What’s the Score?
Toronto, Canada – The Canadian National Pickleball League (CNPL) has officially opened registration for its 2026 Draft, with the registration window running from November 15, 2025, through January 19, 2026. This draft is the primary route for aspiring players—including returning veterans and rising stars—to secure one of the 27 remaining roster spots across the league’s eight teams for the CNPL’s fourth season. Prospective players are strongly urged to register early to gain a “HUGE advantage” in team evaluation.
Hit it deeper!
The 2026 CNPL season, which features eight city-based teams including the Toronto United, Vancouver Owls, and Montreal Lions, will span a seven-event regular season from May through August, culminating in the Championship Finals in late September. Teams will fill 27 out of 48 total roster spots on Draft Day, January 27, 2026, as many core players have already been retained through re-signings. For instance, Toronto United secured Matt Kawamoto, Max Wild, and Jada Bui, while Vancouver Owls retained Anna Dyachenko and Armaan Jiwa Mawji.
The draft order is determined by 2025 season results, with teams that retained fewer players receiving earlier picks. The Vancouver Owls, Northern Lights, and Prairie Pronghorns are positioned to select earlier, each holding four draft picks, compared to the five other teams which hold three picks each. The league operates with a structured salary scale based on the draft round, and every drafted player receives travel support throughout the season.
Eligibility for the 2026 Draft is rigorously defined and includes several pathways:
- Having been a previous CNPL roster player (in 2025).
- Holding a contract in a recognized league such as Major League Pickleball (MLP) or National Pickleball League (NPL Australia) in 2025.
- Competing in an official Dink Minor League Canada qualifier event at the DUPR 20 or DUPR 22 level in 2025.
- Competing in a CNPL team-hosted qualifier event (like the CNPL Showdowns in March 2025).
- In rare cases, top international players may receive an Elite player exemption, though team owners assess this on an “extremely limited ad hoc basis”.
International players must have established their visa status prior to September 1, 2025, to qualify as Canadian for the 2026 season. Teams are limited to carrying one international player plus one temporary visa or work permit holder. For those needing to qualify, multiple Dink Minor League Canada events are scheduled through December and January.
The CNPL emphasizes the competitive stakes, noting that the draft is the gateway to competing alongside proven stars like Jessica Kawamoto, Joel Pelletier, and LeBron James (Note: The source mentions Jessica Kawamoto, Joel Pelletier, Ryan Torresin, Jada Bui, and Ernesto Fajardo. LeBron James is mentioned in a separate source regarding a Lakers internal tournament). Players are highly encouraged to register before the January 19 deadline, as registering earlier allows teams to review film and match results sooner, maximizing their visibility to front offices building their draft boards.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The CNPL 2026 Draft process highlights the increasing professionalization and systematization of Canadian pickleball. By structuring entry based on established rankings (DUPR 20/22) and affiliation with recognized leagues, the CNPL is ensuring a high-quality competitive product. The draft’s tiered system, balancing retained core players with new talent acquisition, emphasizes strategic team building and rewards bottom-ranked teams with better picks, fostering long-term league competitiveness. For aspiring pros, the explicit instruction that early registration provides a “HUGE advantage” confirms that professional pickleball leagues are now valuing scouting, data evaluation, and pre-draft preparation as much as on-court performance itself.
Chris Beaumont is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of World Pickleball Magazine. Chris follows the global game closely, reporting on the latest news, developments, stories and tournaments from all five continents. He also hosts the World Pickleball Podcast, interviewing people at all levels of pickleball. Chris is also an avid player, currently struggling to make the breakthrough from 4.0 to 4.5.