CNPL Playoff Championships @ The Club at Northfield

Welcome to the CNPL Playoff Championships at The Club at Northfield, the Kitchener–Waterloo region's premier destination for racquet sports. Over three days in Waterloo, the Canadian National Pickleball League crowns its 2026 champion.

Seven national events, a coast-to-coast regular season and a full year of team pickleball come down to this weekend. Six teams remain. One will leave Northfield with the CNPL Championship.

On behalf of the League, we thank our athletes, team owners, officials, volunteers, partners and fans for building this season with us. To everyone joining us in Waterloo; welcome to the CNPL Playoff Championships.

Date: September 25, 26 & 27, 2026
Times: Friday from 13:00; Saturday & Sunday 10:00 – 19:00
Location: The Club at Northfield, 155 Northfield Drive West, Waterloo, ON

Overview

New this season, here is how a CNPL championship weekend works. The top six teams from the 2026 regular season qualify for the playoffs. The top two seeds earn first-round byes. Every series is a best-of-three, and every match is decided by team play.

Three days, three rounds:

1. Wild Card Friday — Seed #3 vs. Seed #6 and Seed #4 vs. Seed #5, best-of-three, winners advance.
2. Semifinal Saturday — Seed #1 and Seed #2 enter, each facing a Friday survivor in a best-of-three series.
3. Championship Sunday — The two remaining teams meet for the CNPL Championship.

Within these teams are the heart and soul of our league: Canada's top professional pickleball players, alongside the international talent that has made the CNPL one of the most competitive team leagues in the sport. From seasoned veterans to rising stars, this is the deepest field the league has ever sent into a playoff weekend.

The Field

Five teams have already clinched their place in Waterloo:

• London Smash (18–4) — the class of the 2026 regular season
• Grand River Rapids (16–6) — playing on home soil in Waterloo Region
• Toronto United Pickleball Club (16–6)
• Montreal Lions (11–11) — the defending CNPL champions
• Vancouver Owls (11–11)

The sixth and final playoff berth will be decided at the Season Finale in Burnaby, BC on August 29 & 30. Seeding for all six teams is confirmed once the Finale is complete.

Highlights

• Competition at Its Peak: The best team pickleball in the country, with a championship on the line in every series.
• Championship Sunday: The trophy is presented on court, in front of the fans who followed this season from Toronto to PEI to Vancouver.
• Community Engagement: Join fellow pickleball enthusiasts, fans and supporters in celebrating the sport's growth and the players who define it.

What to Expect

1. Best-of-three playoff series across all three days.
2. Scoring format where every rally counts a point.
3. Intense competition, camaraderie, and a champion crowned on Sunday.

Tickets

General Admission (Weekend Passes)

1. Early bird weekend passes are $20
2. Regular price goes up to $40
3. Daily tickets, are $20 on Semifinal days and $30 on Championship Sunday

Our Partners

The CNPL season is made possible by Club Med, our Official Destination Partner; Owl Sport, our Official Ball Partner; C&D Pickleball Nets, our Official Net Partner; Joola, our Official Paddle Partner; Total Sports Solutions, our Official Flooring Partner; Ontario Pickleball Academy, our Official Equipment Partner; and Game+, the Official Home of the CNPL. Our thanks as well to LADER and Wendy's for their support of the Canadian National Pickleball League and Canadian professional pickleball.

For the season schedule and match times visit the CNPL