The path to the 2026 CNPL Draft is heating up, and we’re watching history unfold across the country.
Halifax Makes History
Last week, something special happened in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia.
On December 6th, Crosscourt Pickleball hosted the first-ever CNPL qualifier event in the Maritimes, a landmark moment for Atlantic Canadian pickleball. The Dink Minor League event at their Cole Harbour location (1350 Cole Harbour Rd, Dartmouth) brought together competitors from across the region, and beyond, all chasing their shot at the 2026 draft.
Players competed in the DUPR 22 division, and for the first time, athletes from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland had a local pathway to professional pickleball in their own neck of the woods.
This is what growth looks like. The CNPL is expanding its reach, and the Maritimes are now officially part of the conversation.
This Weekend: London Qualifier
If you’re in Southwestern Ontario, this weekend is your moment.
On Saturday, December 13th, Smash Pickleball London (1040 Wharncliffe Rd S) is hosting a Dink Minor League & CNPL Showdown qualifier event. This is the final scheduled Ontario-based qualifier before the draft registration deadline on January 19th.
This is your chance. If you’ve been training, grinding, and thinking “I could compete at that level,” this weekend is when you prove it.
Register for the London qualifier here.
The Draft Is Coming
Registration for the 2026 CNPL Draft closes on January 19, 2026. Draft day is January 27th.
If you’re serious about going pro, here’s what you need to do:
- Compete in a qualifier event (or have competed in one already in 2025).
- Register for the draft before January 19th.
- Wait for draft day on January 27th.
Remaining qualifier events:
- December 13 – London, ON (Smash Pickleball)
- December 13 – Kirkland, QC (Legend Pickleball)
- January 10 – Newmarket, ON (Northern Lights Ontario Pickleball)
After that, the window closes. If you’re not registered by January 19th, you’re not getting drafted.
This Is Your Season
MiLP and DUPR have made the pathway to professional pickleball more accessible than ever. Thank you to Crosscourt Pickleball for everything you’ve done to support the league and grow the game. Thank you to every venue, organizer, and partner making these qualifier events possible across the country.
And to the players: this is your shot. Don’t let it pass you by.
See you on draft day.
Register for the 2026 CNPL Draft: Draft Registration
London Qualifier (Dec 13): Register Here
Kirkland Qualifier (Dec 13): Register Here
Draft Day: January 27, 2026