Hexagon Cup 2026: Madrid's Spectacle Reaches its Peak - Here's What's Happening

The third edition of the Generali Hexagon Cup kicked off on January 28 at Madrid's Caja Mágica and has already delivered some of the most electrifying padel tennis matches of the season. Running through February 1, the tournament continues to redefine what a modern padel championship looks like—blending world-class sport, celebrity ownership, and entertainment on an unprecedented scale.

A Landmark FIP Recognition

The biggest headline of this 2026 edition is the tournament's official integration into the International Padel Federation (FIP) calendar. For the first time since its inception, the Hexagon Cup is now recognized as an elite team circuit under formal FIP governance. This isn't merely cosmetic—it represents institutional validation for a format that critics once dismissed as purely promotional. While Hexagon Cup victories don't award ranking points, the FIP oversight brings rigorous sporting credibility and aligns the tournament with the standards of Premier Padel, strengthening the entire professional padel ecosystem.

The Format: Where Spectacle Meets Substance

Eight franchises compete in a round-robin format across three categories: men's, women's, and Next Gen (rising young talents). Each match awards two points for men's and women's victories and one point for Next Gen, incentivizing competitive balance. Matches are best-of-two sets with a tiebreak-to-ten if needed—a deliberately compressed format that maintains intensity without fatigue-induced errors.​

The two highest-ranked teams advance to the Sunday final (February 1), while third and fourth place contest a playoff. This competitive structure ensures every match carries weight, a contrast to traditional exhibitions.​

Star Power: Celebrity Franchises and Elite Players

The tournament's unique asset is its franchise model led by global icons. Robert Lewandowski, Eva Longoria, Andy Murray, Sergio "Kun" Agüero, Pierre Gasly, and the Rafa Nadal Academy each own teams, attracting investment and a genuinely new audience beyond traditional padel fans.​​

The player roster reads like an all-star cast:

• Arturo Coello made his Hexagon Cup debut on Day 2 (January 29) with a victory alongside Edu Alonso for Team BELLA, immediately contributing two points.​

• Federico Chingotto has emerged as a standout performer—attendees note his smashes have noticeably improved, combining devastating power with precision. He's been identified as perhaps the tournament's breakout personality.​

• Agustín Tapia and Alejandro Galán represent the elite establishment, though Tapia has had inconsistent form thus far.​

  
  

Early match highlights have showcased Chingotto's explosive play and the fierce dynamics between different generational cohorts.​​

adidas Commitment: Official Racket Partnership

adidas serves as the official racket partner, supplying the Arrow Hit Hexagon Cup model—a diamond-shaped racket engineered for aggressive, offensive play. The racket's attack-oriented balance and power-maximizing tech align perfectly with the tournament's high-octane style.​

Beyond equipment, adidas has activated an extensive fan experience zone featuring:​

• Giveaway with Martita Ortega: Win a courtside experience watching matches from the team bench

• adidas Padel Bingo: Nightly fan engagement with prizes

• Play Against Delantero 09: A fan challenge on Sunday (February 1) at 14:00 where winning a single point earns a prize

• Racket Unlock Challenge: Scan a QR code and enter a combination to unlock a complimentary adidas racket

  
  

This integrated sponsorship demonstrates how premium brands now embed themselves in padel's ecosystem, not just as logos but as experience architects.

Broadcast Reach: Global Audience

The tournament enjoys unprecedented international coverage. In Spain alone, broadcasts run across RTVE Play, Teledeporte, Gol Stadium, Marca, and the official Hexagon Cup YouTube channel, with daily matches. Globally, ESPN covers North America; beIN Sports serves MENA, Turkey, and multiple regions; and dedicated platforms cover Asia-Pacific.​

This distribution underscores padel's acceleration toward mainstream sports visibility—a trajectory that benefits every club, coach, and facility operator working within the ecosystem.

Why This Matters for the Padel Community

The Hexagon Cup's success signals three critical trends:

1. Parity as Competitive Principle: Equal prize money across men's and women's categories sets a standard increasingly expected in professional sports.​

2. Youth Development as Spectacle: The Next Gen category isn't a consolation bracket—it's a headline feature. Young players like David Gala and Pol Hernández compete alongside elite professionals, legitimizing talent pipelines.​

3. Entertainment-First Design: Super tiebreaks, compressed formats, and fan-access activations prioritize viewer engagement. This isn't a byproduct; it's architectural. Every facility operator and coach should take note: the future of padel expects entertainment value alongside competitive depth.

   
   

The Road to Sunday

As the tournament progresses through Day 3 (January 30) and into the final weekend, the standings will crystallize. Early indicators suggest Chingotto's form is a wild card; Coello's debut injection adds volatility; and the established elite (Tapia, Galán) will battle for positioning.

The final on Sunday will determine not just a champion but also the template for how padel's most ambitious tournaments should operate.

Watch the final and semifinals live on Hexagon Cup YouTube or your regional broadcaster. Follow tournament updates on Instagram @hexagon_cup.