2026 Australian Open Complete Guide: Dates, Schedule, Players, Venue, and How to Watch

Part 1. When is the Australian Open 2026?

The timing of the Australian Open is crucial for players and fans planning their season. As the opening Grand Slam of the tennis calendar, it sets the tone for the year ahead. In 2026, the tournament once again follows its modern extended format, giving audiences more matches, more entertainment, and greater access to world class tennis across multiple weeks.

1. When is the Australian Open 2026 being held?

The Australian Open 2026 will run from Monday 12 January to Sunday 1 February 2026, marking three weeks of world class tennis and entertainment at Melbourne Park. This schedule allows room for qualifying rounds, early main draw matches, and a dramatic final weekend. The extended duration also helps players manage recovery and gives fans more opportunities to attend matches across different stages of the tournament.

2. What is Opening Week, and When Does It Start?

Opening Week is a fan focused introduction to the Australian Open and begins on Monday 12 January, running through Saturday 17 January. During this period, visitors can enjoy qualifying matches, practice sessions with top players, and nightly live music across Melbourne Park. Highlights include free entry for kids on the first day and the innovative Million Dollar 1 Point Slam. Opening Week offers a relaxed way to explore the venue before the intensity of the main draw begins.

3. When is the Main Draw of the 2026 Australian Open?

The Main Draw follows Opening Week and features the world's top ranked players competing for Grand Slam glory. Matches build toward the final weekend, scheduled from Saturday 30 January to Sunday 1 February. This is when the women's and men's champions are crowned, delivering some of the most watched and celebrated moments of the tennis season.

Part 2. What is the Schedule for the 2026 Australian Open?

The 2026 Australian Open schedule is carefully structured to balance day and night sessions, ensuring global audiences can follow the action. Matches are spread across multiple courts and sessions, with marquee clashes often reserved for evening play. Below is an overview of the main draw schedule.

Part 3. Where is the Australian Open 2026 being Held?

The Australian Open takes place at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Victoria, a venue that has hosted the tournament since 1988. Melbourne Park is regarded as one of the world's leading tennis complexes, offering state of the art facilities for players and fans alike. The site features three major show courts, including Rod Laver Arena, the second largest indoor sports venue in Australia with a capacity of around 15,000. John Cain Arena holds approximately 10,500 spectators, while Margaret Court Arena accommodates about 7,500, creating an intimate yet energetic atmosphere across the grounds.

Part 4. Where to watch the Australian Open 2026?

Fans around the world have multiple options to watch the Australian Open 2026 live and on demand. In the United Kingdom, coverage is available on TNT Sports and Discovery+. Viewers across mainland Europe can follow the tournament via Eurosport and Discovery+. In the United States, ESPN+ provides extensive coverage, including daily qualifying matches and individual court streams once the main tournament begins. Whip around coverage airs on ESPN2, with semifinals also shown on ESPN. The official Australian Open streaming hub offers additional access to matches and highlights.

Part 5. Who Is Playing the Australian Open in 2026?

The 2026 Australian Open features a star studded lineup from both the men's and women's tours. Current men's world number one Carlos Alcaraz and defending champion Jannik Sinner are set to compete, alongside women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka and defending champion Madison Keys. Other high profile contenders include Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff.

Australian fans can also look forward to local talent, with previous participants including:

• Alex de Minaur
• Alexei Popyrin
• Jordan Thompson
• Nick Kyrgios
• Thanasi Kokkinakis
• Christopher O'Connell
• Rinky Hijikata
• James Duckworth
• Adam Walton
• Tristan Schoolkate
• Li Tu
• James McCabe
• Omar Jasika
• Ajla Tomljanovic
• Olivia Gadecki
• Daria Saville
• Emerson Jones
• Talia Gibson
• Maya Joint

Final entry lists will be confirmed closer to the tournament.

Part 6. Enhance Your Australian Open Videos with HitPaw VikPea

Watching the Australian Open often inspires fans and creators to share highlights, reactions, and analysis videos. To ensure your tennis content looks professional and sharp, HitPaw VikPea offers powerful AI driven tools designed to improve video quality effortlessly. Whether you are editing match clips, fan reactions, or social media content, VikPea helps upgrade resolution, clarity, and overall visual appeal without complex editing skills.

• AI upscaling improves low resolution tennis footage into crisp high definition visuals
• Advanced sharpening enhances fast moving shots and detailed player movements
• Noise reduction cleans grainy match recordings captured in low light conditions
• Color enhancement delivers more vibrant courts, outfits, and crowd scenes
• Video repair restores damaged or compressed clips from live streams
• Batch processing saves time when enhancing multiple tennis videos together

• Step 1.Download and launch HitPaw VikPea on your computer, then open the Video Enhancer and import your video by clicking or dragging it into the workspace.

  

• Step 2.Choose from multiple AI models, such as General, Sharpen, Portrait, or Video Quality Repair, based on the type of tennis footage you want to improve.

  

• Step 3.Select your preferred output resolution in Export Settings, with support up to 4K or 8K, preview the result, and export the enhanced video once satisfied.

  

Conclusion

The 2026 Australian Open promises weeks of unforgettable tennis, world class players, and vibrant fan experiences at Melbourne Park. From Opening Week through to the dramatic finals, the tournament offers something for every tennis enthusiast. With clear schedules, global viewing options, and exciting player lineups, fans can easily follow the action wherever they are. For those creating or sharing tennis content, tools like HitPaw VikPea Video Enhancer make it easier than ever to present high quality videos that capture the excitement of the Australian Open.