Australian Open 2026: Dates, schedule, format, seeds, favourites, prize money and where to watch

The Australian Open will be held at Melbourne Park where it has been hosted since 1988.

The main stage remains to be the Rod Laver arena, named after the Australian legend who remains to be the only male player to win the calendar Grand Slam twice. This means he won all four grand slams in a single year. 

All eyes will be on Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys, who picked up the respective singles title this time last year.

It was Sinner’s second consecutive win at the tournament, whereas Keys became a first-time Grand Slam winner on this occasion, becoming the oldest first-time Grand Slam winner at the Australian Open at 29.

When does the Australia Open 2026 start?

The main draw of the Australian Open starts on Sunday, 18 January, and ends on February 1 with the men's final, with the women’s final taking place the previous day.

This continues the trend of the men’s singles final taking the last day of the tournament where they only have to share with the Junior's matches.

The women’s singles spotlight has to be shared with men’s and women’s doubles as well as the wheelchair final.

What is the Australian Open 2026 schedule?

The Australian Open 2026 schedule includes:

• Men’s & women’s singles: January 18 - February 1
• Men’s & women’s doubles: January 20-31
• Mixed doubles: January 22-30
• Wheelchair events: January 27-31
• Junior events: January 24 - February 1

What is the format of the Australian Open 2026

The tournament is split up into many categories including the highlight which is the men’s and women’s singles draw.

The competition also has a separate men’s and women’s doubles bracket with a mixed doubles draw in addition.

The wheelchair tennis side of the Australian Open, boasts all the same with an additional Quad wheelchair singles draw.

Quad wheelchair singles are where men and women can compete against each other for the grand slam title.Mohammed Saad/Anadolu via Getty Images

Who is seeded at the Australian Open 2026

The top 32 players are seeded in all singles events and 16 doubles teams from each respective draw are seeded.

These are the top 10 seeded players for the singles draws.

Men’s singles seeds for Australian Open 2026

1. Carlos Alcaraz
2. Jannik Sinner
3. Alexander Zverev
4. Novak Djokovic
5. Felix Auger-Aliassime

Women’s singles seeds for Australian Open 2026

1. Aryna Sabalenka
2. Iga Swiatek
3. Amanda Anisimova
4. Coco Gauff
5. Elena Rybakina

Who are the recent winners of the Australian Open?

Men’s singles Australian Open winners

• 2025: Jannik Sinner
• 2024: Jannik Sinner
• 2023: Novak Djokovic
• 2022: Rafael Nadal
• 2021: Novak Djokovic

Women’s singles Australian Open winners

• 2025: Madison Keys
• 2024: Aryna Sabalenka
• 2023: Aryna Sabalenka
• 2022: Ahleigh Barty
• 2021: Naomi Osaka

What is the Australian Open prize money?

For 2026 there is a prize pot increase of 16% to $111.5m prize pool.

The prize money is equal for both the men's and women's champions. So for the winner it now stands at $4,150,000, which is an 19% increase, with the runner up getting $2,150,000.

Semi-finalists $1,250,000.

Where to watch the Australian Open 2026

In the UK you can watch the action on TNT Sports and Discovery+, whereas people in mainland Europe can watch on Eurosport and Discovery+.

Fans in America will be able to catch the tournament on ESPN+.

(Getty Images)

Who are the favourites to win the Australian Open 2026

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are the favourites for the men’s side. The pair have faced each other in the last three Grand Slam finals.

Neutrals will be hoping they equal Djokovic and Nadal’s record of four consecutive Grand Slam finals against each other.

The world number one, Alcaraz, won two out of three of these encounters however, Sinner will be entering the tournament as the favourite.

The world number two has won the Australian Open for the last two years.

Although his confidence on hard-court may have been shaken after Alcaraz was able to beat Sinner on his favourite surface at the US Open.Although, the Spaniard has never won the Australian Open.

Madison Keys may have won the competition last year but has played down her chances for the upcoming tournament, saying, ‘’There are so many great players and everyone is playing very, very good tennis right now.’’

The world number 7 may not be a favourite for the tournament but the woman she beat in the final in 2025 certainly is.

Aryna Sabalenka, who will be returning to women’s tennis after her loss to Nick Kygrios in the battle of the sexes match, is the favourite.

The women’s number one has already won the tournament twice although she did stumble last year with a shock loss to Madison Keys in the final.

Swiatek, who is the women’s world number two, will want to get over the semi-final hurdle at the Australian Open for the first time.

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Who are the Dark horses in the Australian Open 2026

Ben Shelton has been labelled as a potential winner of the competition by former British number one Greg Rusedski.

The American has not got past the quarter-final stage at the tournament before but his big serve and forehand suits the hard-court game.

Rusedski said, ‘’His dad won two ATP Tour titles. He has a lot of knowledge. Can he correct those little holes in his game because he has a lot of tools.’’

The most notable ‘little hole’ in Shelton’s game is his much-criticised backhand.

Mirra Andreeva at only 18-years-old made it to the quarter-final in the Australian open last time around.

Taking Sabalenka to knock her out however, the Russian has already beaten Sabalenka on hard-court at a major tournament with Indian Wells since.

This gives her a good chance in the tournament and to continue her rapid progress.

The Brit, Alfie Hewett may only be world number 2 for the wheelchair men’s but will favour himself after winning the singles last year for the second time.

Who will miss out the Australian Open 2026?

British number one Jack Draper’s arm injury continues to keep him out of tournaments.

He first picked up the injury in his loss to Cilic in Wimbledon and has only appeared in the first round of the US Open since where he had to withdraw subsequently.

Two-time champion, Victoria Azarenka will miss out on the Australian Open for the first time in 6 years.

Prospect, Joao Fonseca, is an uncertainty. Pulling out of Brisbane International but has not yet withdrawn from Adelaide International.

Fans will want the Brazilian player at this tournament after a meteoric rise in the 2025 season, from top 140 to 24th in the world.