Reigning Columbus Sliders to Host MLP Regular-Season Event May 28-31

Pickle & Chill in Columbus will host Major League Pickleball’s second regular-season stop from May 28–31, 2026, with hometown Columbus Sliders returning to defend the crown they won in 2025 at the venue’s 22-court indoor/outdoor facility. The four-day, spectator-facing professional coed team competition is listed on MLP’s 2026 schedule as Regular Season #2 and is slated to feature Premier Level teams battling for standings points.

The 2026 MLP season is condensed to 14 weeks, with play on weekends from May 22 through August 30 and the July 4 weekend left dark. The season opens with Regular Season #1 in Dallas at Pickler Universe, May 22–25, before teams roll into Columbus for the May 28–31 stop; subsequent regular-season stops include St. Louis, Austin, St. Petersburg, and New York, with a mid-season tournament scheduled July 8–12 in Grand Rapids at Belknap Park.

Pickle & Chill’s announcement frames the May event as the facility’s third time hosting MLP, after an inaugural October 2022 stop described as “in front of a sold-out crowd” and a May 1–4, 2025 regular-season event. Pickle & Chill reported that “Last year, Pickle & Chill welcomed over 2,500 spectators to our 22-court indoor/outdoor facility to watch elite team pickleball.” Amy Bokker, Operating Partner at Pickle & Chill, said, “We are incredibly proud to welcome Major League Pickleball back to Columbus, especially as the home of the reigning 2025 MLP Champions. Hosting this event at Pickle & Chill reflects our commitment to growing the sport, celebrating championship-level competition, and delivering a first-class experience for fans, partners, and our community.”

MLP’s Columbus event page lists 11 participating teams for the stop: Atlanta Bouncers, California Black Bears, Carolina Hogs, Chicago Slice, Columbus Sliders, Florida Smash, Las Vegas Night Owls, Miami Pickleball Club, New Jersey 5s, Palm Beach Royals, and St. Louis Shock. The event copy pitches the weekend as “preeminent, professional pickleball competition between the world’s top coed pickleball teams” and sets a local narrative around Columbus’s title defense.

Pickle & Chill and MLP both say a Minor League Pickleball program will run alongside the pros in Columbus; MLP’s event page states, “Minor League Pickleball (MiLP) is coming to Columbus! Registration for this amateur team-format tournament played side-by-side with the pros is COMING SOON. Learn more about the MiLP structure and National Championship qualification.” A separate registration page for amateur play at the venue, however, describes an amateur weekend event that “will follow a PPA-style bracket format … and will not be a team-based event,” and notes amateur matches will be played alongside Championship Court. Those two descriptions appear in the supplied materials and describe different amateur formats; final MiLP and amateur registration details are listed as coming soon.

Ticketing and volunteer information are referenced on the MLP Columbus page with calls to action labeled “Purchase TicketsVolunteerWatch,” and Pickle & Chill’s venue listing notes that parking fees may apply without giving a price. For media or sponsorship inquiries contact Emily King, Marketing & Communications Coordinator at Pickle & Chill, at eking@pickleandchill.com; general event email is contactpb@pickleandchill.com and the venue lists a text-only line at 833-360-7116. The Pickle & Chill address is 880 W Henderson Rd, Columbus, OH 43214.

MLP’s promotional copy frames the weekend as part of a larger chase for the season finale, noting, “Fueled by their Cinderella Run to the 2025 title, Columbus looks to maximize their standings points on their journey back to the DoorDash MLP Finals.” Expect a charged atmosphere at Pickle & Chill as teams collect points through May 28–31 on the road to the DoorDash MLP Finals.