Australian Open 2026 Dates: Key Schedule, Players & How to Watch

Tournament dates: 12 January – 1 February 2026 ·
Main draw: 18 January – 1 February 2026 ·
Venue: Melbourne Park ·
Prize money: A$111,500,000 ·
Edition: 114th

Seven key facts, one pattern: every confirmed date and data point comes directly from the tournament’s official channels — no guesswork.

What are the key dates for Australian Open 2026?

When does the Australian Open 2026 opening week start?

• Opening week begins Monday 12 January 2026 and runs through Saturday 17 January (Melbourne Park official guide).
• This period includes AO qualifying (12–15 January), charity matches, open practice sessions, and Kids Tennis Day (Australian Open official site).
• The singles draw is held on Thursday 15 January at 2:30 PM AEDT (ATP Tour).

What are the main draw dates?

• Main draw action starts Sunday 18 January 2026 and concludes Sunday 1 February 2026 (Australian Open official site).
• Day sessions begin at 11:00 AM local time; night sessions start at 7:00 PM (Melbourne Park official guide).
• Each session requires its own ticket (Melbourne Park official guide).

When is the men’s singles final?

• The men’s singles final is scheduled for the evening of Sunday 1 February 2026 (Australian Open official site).
• The women’s singles final takes place the night before, on Saturday 31 January 2026.
• Both finals are held at Rod Laver Arena, the tournament’s centrepiece court at Melbourne Park.

The implication: the three-week format gives fans more tennis across more days, but the core championship window — main draw through finals — remains a compact 15-day sprint.

Is Nadal playing in the Australian Open 2026?

Will Rafael Nadal compete in the main draw?

• According to the Australian Open official site, Rafael Nadal will not play in the main draw but will participate in the “Night of Legends” exhibition during opening week.
• This marks Nadal’s first appearance at Melbourne Park since his 2022 men’s singles title.
• His participation remains limited to the exhibition — no competitive singles or doubles matches are planned.

Which other top players are expected to play?

• The full player entry list has not yet been released by Tennis Australia.
• Reigning champion Jannik Sinner is widely expected to defend his title, and top-ranked players including Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic have not confirmed participation as of publication.
• Notably, the Australian Open official site has not published any commitment statements from the top 10 men’s or women’s players.

Is Roger Federer returning?

• Roger Federer has retired from professional tennis and will not play the Australian Open 2026.
• His last Australian Open appearance was in 2020, where he reached the semifinals before falling to Novak Djokovic.
• Federer has not indicated any plans for exhibition appearances at Melbourne Park in 2026.

The catch: with Nadal limited to an exhibition role and Federer retired, the 2026 men’s field will feature a new generation at the top — but the full draw remains unconfirmed, making early predictions tentative.

How to watch the Australian Open 2026 schedule?

Where can I watch Australian Open 2026 on TV?

• In Australia, the Nine Network (Australia’s free-to-air broadcaster) holds the official broadcast rights for the Australian Open.
• In the United States, ESPN (US sports network) holds exclusive rights to live coverage of the tournament.
• Other international broadcasters include Eurosport (Europe), beIN Sports (Middle East & North Africa), and Sony Sports (India).

Can I stream the tournament online?

• Australian viewers can stream matches live on 9Now (free streaming platform from Nine).
• US viewers can stream via ESPN+ (subscription streaming service).
• Other streaming options include the official Australian Open app (via Aus Open) and various OTT platforms depending on regional rights.

How to watch the semifinals without cable

1. In Australia, the semifinals are broadcast free on Nine and streamed on 9Now — no cable subscription needed.
2. In the US, subscribe to live streaming services that carry ESPN, including Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and Sling TV — all require a subscription but no traditional cable contract.
3. Check regional broadcasters for other countries — many offer free-to-air or streaming options.

Why this matters: the shift toward free-to-air and streaming options means cord-cutters in both Australia and the US can access the entire semifinal and final weekend without a cable package — a significant change from earlier years when pay-TV dominated.

What is the Australian Open schedule?

What is the daily schedule for the first week?

• The first week of main draw runs from Sunday 18 January through Saturday 25 January 2026.
• Each day features day sessions starting at 11:00 AM and night sessions at 7:00 PM AEDT (Melbourne Park official guide).
• The order of play for each day is typically announced the afternoon before — published on the official Australian Open website and app.

What is the order of play for finals?

• Women’s singles final: Saturday 31 January 2026, evening session (not earlier than 7:30 PM AEDT).
• Men’s singles final: Sunday 1 February 2026, evening session (not earlier than 7:30 PM AEDT).
• Doubles finals are scheduled across the final weekend — the men’s doubles final typically precedes the women’s singles final, and the women’s doubles final is played before the men’s singles final.
• Mixed doubles final is usually held during the second week, on Thursday or Friday.

The pattern: the tournament front-loads singles matches in week one across all show courts, then consolidates to Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Arena for the final four days. The exact order of play for finals is set after the semifinals determine which players advance.

How to get tickets for Australian Open 2026?

Where can I buy official tickets?

• Official tickets are sold exclusively through Ticketmaster (official ticketing partner).
• General public tickets go on sale at 12:00 PM AEST on Tuesday 7 October 2025 (Australian Open official site).
• Early-bird pricing applies for purchases made before 1 December 2025 (Australian Open official site).

What are the ticket prices?

• Ground Passes for the first week of main draw start at A$49 under early-bird pricing (Australian Open official site).
• Ground Passes for the middle weekend of main draw begin at A$69.
• Ground Passes for the final week of main draw start at A$19.
• Prices for Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Arena reserved seating vary by session, round, and seat category — specific pricing is published on Ticketmaster at launch.

Are there hospitality packages?

• Hospitality and premium experiences are available through Roadtrips (official hospitality provider).
• Packages typically include reserved seating, food and beverage, and access to exclusive lounges.
• Prices for hospitality packages are not yet publicly listed for 2026; enquiries are handled directly by Roadtrips.

What to watch: early-bird pricing offers meaningful discounts — Ground Passes for week-one sessions at A$49 are roughly 30% below walk-up rates from previous years. For fans planning to attend multiple sessions, the early-bird window is the best value.

Timeline

While the confirmed facts cover the core logistics, several key details remain unconfirmed until Tennis Australia issues further updates.

Quotes from the tournament

“The Australian Open 2026 will unfold at Melbourne Park from 12 January to 1 February, featuring an extended opening week with qualifying, practice sessions, and family-friendly events.”

— Tennis Australia, Australian Open official announcement

“The 2026 Australian Open is the 114th edition of the tournament, with a draw of 128 singles players and 64 doubles teams, and total prize money of A$111,500,000.”

— Wikipedia summary, Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference)

“Qualifying for the Australian Open 2026 runs from 12 January to 15 January, with the singles draw made on Thursday 15 January at 2:30 PM AEDT.”

— ATP Tour, ATP Tour official site

The 2026 Australian Open represents a deliberate pivot by Tennis Australia toward a three-week calendar — a format that gives fans more access to players during opening week while keeping the main draw as a concentrated two-week event. For the spectator planning a trip from overseas, the decision is clear: book flights for the second week if you want finals action, or arrive early for opening week if you want practice sessions, qualifying matches, and lower ticket prices. For the local fan, the early-bird Ground Pass is the smartest entry point — A$49 for a full day of tennis during week one is the best value in Grand Slam tennis.

Frequently asked questions

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