National Tennis Month 2026 takes the court with 'In May, We All Play' campaign

Over the last five years, the industry has continued to embrace and support National Tennis Month for the month of May as a way to offer tennis providers a platform they can use to grow the game in their communities. 

And this year, NTM is getting a brand refresh from the USTA with the “In May, We All Play” campaign—along with a vibrant and fun new look targeting the social side of the game. This “growing the game together” shift is designed to help inspire more people to try tennis; to reach those who expressed an interest in playing tennis (estimated to be about 25 million in the latest participation research); re-engage existing and lapsed players; and empower tennis providers to activate NTM locally.

Manteniéndolo local

An important focus for NTM has always been on the “local” aspect of promoting the game and hosting tennis experiences. For the most part, programming and events are left up to whatever local tennis providers decide is best for their own communities. 

Significantly, providers of all types can also tie their regular May programming into National Tennis Month, benefitting locally from this nationwide promotion. USTA section and local staff and volunteers, along with retailers, also have been buying into NTM, running events, exhibitions and promotions in May. In fact, a number of sections offer grants for providers that run programs for NTM (check with your USTA section). 

As interest in NTM has grown over the years, the USTA is looking to try to track what’s been going on through registering events on Serve Tennis, and through reporting on local or state National Tennis Month proclamations that have been issued. This reporting, while not mandatory, has helped to show how things have been growing from year to year, and helps to state the case for continued support for this important annual initiative. But anything you participate in as a player and fan or do as a tennis provider in May can and should tie in with National Tennis Month.

One of the most popular resources on the USTA.com/NTM site have been the “proclamation” templates that anyone can download, customize and submit online for states, communities or even schools to declare May as National Tennis Month. (A quick search of your state or local government website will usually reveal an easy, online procedure for submitting a request for a proclamation.) Having a local or state proclamation is a great way to generate publicity and interest in tennis. Last year, dozens of proclamations for National Tennis Month were issued around the country and some states had “signings” with the governor at the state capitol.

Hit to be Fit Weekend

Another major event for National Tennis Month is the annual “Hit to be Fit,” a Cardio Tennis and Red Ball Tennis event that this year has been expanded to a full weekend, May 15-17. Hit to be Fit (HTBF) will involve hundreds of facilities across the country (including the USTA National Campus in Orlando) in a nationwide celebration of the health and wellness benefits of tennis. (Find out more at USTA.com/NTM.) The event is designed to unite the tennis community with fun, high-energy activities, including Red Ball Tennis and Cardio Tennis Triples, a fast-paced, inclusive format that showcases tennis as fitness. For tennis providers, visit cardiotennisinstructor.com for more on HTBF and to register an event.

Nationwide promotion of NTM includes digital and paid media, storytelling through influencers and other social media, and email, app and push communications to consumers. These elements combine with local activations such as provider-hosted events and community experiences, cultural and heritage moments, and Serve Tennis activations to increase the visibility of tennis as a health and fitness activity and recreational priority.

Win a Trip to the US Open

More and more top businesses are stepping up to help support National Tennis Month, including Fage yogurt, which is a key US Open sponsor. This year, Fage will run a US Open sweepstakes to win a pair of tickets to their luxury suite at the Open, which includes airfare and hotel (see USTA.com/NTM for more and for official rules). The company also will launch a tennis-inspired recipe just for NTM, in addition to using its presence on social media and in the marketplace to boost awareness.

Industry Support for NTM

But that’s not all. National Tennis Month has dozens of promotional partners, including top retailers who are using NTM to help drive business and interest in tennis, such as Dick’s Sporting Goods, Tennis Warehouse, PGA Tour Superstores, Tennis Point, Tennis Express, Tennis Plaza in Florida and Game, Set, Match in Colorado and Las Vegas—all tying into NTM to help support the sport.

USTA Connect Partners such as Recycleballs and Court Reserve also are on board, as are major tennis, sports and fitness clubs including Midtown, Cliff Drysdale Tennis/Peter Burwash International, Invited, Genesis, Sportime and Lifetime. Key industry partners all supporting NTM include Tennis Industry United, Head, Wilson, Babolat, Dunlop, ITA, ATA and NRPA, along with the educational website GoNoodle.

"There really is something for everyone, so retailers, brands, providers and ultimately consumers all win,” notes Mickey Maule, Managing Director, National Industry Partnerships and Growth. "National Tennis Month is a fantastic opportunity for anyone to come out and see all the tennis community has to offer. We want people to get out and enjoy the world's healthiest sport!"