Key Takeaways
- Reggio Calabria mayor Francesco Cannizzaro revealed that “after tennis, padel is arriving as well”.
- According to FIP president Luigi Carraro, “from 2027 Reggio Calabria will have the third major international padel tournament” together with Rome and Milan.
- Carraro underlined that, for the city and the region, the event “will not be for just one year, but something we want to do on a continuous basis”.
Italy adds a third major stop to the international padel calendar
From 2027, Reggio Calabria will establish itself as a permanent stop on the international padel circuit. Mayor Francesco Cannizzaro and International Padel Federation president Luigi Carraro confirmed that the southern Italian city will stage a recurring elite-level tournament, placing it alongside Rome and Milan.
The news came shortly after the 2026 Next Gen ATP Finals were unveiled for the PalaCalafiore, where the event will run from December 9 to 13. It represents another expansion of the city’s sports program.
Southern Italy expands its sporting ambitions beyond tennis
Linking the initiative to Reggio Calabria’s expanding sporting commitments, Mayor Cannizzaro unveiled the project together with Carraro.
Cannizzaro declared, “And from Reggio Calabria, that is not all, because after tennis, padel is arriving as well,”
While presenting the head of the governing body, the mayor continued: “I am here with my friend Luigi Carraro, president of the International Padel Federation, who perhaps has something to tell you,”
Joining Rome and Milan as a permanent host
Carraro credited the area’s administrators and their leadership with turning the project into reality.
Carraro remarked, “Thanks to the enthusiasm and the overwhelming emotion conveyed by your mayor Cannizzaro,” “We would really love to have mayors like him in every city.”
The federation’s specific competitive plans for the region were then detailed by Carraro.
Carraro confirmed: “We can say that starting next year, in addition to the tournaments you already know, the Rome Major and the Milan P1, from 2027 Reggio Calabria will have the third major international padel tournament,”
The FIP president also emphasized that the planned tournament will be a lasting fixture rather than a short-term solution.
Carraro explained: “It will not be for just one year, but something we want to do on a continuous basis, because a city like Reggio Calabria, a region like Calabria and also President Occhiuto deserve a great international event,”
To close the announcement, he underscored Reggio Calabria’s place on the circuit.
Carraro said, “So we will have Rome, we have Milan and we will have Reggio Calabria,” “After tennis, now padel.”
The official tournament name, precise venue and competition dates are due to be announced later.
