USA Pickleball is heading back to the “Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World” for the USA Pickleball Golden Ticket – Las Vegas, presented by Tommy Bahama.
Taking place from February 18–22, 2026, the event moves to a new iconic home at the Plaza Hotel & Casino in downtown Las Vegas. As a premier qualifying event for the 2026 USA Pickleball National Championships, this tournament offers amateur players their fastest “Path to Nationals.”
The “Golden Ticket” Advantage
In the competitive world of pickleball, a “Golden Ticket” is the ultimate prize for amateur athletes.
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Priority Registration: Gold medalists in each age and skill bracket receive a Golden Ticket, granting them guaranteed priority registration for the National Championships in November.
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Tiered Point System (TPS): Participants who do not win gold still earn maximum ranking points toward Nationals eligibility, as Golden Ticket events sit at the highest tier of the sanctioned points system.
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Official Rankings: As a sanctioned event, results are reported to DUPR, providing athletes with verified skill ratings.
Venue Spotlight: The Plaza Hotel & Casino
The Plaza has established itself as the premier pickleball destination in Las Vegas, boasting more courts than any other hotel-casino resort in the city.
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16 Tournament-Level Courts: The venue features 12 permanent rooftop courts and a dedicated championship court area that can expand to accommodate large-scale tournament play.
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Rooftop Experience: Players compete on the Plaza’s fifth-floor pool deck, offering panoramic views of the Las Vegas valley and the historic Fremont Street District.
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Capacity: The event expects to host over 500 athletes across five days of high-stakes competition.
“This venue allows us to deliver an extraordinary athlete experience, from professional operations to the energy that makes Las Vegas such a special host city,” said Jose Moreno, Chief Marketing Officer of USA Pickleball.
Tournament Registration & Logistics
Registration for the Las Vegas Golden Ticket is currently open, with several key deadlines and costs for participants:
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Registration Deadline: February 8, 2026.
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Cost: $95 Registration Fee + $45 Event Fee (Amateurs).
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Skill Levels: Open to players in skill brackets 3.0 to 5.0, with age divisions ranging from 19 to 80+.
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Exclusive Rates: A special hotel rate is available at the Plaza using group code SUSAPGT for bookings made by February 2nd.
For more information on Golden Ticket tournaments and the Path to Nationals, visit https://usapickleball.org/goldenticket/.
