Kuwait’s upgraded Major starts with qualifying October 23

Kuwait is next on Premier Padel's schedule, but this year's stop carries a bigger designation and an earlier start than a quick glance at the season calendar suggests. The upgraded Major concludes October 31; qualifying begins October 23, with the first men's main-draw matches scheduled for October 25.

It arrives immediately after the European run that ended with Coello–Tapia and Sánchez–Ustero winning in Milan. For the leading pairs, the next challenge is another change of setting before national-team competition in Doha.

Why Kuwait is a Major this year

Premier Padel and FIP announced the upgrade on May 7, following the postponement of the Qatar Major and operational disruption caused by the war in Iran. Kuwait moved from P1 to Major and Pretoria from P2 to P1, with both changes explicitly limited to the 2026 season.

The organizers said the adjustments were intended to rebalance ranking points and prize money. Kuwait's designation should therefore be read as a specific calendar decision, rather than evidence that the stop has secured permanent Major status.

The dates that matter

The official tournament information lists an indoor event at The Arena Kuwait, with four competition courts and €1,044,849 in prize money. That figure is the event's listed purse, not the award to a winning pair.

The same page's detailed schedule starts before its October 26–31 headline dates:

• Men's qualifying: October 23–24; women's qualifying: October 24–25.
• Men's first round: October 25; women's first round: October 26.
• Round of 16: October 28; quarterfinals: October 29.
• Semifinals: October 30; finals: October 31.

The main draws are listed at 48 men's pairs and 40 women's pairs. With different draw sizes and opening days, the two competitions do not follow identical routes into the last 16. Fans making plans should use the detailed order of play as it is updated.

A ranking opportunity, not an automatic ranking gain

FIP's 2026 ranking framework counts each player's best 22 results from Premier Padel and the CUPRA FIP Tour. The rolling ranking also involves points expiring over a 52-week cycle; the season Race uses results earned in 2026.

That distinction matters late in the year. An additional tournament score does not necessarily increase a player's total by the full amount earned if another counting result is displaced. The ranking and the Race can therefore tell different stories even after the same match.