) Open brackets for doubles events (men's, women's, and mixed). Singles events will not have Open brackets. The Open brackets will have payouts for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places. The Open divisions are geared toward 4.0, 4.5, and 5.0 players that want to compete against the highest level players.
If an Open bracket does not have enough participants (5 or fewer teams), the Open bracket will be cancelled and you will have the option to either:
A. Have all of the fees refunded
B. Have a partial refund and play in the amateur bracket.
The payout amounts will depend on the registration numbers.
The cost for each Open bracket is $50 in addition to the registration fee.
You cannot play in an Open bracket and skill bracket for the same doubles event.
We greatly appreciate our sponsors for the tournament! The City of Clay provides an exceptional facility for the fifth year increasing the player and spectator experience each year. Please visit, support, and thank our sponsors.
If you would like to be involved in the fastest growing sport in America, please consider sponsoring the tournament. Send inquiries to jarick@pickleballeventsgroup.org.
We are excited to announce that money raised from the 2026 Alabama Open will go to support two incredible organizations! Even if you can't participate in the Alabama Open, please consider donating to these worthwhile organizations.
Baller Dream Foundation provides financial and emotional support to children and young adults battling cancer through treatment, remission and beyond. Through our major gifting, in-hospital programming, financial support and community events, Baller Dream develops lasting relationships to create an environment where kids feel supported, families feel connected, and communities feel inspired.
SCAN TO DONATE
LOGAN'S PADDLE PACK
Love Life mobilizes the Church to come around abortion vulnerable women to offer them the Hope of Jesus and the practical Help of the local Church. They offer prayer support, direct outreach and counsel, mentorship, and help with practical resources. Since 2016, 7,200 children have been rescued from abortion. They also partner with local foster care and adoption agencies to encourage more Christian families to care for the orphan. In addition, Love Life has also served over 4:000 women seeking post-abortive recovery help.
CONTACT: Shaylene (shaylene@lovelife.org)
SCAN TO DONATE
Just minutes from downtown Birmingham. 7 miles to the pickleball complex and12 miles to BHM Int’l Airport. Free parking with onsite bar and several restaurants. Within 20 minutes of Barber Motorsports Park, Liberty Park Sports Complex and University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix is happening the same weekend so reserve a room early!