Da Nang certainly knows how to put on a show, and the opening of the Heineken Pickleball World Cup 2026 was no exception. The Vietnamese city welcomed more than 5,000 athletes from 65 countries and territories on Wednesday evening, kicking off a week-long celebration that brought together sport, culture and entertainment.
Key Highlights from the Opening Ceremony:
- 5,000+ athletes from 65 countries and territories are competing in Da Nang
- More than 1,000 performers took part in the opening ceremony
- The event was recognised by Guinness World Records as the largest pickleball World Cup
- The tournament combines sport, culture, tourism and international exchange
Da Nang Kicks Off Pickleball World Cup in Style
The Tien Son Sports Arena provided the stage, with a parade of athletes setting the tone for the event before more than 1,000 officers, soldiers and students from the People’s Police Academy delivered a spectacular drum performance titled The Road to Glory. The performance brought a distinctly Vietnamese flavour to the opening ceremony while matching the energy of a major international sporting event.
Pickleball brings the world together
Nguyen Manh Hung, chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee, highlighted the broader meaning of bringing so many people together. He pointed to sport as a way of breaking down geographical and language barriers, allowing people from different backgrounds and cultures to connect through competition.
That message was particularly fitting for an event bringing athletes from across the globe to one city. The Guinness World Records team was also present, recognising the Heineken Pickleball World Cup as the largest event of its kind, with athletes registered from 78 countries and territories.
More Than Just a Pickleball Tournament
The action on court is only part of what Da Nang has planned. The week also features cultural exchanges, training programmes and a World Market, giving athletes and visitors opportunities to experience different communities and cultures beyond the competition itself.
The organisers are positioning pickleball as more than a sport, using the growing global game as a bridge between athletes, businesses and communities. For Da Nang, that wider approach also ties into its ambitions to grow its event economy, attract more tourists and strengthen people-to-people connections.
Da Nang Eyes a Bigger Role on The Global Stage
The city sees major international sporting events as an opportunity to establish itself as a regional hub connecting sports, culture, technology, knowledge and business. With thousands of athletes marching into the arena, drums echoing through the venue and visitors exploring the World Market, the opening ceremony captured that ambition perfectly.
The Heineken Pickleball World Cup 2026 runs from August 30 to September 6, putting Da Nang firmly in the spotlight as pickleball continues its rapid rise onto the global sporting stage.
