How to watch the 2026 Australian Open on TV, the schedule, seedings and more

As Melbourne Park prepares to open its gates for the 2026 Australian Open, tennis fans worldwide are gearing up for the year’s first Grand Slam tournament, which promises two weeks of world-class competition amid several new fan-focused initiatives.

Singles play will commence on Sunday, January 18 at 11 a.m. local time (7 p.m. Saturday EST), with the first match at Rod Laver Arena scheduled to begin half an hour later. The tournament will be broadcast on ESPN and Tennis Channel in the United States, with various networks covering the event internationally.

Defending champions Madison Keys and Jannik Sinner will return to Melbourne looking to repeat their 2025 triumphs. Keys, the American who captured her first Grand Slam title last year with a thrilling 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 victory over Aryna Sabalenka, will face the challenge of maintaining her form against a competitive women’s field. Meanwhile, Italy’s Sinner will aim for a remarkable third consecutive Australian Open title after successfully defending his crown with a straight-sets win over Alexander Zverev in 2025.

The tournament seedings are expected to follow the current WTA and ATP rankings, with world No. 1 players Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz positioned as the top seeds in their respective draws. According to BetMGM Sportsbook, Sabalenka enters as the betting favorite at +175, followed by Poland’s Iga Swiatek (+450) and American Coco Gauff (+600). On the men’s side, Sinner is favored at -125, with Alcaraz close behind at +160, while 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic sits as a distant third choice at +900.

The Australian Open’s iconic outdoor hard courts at Melbourne Park will once again serve as the battleground, with Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena, and John Cain Arena all equipped with retractable roofs to counter Melbourne’s sometimes unpredictable summer weather. Women will compete in best-of-three-set matches with a first-to-10 tiebreaker at 6-all in the deciding set, while men play best-of-five with a similar tiebreaker format in the fifth set.

Tournament organizers have introduced several innovations for the 2026 edition. A new “opening week” concept will see the Melbourne Park precinct open to the public from the start of the qualifying tournament, featuring nightly live music at Grand Slam Oval. Fans will also gain unprecedented access to watch open practice sessions in Rod Laver Arena, offering glimpses of the sport’s biggest stars preparing for competition.

The organizers are expanding the “1 Point Slam” during the opening week, an event where 22 professional players and 10 amateurs compete for a substantial prize of 1 million Australian dollars. This initiative adds another layer of excitement to the build-up of the main tournament.

Prize money has significantly increased for 2026, with the total purse growing 16% to a record 111.5 million Australian dollars (approximately $75 million), up from 96.5 million Australian dollars in 2025. The singles champions will each receive 4.15 million Australian dollars ($2.8 million), representing a 19% increase from the previous year—a reflection of the tournament’s continued commitment to player compensation.

The main draw will unfold over two weeks following a familiar format: three days of first-round matches (January 18-20), followed by the second round (January 21-22), third round (January 23-24), and fourth round (January 25-26). The quarterfinals will take place on January 27-28, with women’s semifinals scheduled for January 29 and men’s semifinals on January 30. The women’s final is set for January 31, with the men’s championship match concluding the tournament on February 1.

Several significant storylines have emerged heading into the tournament. Top-ranked Sabalenka has publicly criticized the tennis season schedule as “insane,” while Gauff has recently addressed controversy surrounding fan behavior at tournaments. In coaching news, Alcaraz has ended his seven-year partnership with Juan Carlos Ferrero, signaling a potential shift in his approach. Meanwhile, tennis legend Venus Williams has secured a wild-card entry at age 45, and Australia’s Nick Kyrgios has announced he will compete in doubles but not singles at his home Grand Slam.

As the qualifying rounds begin today, tennis enthusiasts around the globe turn their attention to Melbourne for what promises to be an exciting fortnight of world-class competition at the 2026 Australian Open.