Louisville is getting ready to serve up a national spotlight. Mayor Craig Greenberg announced Wednesday that the city will host a nationally televised professional pickleball tournament this October, paired with the debut of PickleY’all: The Louisville Pickleball Festival. He thanked Humana for making the weekend possible in his post and cast the event as a chance to show off the city just as Louisville leans into public courts and street‑fest pickleball experiments.
What the schedule shows
According to Pickleball News Asia, the Association of Pickleball Players has the Humana APP Louisville Open on its 2026 calendar in mid‑October, with some listings pointing to Oct. 15–18. The specific venue is still listed as to be announced, but Louisville is locked in on the tour’s future schedule.
Humana, courts and a local hub
Humana has already been a visible backer of pickleball programming and pro tours. The company’s foundation donated indoor pickleball courts to a West Louisville sports campus, according to Humana. The Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center, at Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center, is a regional event hub that hosts national competitions and could be in the mix as organizers lock in a site.
Local momentum and next steps
Downtown organizers tested the waters this spring with pop‑up street pickleball events, and the city has been rolling out new park courts. Local partners say those efforts helped build momentum for a bigger festival, according to the Louisville Downtown Partnership and city event listings.
The mayor’s announcement did not include ticket details, broadcast partners, or a confirmed venue. Those pieces are expected from tournament organizers and the APP in the coming weeks. For now, fans and downtown businesses are waiting on a full schedule and TV information that could bring a fall rush of visitors into the city. We will update this report as officials release more details.
