Mindanao in PH Makes Pickleball Power Move With Big-Money Tournaments in November 2026, January 2027
Pickleball in the Philippines has long been a big-city story, with Metro Manila courts getting most of the attention, followed by major cities like Cebu City and Dumaguete, among others. Now Mindanao wants in. Two provinces have announced tournaments with serious prize money, and between them they’re putting more than ₱2.5 million on the line.
First up is Sultan Kudarat, which will host a national event with a special guest. Then comes Malitbog in Bukidnon, where an inaugural Mayor’s Cup is set for early 2027.
Sultan Kudarat: A ₱1.5 Million National Event
The Provincial Government of Sultan Kudarat has announced the 1st GDPA National Pickleball Tournament: Best of the Best, running from 14 to 16 November 2026 at the Sultan Kudarat Provincial Capitol Compound. The event is part of Kalimudan Festival 2026, the province’s annual celebration.
Governor Datu Pax Ali S. Mangudadatu unveiled it on 26 October, announcing ₱1.5 million in advertised cash prizes and the special participation of Vietnamese pro Quang Duong, who will make an exhibition appearance during the three-day programme.
Competition will be held in Men’s, Women’s and Mixed Doubles, and each category carries the same prize structure:
| Placing | Prize |
|---|---|
| Champion | ₱250,000 |
| Second place | ₱150,000 |
| Third place | ₱75,000 |
| Fourth place | ₱50,000 |
Registration opened on 27 October at 6:00 p.m. and is ongoing. More details about the tournament are found at the the GDPA Facebook page. Interested players can register outright by scanning the QR code in the poster below.
Malitbog, Bukidnon: ₱1 Million Across Nine Divisions
Further north, in Bukidnon, the Local Government Unit of Malitbog under Mayor Gary D. Casiño is hosting the Malitbog 1st Mayor’s Cup Pickleball Open Tournament 2027 from 21 to 24 January 2027, in partnership with Dya Kid-on Smash Society Pickle Club.
The tournament features Novice, Low Intermediate, and High Intermediate categories, each with men’s, women’s and mixed events, for nine divisions in all. Cash prizes go to the top three finishers in each division, for a total of ₱1 million.
Novice
- Champions: ₱30,000
- First runners-up: ₱20,000
- Second runners-up: ₱13,000 (men’s and women’s), ₱14,000 (mixed)
Low Intermediate
- Champions: ₱55,000
- First runners-up: ₱30,000
- Second runners-up: ₱20,000
High Intermediate
- Champions: ₱80,000 (men’s and women’s), ₱85,000 (mixed)
- First runners-up: ₱50,000 (men’s and women’s), ₱60,000 (mixed)
- Second runners-up: ₱30,000
The entry fee is ₱2,000 per player, covering an official tournament T-shirt, a hat and lunch for three days. Players register through online forms for their skill categories, and the deadline is 31 December 2026. For questions about registration, payment or tournament details, email dyakidonsmashsociety@gmail.com.
Organisers also say sportsmanship and camaraderie are among the event’s goals, alongside the competition itself.
Why It Matters
Put the two together, and a pattern emerges. A provincial government in Sultan Kudarat is bringing in an international pro, while a municipality in Bukidnon is offering prizes of up to ₱85,000 for a champion, with divisions designed for novice and intermediate players alike. That’s a very different picture from the sport’s early days in the country, when serious events were mostly in Metro Manila and a handful of other cities.
For players across the Philippines, it also means more reasons to travel. Whether it’s a national tournament in November or a four-day Mayor’s Cup in January, Mindanao is quickly becoming a pickleball destination, and its local governments appear to be backing that with money.
