Padelness, a project conceived and created by Eventi in Mostra Srl, with the patronage and support of the Municipality of Naples which has included Padelness among the official events of Naples European Capital of Sport 2026, was illustrated at Palazzo San Giacomo, in the Sala Giunta, by the Mayor Gaetano Manfredi, by the municipal councilor for Tourism and Productive Activities Teresa Armato, by the municipal councilor for Sport and Equal Opportunities Emanuela Ferrante, by the Mostra d’Oltremare delegate councilor Maria Caputo, by the CONI Campania president Sergio Roncelli, by the director Trenitalia High Speed Business Pietro Diamantini, from the creators and organizers of Padelness Marianna Perruno and Massimiliano Esofaco.
Padelness it will occupy pavilions 4, 5 and 6 of the Mostra d’Oltremare and, in other spaces, relaxation and entertainment areas will be set up.
In pavilion 4, dedicated to fitness and wellness, a musical fitness stage and a stage will be set up and those arriving at Padelness will be able to choose to train and take lessons with some of the most important national and international presenters.
In pavilion 5, dedicated to BtoC, two padel courts will be set up, equipped with stands to watch matches, tournaments and exhibitions. Padel tournaments between former Serie A footballers will take place in the central court; amateur tournaments, such as that of ipadelovers, a well-known local reality of padel enthusiasts; exhibition matches between VIPs and padel champions and the semi-finals and finals of the men’s and women’s Open of all categories. The quarter-finals of the men’s and women’s Open of all categories will take place on the other field.
In pavilion 6, dedicated to BtoB, there will be three padel courts. One camp will be entirely dedicated to lessons and clinics with Italian, Spanish and Argentine masters. The clinics will last 60 minutes each (for a maximum of 4 participants) and will have the uniqueness of being made up of the presence of a personal trainer, a padel master, who will carry out the central part of the lesson on the field and an operator specialized in pilates/posturology for the post-workout stretching phase.
The other two fields will be entirely dedicated to the quarter-finals of the men’s and women’s Open of the third, fourth and fifth categories, as well as the performances of the athletes belonging to the category of people with disabilities, who will participate with the Padel Mixto association.
Mayor Gaetano Manfredi: “I confess that I have never played Padel, but I have many friends who play so never say never. It is a very popular sport and also in Naples there is an important movement for which our city also needs infrastructure for Padel and we are working to make this happen. We have excellent relations with the Federation and this fair which will come to Naples will be an even greater opportunity to engage the city’s administration in this direction”.
Sports Councilor Emanuela Ferrante: “Finally Naples is making itself known and recognized also for Padel. In Naples, as throughout Italy, this sport has many fans. We are working first of all to bring a federal center to Naples but also to create new structures in the city thanks to PNRR funds. We already have one at Palavesuvio in Ponticelli but the Piscinola sports complex will also have Padel courts. In short, we are investing a lot as an Administration because we believe it is a very important sport and it is right that it has the right recognition also within the framework of Naples Capital of Sport 2026”.
Councilor for Tourism and Productive Activities Teresa Armato: “Whenever a major sporting event takes place in our city, I am thinking for example of the Giro d’Italia, the increase in tourist flow is notable and therefore hosting such an important event like Padelness we are convinced that it can also be a great tourist attractor and it is It is important that Mostra d’Oltremare was chosen as the place to host it because the identity of the Mostra must increasingly be that of a “collector” of sporting and non-sporting events and large trade fairs”.
Massimiliano Esophago, organizer of the event: “We will try to present this sport not only from the recreational and recreational point of view, which is known to all, but also from the point of view of competition and teaching. Five padel courts will be set up in the pavilions of the Mostra d’Oltremare and the central court will be equipped with stands. There will be match-performances by artists, journalists and former footballers. Cash prizes are provided for the men’s and women’s first and second category tournaments. Important players both nationally and internationally have already guaranteed their presence”.
