The third edition of the Hexagon Cup gets underway on January 28 2026, and fans are anticipating that this years tournament is going to be the biggest, and best we have seen yet. One of the key aspects this year is that 18 of the top 20 padel players in the world will be participating (8/10 from the men’s side and 10/10 on the womens side), as well as some exciting Next-Gen talent being given the chance to perform on the world’s biggest stage. The tournament runs from 28 January – 1 February 2026, and the eight teams that are competing will contain three pairs: A male pairing, a female pairing and a Next Gen pairing.

What is the Hexagon Cup, and where is it being held?

The Hexagon Cup is a tournament that is held annually that allows male and female players to compete in teams, including next-gen players being represented in each team (players who are of a young age or rising up in the sport). The tournament has taken place previously in 2024 and 2025, but this year, it’s levelling up. The event this year will take place at Cája Mágica, Madrid, Spain which is a multi-sports complex that contains multiple courts and excellent infrastructure for fans, with the main court (Estadio Manolo Santana) hosting up to 12,500 spectators. The translation of “Caja Mágica” is “magic box” and the teams will certainly be hoping to bring some magical moments to fans across the tournament. The event will run for five days, with the Finals Day set to be on Sunday 1st Feburary 2026.

The Hexagon Cup has rapidly become one of the most intriguing events on the global racquet-sports calendar. It is not an individual competition, instead, eight teams will compete against each other to take the crown across the five days of action. The event is unique in the sense of blending high-level sport with entertainment, pairing top padel players with celebrity team owners and fan engagement activities in a way that is designed to capture a broader audience than traditional Premier Padel tournaments. This years edition has been rebranded by global insurance company GENERALI, and the anticipation is that it will project to an even greater scale and spectacle than ever before.

What is the format of this tournament, and who can we expect to see playing?

It is key to note that all matches are best of three sets, and will incorporate Golden Point, which is a fast, one-point deuce decision system. Also, Super Tiebreaks (first to ten points, rather than seven in a traditional tiebreak) will be used if a match has reached 1 set each, to decide the eventual winner.

We can expect to see superstars of men’s padel such as Agustin Tapia, Arturo Coello, Fede Chingotto and Franco Stupaczuk put on a show for the crowd as well as many others, and from the female side, players such as Bea Gonzalez, Claudia Fernandez, Marta Ortega and Gemma Triay will be present among many others to put on a spectacle. Furthermore, one of the key features of the tournament is the Next-Gen pairings, allowing these players to showcase their skills to the world on a huge stage.

Which teams are competing – and who owns them? Why is the Hexagon Cup appealing to padel fans?

The competition will be set out with eight teams competing, and within each team, there will be three pairs (six players total). A male pair, a female pair and a ‘next-gen’ pair will make up the six players on each team.

The teams set to compete at the 2026 tournament are: KRU Padel (owned by former footballer Sergio Aguero, they are also the defending champions), Rafa Nadal Academy Team (owned by former tennis star Rafael Nadal + family), Eleven Eleven Team (owned by Eva Longoria, American actress and film producer), Team Bella Puerto Rico (owned by Maria Esteve and Carlos Lopez-Lay), RL9 Team (owned by current FC Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski), X Padel Team (owned by F1 driver Pierre Gasly and Loic Fery), ADvantage Team (owned by former male British number one tennis star Andy Murray and current boxing great Anthony Joshua) and Hexagon Team (a fan-selected team which contains players who have been voted in by a wider audience).

In regard to which players are playing, it has been confirmed that 8 of the top 10 male players on the planet will be playing in the tournament, while all 10 of the top 10 female players are also competing. This means 18 out of the top 20 padel players in the world (90%!) will be competing, ensuring an amazing level will be shown to the fans in attendance. This is also significant as the set up is perfect for padel fans all over the world to pay a closer eye to this event, but also events throughout the rest of the year, and beyond, in terms of keeping an eye out for their favourite players etc.!

In regards to being able to watch the tournament, DAZN is the official global broadcaster for the Hexagon Cup and will show all matches live and on demand through its platform. This means viewers in various countries can watch the tournament via the DAZN app or website on connected TVs, mobile devices, tablets and more.

The tournament will include interactive zones for fans to engage, food stalls, music, and other social experiences, as well as a Hexagon Challenge for fans aged 18+ to enter. The challenge is designed to bring amateur players into the spotlight and connect spectators with the professional padel environment in a new and interactive way, and gives fans a chance to win €5,000.

Rather than playing full matches, competitors face off in one-point duels, with each rally deciding whether a pair advances or is eliminated, making the games fun but very tense. Only spectators with a ticket for the final day can participate. This will create a unique crossover moment where fans inside the arena become participants in the competition itself. The Hexagon Challenge elevates the fan experience beyond spectating by offering thrilling, fast-paced padel action rooted in inclusivity, excitement and competitive spirit — perfectly reflecting the broader Hexagon Cup ethos of “For the Fans. For the Players. For the Game.”

If you are intrigued to learn more about the 2026 GENERALI Hexagon Cup in Madrid, head to the website: https://www.hexagoncup.com/en/

Furthermore, make sure you are following proper.padel on Instagram and proper.padel on TikTok for feature pieces throughout the tournament!