Celebrating Excellence in Pickleball Innovation
Award Categories
Best Innovation
Best Grip
Best Ball Innovation
New Brand of the Year
Best Product under $100
Best Youth Focused Product
Best Wellness Product
Pickleball Ambassador Co.
Pickleball Product of the Year
Best Apparel
Best Training Aid
Best Apparel for Performance
Breakthrough Brand
Fan Favorite Apparel Brand
Best Senior Friendly Product
Best Eco-Friendly Product
Special Achievement
Pickleball Co. of the Year
Best Court Surface
Best Footwear for Pickleball
Best Pickleball Wearable
Best Product Design
Best Recovery Product
Best Social Media Campaign
Best Nutritional Product
Hall of Fame Product
Fan Favorite Product
Presented by Tamala Francis,
Founder & CEO at Francis & Co.
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Nomination & Voting Process
Nominations open Feb 1, 2026
1. Nomination Phase• Duration: Feb 1 – March 31, 2026
Public nominations via online form (limited to one vote per category)
Nominate Your Product (limited to one category)
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2. Shortlisting Phase• Duration: April 1 – April 15, 2026
• Conducted By:• WPC Selection Committee (industry experts, athletes, journalists)
• Criteria: innovation, performance, design, impact, popularity
• Outcome:• Top 5 finalists per category announced on April 16
• Finalists showcased on the official website and social media
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3. Public Voting Phase• Duration: May 1 – Aug 31, 2026
• Voting Platform:• Official Pickle Choice Awards website
• QR codes at WPC booths and retail partner locations
• Social media voting integration (Instagram Stories, Twitter polls)
• Voting Rules:• One vote per category per email/IP• Voters can opt into sponsor sweepstakes or giveaways• Real-time leaderboard updates (optional)
4. Judging Panel Vote• Duration: Sept 1– Sept 30, 2026
• Panel Composition:• 10–15 judges from pro pickleball, product design, sports media• Weighting:• Public vote = 60%• Panel vote = 40%• Judging Criteria:• Innovation, usability, performance, market impact, design
5. Award Ceremony• Date: Oct 17, 2026 at the World Pickleball Convention
• Format:• Live announcements• Sponsor mentions and product showcases• Award presentation and media coverage• Winners featured in post-event press kit and recap video