March truly marks the start of the sporting season for many boules players. Although it is traditionally less busy than the summer, March 2026 will see three major pétanque competitions. On the agenda: the PPF grand final, a legendary mixed triples tournament, and the first departmental qualifying championships.
So, check out the calendar of petanque competitions in March 2026 that are not to be missed on FAC!
What are the petanque competitions in March 2026?
In March 2026, three major boules events will dominate the petanque calendar :
- 7–8 March 2026 : Grande Finale Passion Pétanque Française in Sin-le-Noble
- 14–15 March 2026 : National de Grasse (mixed triples)
- 28–29 March 2026 : Departmental Championships (women’s doubles and men’s singles)
These boules tournaments cover all the major formats: triples, doubles and singles, with very different sporting challenges.
7–8 March 2026: French Petanque Grand Final in Sin-le-Noble
The first major event of March will be the PPF 2026 Grand Final, which will take place at the Boulodrome du Douaisis. This indoor pétanque competition will bring the 2025 season of the Passion Pétanque Française circuit to a close.
Only the teams with the most consistent performances in the annual PPF Tour rankings have qualified :
- 16 men’s triples
- 8 women’s triples
The race to succeed the 2025 champions is on! In the women’s competition, the trophy won last year by Cindy Peyrot, Anna Maillard and Manon Debard will be up for grabs again. In the men’s competition, the trio of Marc Cognard, Élie Winterstein and Jean-Christophe Gimenez will no longer be defending their title.
In this temple of modern petanque, shooting accuracy, point quality and strategic management of the petanque balls on the indoor court will make all the difference. Indeed, this PPF final is one of the most competitive petanque competitions of the first quarter.
14–15 March 2026: National Championships in Grasse, mixed triples under the sun
A week later, we head south to the National de Grasse 2026, held in the town of Grasse.
This mixed triples boules tournament has become a must-attend event at the start of the season. Every year, it attracts top pétanque players. Dawson Herleman, Diego Rizzi and Henri Lacroix have already taken part in this legendary FFPJP competition.
In fact, the 2025 winners — Catherine Jeanroy, Diego Rizzi and Andrea Chiapello — will be returning to the playing fields. So who will claim victory, adding another line to their pétanque honours list in the 2026 season? The bets are open!
28–29 March 2026: Departmental petanque championships, first competition towards the French championships
At the end of March, it will be time for the 2026 departmental championships. This competition is the first official step towards the French championships.
Two formats will be featured :
- Women’s doubles
- Men’s singles
These March 2026 pétanque competitions are open to all licence holders throughout France. The objective is clear: win the departmental title to qualify for the next level.
The men’s singles competition highlights individual skill: reading the terrain, mental management, and precision in shots and points. The women’s doubles competition is based on teamwork and strategy.
For many amateur and experienced pétanque players, these departmental championships represent the first major official challenge of the 2026 season.
Why do the competitions in March really kick off the 2026 petanque season?
March 2026 will see three levels of pétanque competition:
- A grand national final (PPF)
- An iconic mixed triples tournament (Grasse)
- The first federal qualifying rounds
This trio of events will structure the season: elite spectacle, open tournament and the road to the French championships.
These March 2026 pétanque tournaments mark the real sporting kick-off of the year for enthusiasts and players of all levels.
In short, there are only a few days left until the first competitions in March 2026. The petanque balls are already rolling towards the first titles.