It’s that time again when tennis fans around the world start circling dates on their calendars. The 2026 Australian Open runs from 18 January to 1 February at Melbourne Park, and this year’s schedule comes with a few notable storylines—including Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal and the continued absence of Roger Federer.

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Event dates: 18 January – 1 February 2026 ·
Venue: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia ·
Prize money: A$111,500,000 ·
Draw size: 128 singles / 64 doubles ·
Edition: 114th (Open Era 58th)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact match times for each session beyond day 1 (Fox Sports)
  • Final list of seeded players until days before main draw (Fox Sports)
  • Last-minute player withdrawals or additions (Fox Sports)
  • Specific broadcast schedule for different regions (Fox Sports)
3Timeline signal
  • Main draw begins 18 January 2026 (Australian Open official schedule)
  • Women’s semifinals: 29 January 2026 (Fox Sports)
  • Men’s semifinals: 30 January 2026 (Fox Sports)
  • Finals day: 1 February 2026 (Fox Sports)
4What’s next
  • Draw ceremony (date TBD, likely early January) (Australian Open official schedule)
  • Practice days 15–16 January (tentative) (Australian Open official schedule)
  • Broadcast schedules published across networks (TNT Sports)
  • Ticket sales for individual sessions ongoing (Australian Open tickets)

Eight key facts about the 2026 Australian Open, from prize money to court surface.

Label Value
Edition 114th
Category Grand Slam
Dates 18 January – 1 February 2026
Location Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia
Prize Money A$111,500,000
Draw 128 singles / 64 doubles
Defending Champions Men: TBD, Women: TBD
Surface Hard (GreenSet)

What are the key dates for the Australian Open 2026?

Qualifying dates

  • Qualifying rounds are held 11–14 January 2026 at Melbourne Park (Australian Open official schedule).

Main draw dates

  • The main draw runs from 18 January to 1 February 2026 (Fox Sports).
  • First round: 18–20 January.
  • Second round: 21–22 January.
  • Third round: 23–24 January.
  • Fourth round: 25–26 January.
  • Quarterfinals: 27–28 January.

Finals day

  • The women’s singles final is scheduled for 31 January; the men’s singles final on 1 February 2026 (Fox Sports).

The implication: the tournament runs a full 15 days, with the first week packed with opening rounds. Fans hoping to catch top stars should focus on the middle weekend for early-round blockbusters and the final week for high-stakes knockout tennis.

Why did Naomi Osaka pull out of the Australian Open 2026?

Withdrawal announcement

  • Naomi Osaka withdrew from the 2026 Australian Open prior to the tournament (BBC Sport).
  • As a result, Maddison Inglis advanced to the second round (WTA).

Impact on the draw

  • Osaka’s absence opened up a section of the women’s draw, altering seed matchups.

What this means: Osaka’s withdrawal reshuffles the women’s quarter, giving unseeded players a clearer path to the later rounds. For fans, it means a missed opportunity to see a former champion on Rod Laver Arena.

What to watch

Naomi Osaka had won the Australian Open twice (2019, 2021). Without her in the draw, the spotlight shifts to younger contenders like Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka, both of whom will now avoid a potential early match-up with the Japanese star.

Where does the Australian Open 2026 take place?

Venue details

  • The Australian Open is held at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Wikipedia).
  • Primary courts: Rod Laver Arena (capacity ~15,000), Margaret Court Arena (~7,500), John Cain Arena (~10,500).

Court surfaces

  • Surface: hard court (GreenSet) (ITF).

Why this matters: Melbourne Park’s three main show courts have retractable roofs, so play continues even during rain or extreme heat. The GreenSet surface is considered medium-fast, rewarding aggressive baseliners.

How to watch the Australian Open 2026 schedule

TV broadcasters

  1. Australia: Nine Network and 9Now broadcast every match live.
  2. United States: ESPN and Tennis Channel cover the tournament (ESPN).
  3. UK & Europe: TNT Sports and Eurosport (TNT Sports).
  4. Other regions: Check local listings.

Live streaming options

  • Official streaming: 9Now (Australia), ESPN+ (US), discovery+ (Europe).
  • The full schedule is published daily on ausopen.com/schedule with times in AEDT (GMT+11).

Schedule availability

  • Times default to Melbourne local time (Australian Open official schedule).
  • Order of play is released each evening for the following day.

The catch: time zone conversion is a headache. For a 7 p.m. AEDT session on Rod Laver Arena, that’s 3 a.m. EST in New York and 8 a.m. GMT in London. East coast US viewers will want to set alarms for night finals; UK fans can catch the morning highlights or stay up for live early-round day sessions.

The trade-off

If you’re watching from the US, the women’s final on Saturday afternoon AEDT means a Friday night broadcast in the States—prime time. The men’s final on Sunday AEDT lands at 3 a.m. Sunday EST, so live viewing requires a DVR or a very late night.

Is Roger Federer playing the Australian Open 2026?

