A new world stage for padel: Hexagon World Series to crown teams, unify the calendar and guarantee equal pay

Team padel goes global — and aims to fix a fractured calendar

The Hexagon World Series is official. Three organizers — the Hexagon Cup, 54 and the International Padel Federation (FIP) — announced a new international circuit that will stage team-based, mixed-gender events on a single world calendar. The pitch is simple: give national and club teams a proper world stage, run a tidy schedule so events don’t clash, and pay men and women the same.

For fans that means more national pride matches and clearer scheduling. For players it promises predictable dates and pay parity. For cities and broadcasters it offers a packaged product that organizers say will be easier to sell and promote. The move sets out to be more than another tournament series — it wants to change how professional padel is organized around the world.

How we got here: rival tours, rapid growth and a push to unify

Padel has been one of the fastest-growing sports in recent years. That growth came with growing pains: different organizers built their own tours, calendars overlapped, and national federations and players sometimes had to choose between events. The Hexagon Cup and another operator known as 54 ran successful team or event concepts, while the FIP ran the Cupra FIP Tour and worked alongside Premier Padel in other areas of the pro game.

That mix meant fans saw lots of high-quality padel but faced a confusing schedule. Players juggled obligations and promoters competed for dates and talent. The Hexagon World Series is presented as an olive branch: a single, coordinated calendar that folds existing circuits into a unified structure while keeping team competition at its heart. Where tour operators once pushed separate brands and prize structures, the new circuit aims to set one standard for team events worldwide.

How the series will work: mixed teams, global stops and equal prizes

The Hexagon World Series will focus on mixed-gender teams representing clubs, regions or nations. Events will pair men and women in team matchups, mixing singles and doubles formats to keep the action varied. Organizers say the series will run multiple events across different continents and culminate in a season-ending final where the top teams fight for the title.

One headline policy is equal prize money for men and women at every event. That has been a central promise and a selling point for sponsors and federations sensitive to both image and fairness. Organizers have also hinted at a streamlined ruleset for team matches and clearer eligibility rules so players, federations and broadcasters know who is available for each fixture.

Business impact: a new product for sponsors and cities, plus some tricky logistics

Commercially, a unified team circuit is an attractive product. Sponsors get a stable, global platform tied to a single calendar and a strong equality message. Broadcasters can schedule recurring fixtures and build narratives around teams and rivalries. Host cities stand to benefit from predictable tourism and event revenue, and national federations can use big team matches to grow local interest in the sport.

That said, delivering a true global tour is not simple. Aligning dates across continents, securing stadiums, and coordinating travel and accommodations for mixed teams will be logistically intense. Local promoters who currently run standalone events may resist losing autonomy or revenue. TV rights and streaming deals will take time to negotiate, and some broadcasters might want exclusive control in key markets — a potential source of friction with the idea of a single, open calendar.

How the paddlers, federations and rival operators are likely to react

Players and national federations are expected to welcome clearer scheduling and equal pay. For many athletes, the promise of a reliable calendar that respects their time and offers consistent compensation is an immediate incentive. Young players could also see a clearer path into high-profile team events.

Not everyone will be instantly enthusiastic. Existing tour operators, especially those that built their brands independently, may see the new series as competition or as an unwelcome consolidation. Sponsors tied to current tours will evaluate whether the unified product raises or dilutes their value. The FIP’s involvement may smooth federation buy-in, but tensions could rise around event control, revenue sharing and how legacy events fit into the new structure.

What comes next and what to watch for

In the near term, look for the Hexagon World Series to publish its full event calendar, announce major broadcast partners, and reveal headline sponsors. Those moves will show whether the series can win the commercial backing it needs and how quickly it can replace competing dates in the market.

Longer term, the big question is whether this team-first model becomes a permanent pillar of professional padel or remains a parallel offering alongside individual tours. If the Hexagon World Series can deliver stable revenue, strong TV reach and consistent crowds, it will shift how the sport is packaged globally. If it struggles to align promoters and broadcasters, it risks becoming another brand in an already crowded landscape.

Either way, the launch marks a clear step toward order in a sport that has grown faster than its calendar. For fans and players, that prospect alone is worth watching.

Sources

• prnewswire.com