Australian Open Tennis 2026
Alvaro Martinez, January 7, 2026
Founded in 1905 and held every year in Melbourne, the Australian Open is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments. In 2026, the event takes place at Melbourne Park from January 12 to February 1, with a first week known as Opening Week followed by the main tournament, which starts on January 18.
A Grand Slam to open the season
The Australian Open kicks off the big tennis season. Matches are played outdoors on a hard surface, a cushioned acrylic hard court prepared by GreenSet, with major venues such as Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and John Cain Arena, whose retractable roofs help limit interruptions in case of rain.
Dates and location in 2026
The tournament is held at Melbourne Park. The 2026 edition runs from January 12 to February 1, with Opening Week from January 12 to 17 and the start of the main draw on Sunday, January 18. The draw ceremony is scheduled for January 15, a few days before the first rounds begin.
Records and historical highlights
Among the men, Novak Djokovic holds the record for singles titles at the Australian Open with 10 crowns. Among the women, the all-time record belongs to Margaret Court with 11 titles, while Serena Williams holds 7 titles, the highest total of the Open Era. These figures give a sense of Melbourne's place in tennis history.
Practical information for following the Australian Open
The tournament is easy to follow online through official broadcasts and content. On site, Opening Week is designed to give broad access to the grounds and qualifying matches before the main draw begins. In 2026, the organization has also announced record prize money, a useful indicator of the event's growing importance in the economics of tennis.