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Ten years ago, padel was a sport you played on holiday in Spain. Today, it is the fastest-growing racket sport on the planet — and nowhere is the boom more visible than in Asia. From rooftop courts in Bangkok to beach clubs in Bali, padel has arrived. This is the story of how, and why, Asia fell in love with padel.

Padel was invented in Mexico in 1969 and quickly took root in Spain and Argentina, where it became a fixture of beach clubs and country resorts. For decades it remained a quietly addictive sport played by a few million Spaniards and Latin Americans. The global tipping point came around 2020, when a wave of new courts, professional leagues and celebrity endorsements pushed padel into the European mainstream. Once Europe caught the bug, Asia was next.

Why Padel Works So Well in Asia

Padel is easier to learn than tennis, more social than squash, and gentler on the body than either. Courts are smaller, walls are part of the game, and almost everyone can rally on day one. In Asia — where racket sports already dominate, real estate is precious, and modern wellness culture is in full swing — padel hit a near-perfect product-market fit.

Three padel courts fit on a single tennis court, which suits dense Asian cities. The game is played 2-vs-2, which fits the region’s strong club and corporate-team culture. Indoor and shaded outdoor courts mean year-round play in tropical climates like Thailand and Bali. And beginners can have real rallies in twenty minutes, which makes padel perfect for travel groups and family holidays.

The result: in just a few short years, padel has gone from an unknown sport in Asia to a feature of every serious wellness club, beach resort and rooftop venue from Bangkok to Bali.

The Asian Padel Map in 2026

Thailand: the regional leader. Thailand is now the most developed padel market in Southeast Asia. Bangkok alone has dozens of clubs, with new venues opening in Sukhumvit, Thonglor and Ekkamai every few months. Outside the capital, the sport is booming in Phuket, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, where tropical beach clubs and wellness retreats have added padel as a headline activity.

Bali and the rest of Indonesia. Bali is Thailand’s closest rival as Asia’s padel paradise. Canggu has emerged as the island’s padel capital, with stylish clubs serving the international surf-and-co-working crowd. Uluwatu and Ubud now have permanent courts, and Jakarta is following fast.

Singapore, Hong Kong and the Gulf-style boom. Singapore and Hong Kong have taken to padel with the same enthusiasm as Dubai a few years earlier. Both cities are building rooftop and warehouse-conversion courts, often integrated with bars, restaurants and members’ clubs. Expect padel to become a normal part of city life across the region by the end of 2026.

Japan, South Korea and Greater China. Japan’s federation is well established and the country now hosts regular international events. South Korea’s scene is younger but growing quickly through Seoul’s fitness boutiques. In Greater China, padel is still emerging, but the trajectory in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Taipei mirrors what we saw in Bangkok three years ago.

What Is Driving the Boom

Travel and lifestyle. Padel is a postcard sport. It looks great on Instagram, it pairs with sun and sea, and it fits the way modern travellers want to spend their time. Investor money is pouring in: a new generation of court operators are scaling fast across Asian cities, often backed by family offices and sports-tech investors. Player-led demand from returning expats, traveling professionals and tennis players looking for something new has driven local growth. And hospitality integration means hotels, resorts and beach clubs across Thailand and Bali have realised that padel keeps guests on-property and books out fast.

Padel is to this decade what yoga was to the 2010s in Asia: a sport, a social ritual, and a reason to travel.

Where Padel and Paradise Fits In

At Padel and Paradise we run curated padel holidays in the two destinations leading Asia’s padel boom: Thailand and Bali. Our itineraries combine premium court time and professional coaching with the very best of tropical island travel — the beach clubs of Koh Samui, the full-moon energy of Koh Phangan, the temples and food of Chiang Mai, the rice paddies of Ubud, and the surf of Uluwatu.

If you are reading this, you are probably already curious. The next few years in Asian padel will be remarkable. The best time to play was a year ago. The second best time is your next holiday.