Federer’s retirement

  • Roger Federer retired from professional tennis in September 2022 (ATP Tour).

Entry list

  • He has not entered the 2026 Australian Open; the tournament entry list does not include Federer (Australian Open players list).

The pattern: Federer’s absence is permanent. Fans hoping for a farewell appearance at Melbourne Park should instead look to exhibition events—Federer has stated he will not compete in any more Grand Slams.

Bottom line: The 2026 Australian Open will proceed without two of its most marketable stars. For organisers, the schedule remains full; for broadcasters, the challenge is selling a product that lacks both Osaka and Federer. For fans, it’s an opportunity to discover newcomers.

Step by step: plan your Australian Open 2026 viewing

  1. Check the official schedule at ausopen.com/schedule for daily order of play.
  2. Convert times from AEDT to your local time using the tournament’s built-in time zone selector.
  3. Choose your broadcaster based on region and preferred session (day or night).
  4. Subscribe to streaming if you don’t have cable—most broadcasters offer standalone passes.
  5. Set calendar alerts for key matches: first round, finals week, and any player you follow.

Why this matters: missing the time zone conversion is the number one complaint from international viewers. A single mis-step could mean waking up to find your favourite player already won in the early session.

Timeline of the 2026 Australian Open

Date Event
11–14 January 2026 Qualifying rounds (Australian Open official schedule)
15–16 January 2026 Practice days (tentative)
17 January 2026 Main draw begins (Day 1) (Fox Sports)
18–20 January First round
21–22 January Second round
23–24 January Third round
25–26 January Fourth round
27–28 January Quarterfinals
29 January Women’s semifinals
30 January Men’s semifinals
31 January Women’s final
1 February 2026 Men’s final
TBD Draw ceremony

The pattern: every round tightens the window. By the quarterfinals, only eight players remain in each singles draw—and the difference between a day session and a night session can mean facing a fresher opponent with more recovery time.

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Tournament dates: 18 Jan – 1 Feb 2026 (Australian Open official schedule)
  • Venue: Melbourne Park (Wikipedia)
  • Prize money: A$111,500,000 (Australian Open official)
  • Qualifying dates: 11–14 Jan 2026
  • Naomi Osaka withdrawal (BBC Sport)
  • Roger Federer not playing (ATP Tour)

What’s unclear

  • Exact match times for each session
  • Final list of seeded players
  • Last-minute player withdrawals or additions
  • Specific broadcast schedule for different regions

The balance: with low certainty about late changes, the smart bet is to check the official schedule 24 hours before each session. The draw ceremony—often a source of early intrigue—has yet to be scheduled.

Quotes from insiders

“If no other setting is selected, times will be shown according to Melbourne local time.”

— Australian Open official schedule (ausopen.com)

“The Australian Open is the first Grand Slam of the year and a key indicator of form for the season ahead.”

— Wikipedia entry for the Australian Open (Wikipedia)

Why these matter: the first quote confirms the time zone baseline for all international viewers. The second underscores the tournament’s role as a season barometer—early exits often foreshadow a rocky year.

Related reading: Queen’s Club Tennis 2025 – Dates, Schedule, Players & Tickets

Additional sources

espn.com, chiff.com, ausopen.com

Tennis fans seeking the complete tournament timetable and ticket information can consult the Australian Open 2026 schedule and tickets for a detailed run-down.

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Frequently asked questions

What time do matches start at the Australian Open?

Day sessions on Rod Laver Arena typically begin at 11 a.m. AEDT; night sessions start at 7 p.m. AEDT. Outside courts start at 11 a.m. (Australian Open schedule)

When is the Australian Open 2026 draw?

The draw ceremony date hasn’t been announced yet, but it usually takes place in the week before the main draw (early to mid-January).

How are the sessions divided (day/night)?

Each day has a day session (11 a.m. start) and a night session (7 p.m. start) on the three show courts. Ground passes allow entry to outer courts from 11 a.m.

Can I watch the Australian Open 2026 for free?

In Australia, free-to-air broadcaster Nine Network airs all matches. In other regions, some matches may be streamed free via official broadcaster platforms, but many require a subscription (BBC Sport).

What is the order of play for the finals?

The women’s singles final is scheduled for 31 January 2026, and the men’s singles final on 1 February 2026. Start times are typically 7:30 p.m. AEDT on Rod Laver Arena (Fox Sports).

Who are the defending champions for the 2026 Australian Open?

The defending champions will be the winners of the 2025 tournament. As of early 2025, the champions are yet to be crowned.

Is there a mobile app for the Australian Open schedule?

Yes, the official Australian Open app (available on iOS and Android) offers schedules, scores, and live streaming links.

How do I find the schedule for a specific day?

Visit ausopen.com/schedule and use the date picker. The order of play is usually published the evening before each day’s matches.

For fans planning their trip to Melbourne Park, the schedule is now set—but with draws and player withdrawals still unfolding, staying flexible is key, or risk missing the early-round surprises that make the Australian Open one of the most unpredictable tournaments of the year.