Pickleball in Bali and Indonesia: from imported curiosity to world championship host
Five years ago, almost nobody in Indonesia was playing pickleball. This September, Bali hosts the fifth edition of the World Pickleball Championship.
If you are wondering how that happened — and where to actually play if you are heading to Indonesia — this guide is for you.
The numbers, briefly
Asia has become the centre of gravity of global pickleball. A 2025 UPA-Asia / YouGov study covering 12 Asia-Pacific markets, Indonesia included, estimates 812 million people have tried the sport at least once, and 282 million play monthly. Across the region, racquet courts have multiplied four to five fold in three years.
Indonesia sits inside that wave. We do not have a clean public number for total players or courts in the country — anyone quoting one with too much precision is probably guessing — but the directional signal is clear: pickleball has gone from a niche expat curiosity to a sport with a federation, a national championship, professional players, and tournament tourism.
How it actually started
The earliest organised pickleball in Indonesia traces back to 2019, when the sport was introduced at the Faculty of Sport Sciences, Universitas Negeri Jakarta. The first national body — Persatuan Pickleball Indonesia (PPI) — was formed in 2020, and later rebranded Indonesia Pickleball Federation (IPF) to align with international naming.
Three forces did the heavy lifting after that:
The pandemic. A low-contact outdoor racquet sport with a tiny footprint was almost designed for 2020-2021.
The expat community in Bali. Returning travellers, long-stay digital nomads, and the surfing-and-yoga crowd needed a new ritual. Pickleball fit.
Operators choosing Indonesia. Most notably, Jan Papi, founder and CEO of Pickleball Global, relocated to Bali in 2022 and started running international tournaments from the island.
In March 2026, the IPF held its quadrennial assembly in Jakarta and elected Muhammad Nazaruddin as chairperson for the 2026-2031 term, succeeding Komarudin. The federation is a member of the Asia Federation of Pickleball (AFP).
Where the sport actually lives, by region
Jakarta: the densest hub
Indonesia's biggest pickleball footprint is in the capital. Notable venues include Olympus Prime Sports Center in North Jakarta (12 international-standard courts), Vata Courts in Kemang, Homeground Signature, Ancol Tennis Warehouse, Jorta Arena, and the Jakarta State University indoor facility. Open play sessions run almost every night of the week.
Bali: the international showcase
Bali is where the sport meets the world. The scene is concentrated in five micro-zones:
Canggu: indoor courts at PickleBali Clubs at Raya Sport (Bali's first dedicated premium indoor facility).
Amed (East Bali): Bali Pickleball, four jungle courts (two covered, two open-air, stadium-lit) — the most picturesque playing setting on the island, and the closest you will get to playing with the mountain wall as your backdrop.
Sanur: home of Liga.Tennis Sanur Sports Club, the venue that has hosted the World Pickleball Championship.
Ubud: jungle-set courts at Daly Pickleball and Jungle Padel.
Denpasar: INDOPADEL runs both sports.
The Bali scene is bilingual, expat-heavy, and overlaps significantly with the padel and digital-nomad communities. Skill level ranges from beginner social play to international competitors.
Lombok: the emerging frontier
Lombok is roughly where Bali was in 2021. A handful of resorts and clubs are starting to build courts; the island does not yet have a dedicated permanent club indexed in international directories. The first serious signal was the Merumatta Senggigi Pickleball Tournament in May 2026 — around 200 players, including international competitors — positioned by the West Lombok government as a sport-tourism flagship.
If you want to play pickleball in a setting that still feels uncrowded, Lombok is the answer. If you want a packed open-play schedule, stick to Bali.
Indonesian players to watch
Two names you will hear if you spend time in the local scene:
Bagoes Adam Setyobudi - top-10 men's player in Asia.
Tya Karina - Top 1 women’s player in Asia. Recently played at the PPA Tour US.
I Gusti Ngurah Alit Putra Hariwibawa ("Alit") - Bali Pickleball Club player, top-10 in Asia in men's singles and doubles.
Why September 2026 matters
This September, Bali hosts the World Pickleball Championship (WPC) for the fifth time. The event is sanctioned by the Asia Federation of Pickleball and organised by Pickleball Global. It will be held in Sanur, very likely at Liga.Tennis Sanur Sports Club.
The WPC is one of several events branded as a "world championship" in pickleball — the sport has not yet settled into a single global title — but it is the most established Asia-based event of its kind, and the only one returning to the same country for a fifth edition.
For Indonesia, hosting the WPC again in 2026 is the strongest signal yet that Bali has moved from being an exotic venue to being a default venue for international pickleball.
What this means if you are planning a trip
If you are flying in for a week or more, here is the honest version:
For dense play and coaching options, base yourself in Canggu. You will not run out of courts or partners.
For a quieter, more scenic experience, base yourself in Amed. Smaller communities, more breathing room, much better photos.
For tournament play, time your visit around September 2026 (WPC, Sanur) or June 2026 (UNJ tournament, Jakarta)
The Sabbatical Club runs 8-day pickleball retreats in Bali, split between East Bali (Amed, six nights) and Canggu (two nights) — three days of intensive coaching with a 5.0+ DUPR-rated professional, paired with yoga, snorkelling, and the parts of Bali that the courts alone cannot show you. The 2026 retreat lands the week before the WPC in Bali. Learn more →