The short answer: PlanOut, an outdoor adventure ticketing platform, will stage the PlanOut Pickleball Open in Dumaguete, Philippines, from 1 to 3 May 2026 with a ₱1 million prize pool. The event is designed to boost sports tourism in the Negros Oriental capital. Pre-registration is open, with full registration launching on 11 April via the PlanOut app; the venue is still to be confirmed.
What’s the score?
The stakes for pickleball in the Philippines have just been raised dramatically. PlanOut, an outdoor adventure ticketing platform, has announced the PlanOut Pickleball Open, set to take place in Dumaguete from May 1 to May 3, 2026. The headline grabber is the prize pool: ₱1 million (Philippine Pesos), a figure that instantly categorises the event as a major regional competition.
Hit it deeper!
The tournament is a strategic play to boost sports tourism in Dumaguete, the capital of Negros Oriental known as the “City of Gentle People.” Organisers are banking on the massive prize purse to attract visitors for multi-day stays, allowing them to explore the city’s famous seaside boulevard and academic culture. Pre-registration has already opened, with full registration launching on April 11 via the PlanOut app. This launch coincides with the release of “PlanOut V2,” an upgraded event-technology platform, linking the growth of the sport directly to the tech company’s expansion.
While the specific venue is yet to be confirmed, the event represents a significant investment in the Central Visayas region. By integrating on-ground registration with a mobile tech launch, PlanOut is using the tournament as a proof-of-concept for its platform’s ability to streamline community sports operations.
The World Pickleball verdict
A million-peso prize pool in a regional Philippine city is a massive statement. It signals that commercial sponsors in Southeast Asia are beginning to see serious ROI in pickleball. This tournament model—using a marquee sports event to drive tourism and launch a tech product—is sophisticated. It moves pickleball in the Philippines from a recreational pastime to an economic driver. If successful, Dumaguete could establish itself as a destination stop on the Asian tour, drawing players who are now willing to travel for significant payouts.
