Australian Open 2026: Updated schedule, fixtures, results, live streaming details
The Australian Open 2026 marks the 114th edition of the Grand Slam at Melbourne Park.
The Australian Open is all set to kick off the 2026 Grand Slam season, bringing the top ATP and WTA players under one roof at the Melbourne Park from January 18.
Defending champions Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys will look to continue their reign in Melbourne. Sinner is aiming for his third straight Australian Open title, while Keys has her second major title in her crosshairs.
The competition leading the way in the men’s draw are World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and World No. 4 Novak Djokovic.
Novak Djokovic has impressive credentials at the Australian Open, having won the men’s singles event a record 10 times. The Serb has not won a major since the 2023 US Open and remains on 24 Grand Slam wins. Djokovic, 38, is searching for one more major title that would make him the most successful Grand Slam champion in tennis history.
As Djokovic looks for his 11th title at the venue, he will have to overcome the dominant duo of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Alcaraz and Sinner have won every major in the last two years and have maintained a stranglehold on the top two positions in the ATP Rankings.
Djokovic will replace Ken Rosewall as the oldest Australian Open champion if he steals the crown from Sinner.
Alcaraz, 22, a six-time Grand Slam champion, will be aiming for a career Grand Slam in Melbourne. If the Spaniard pulls off a title run, he will become the youngest man in ATP history to achieve the feat, replacing Australian Don Budge. The Aussie great was 23 when he secured the career Grand Slam by winning the 1938 French Open.
Also Read: Novak Djokovic cuts short practice session due to injury ahead of Australian Open 2026
Ben Shelton, Lorenzo Musetti, Joao Fonseca, and Alexander Bublik have seen an upswing in their fortunes in 2025 and are capable of making deep runs in Melbourne.
Musetti and Bublik enjoyed breakthroughs in the new season with career-high rankings ahead of the Australian Open. Musetti rose to World No. 5, while Bublik rose to No. 10 to make ATP Top 10 debut.
Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev will be among those seeking a meaningful result in Australia. Sixth-seed Alex de Minaur will lead the Australian charge along with Adam Walton, Alexei Popyrin, and Aleksandar Kovacevic.
Two veterans, 2024 Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka and Frenchman Gael Monfils, will take a final bow in Melbourne. The duo announced that 2026 will be their final season on the ATP Tour.
In the women’s draw, Keys will have to contend with two-time champion Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and a resurgent Elena Rybakina, all looking to unseat the reigning champion.
Keys denied Sabalenka her third straight Australian Open title in 2025, snapping the Belarusian’s 20-match win streak on the blue hard courts at Melbourne Park. The American is seeded No. 9 ahead of her title defense.
Also Read: Australian Open 2026: Live streaming, TV channel, where and how to watch?
World No. 4 Amanda Anisimova and World No. 6 Jessica Pegula join Gauff and Keys as the other Americans to be seeded in the top ten for the hard-court event. Belinda Bencic, who returned to the WTA Top 10 in 2026, will be looking to crash the party.
While Aryna Sabalenka will return looking to regain her Australian Open crown, the 2024 runner-up, Qinwen Zheng, will be missing in action. Zheng, currently ranked No. 25, has not played since Wimbledon last season and skipped the US Open as well.
Sabalenka, a two-time champion in Melbourne, kicked off the 2026 season on a positive note. The World No. 1 successfully defended her Brisbane International title in a rematch of the 2025 Australian Open final against Madison Keys.
The women’s field includes the likes of Jasmine Paolini and Eva Lys. Also in the spotlight are rising teens Victoria Mboko, Mirra Andreeva, and Aussie wildcard Emerson Jones.
The 2026 Australian Open will set a new record with a record-breaking AUD $111.5 million prize pool, a 16% increase from $96.5 million in 2025. The men’s and women’s singles champions will be richer by AUD $4.15 million.
When will the Australian Open 2026 begin?
The 2026 edition of the Australian Open will get underway on January 18 and wrap up on February 1.
Which city will host the Australian Open 2026?
Melbourne, Australia, will be the host city for the 2026 Australian Open.
Who are the seeded players at the Australian Open 2026?
The top seeds in the men’s singles draw:
- Carlos Alcaraz
- Jannik Sinner
- Alexander Zverev
- Novak Djokovic
- Lorenzo Musett
- Alex de Minaur
- Felix Auger-Aliassime
- Ben Shelton
- Taylor Fritz
- Alexander Bublik
The top seeds in the women’s singles draw:
- Aryna Sabalenka
- Iga Swiatek
- Coco Gauff
- Amanda Anisimova
- Elena Rybakina
- Jessica Pegula
- Jasmine Paolini
- Mirra Andreeva
- Madison Keys
- Belinda Bencic
Who are the Indian players participating in the Australian Open 2026?
Indian players have not gained entry into the main draw of the 2026 Australian Open.
What is the competition schedule of the Australian Open 2026?
Round 1: Sunday, January 18 – Tuesday, January 20.
Round 2: Wednesday, January 21 – Thursday, January 22.
Round 3: Friday, January 23 – Saturday, January 24.
Round 4: Sunday, January 25 – Monday, January 26.
Quarter-finals: Tuesday, January 27 – Wednesday, January 28.
Women’s Semi-finals: Thursday, January 29.
Men’s semi-finals: Friday, January 30.
Women’s Finals: Saturday, January 31.
Men’s Finals: Sunday, February 1.
Where and how to watch live streaming and broadcast of the Australian Open 2026 in India, the USA, and the UK?
In India, the Sony Network shall be broadcasting the event live. Fans in the United Kingdom can tune in to Eurosport and Discovery+ for live action from Melbourne. Viewers in the United States have the option of ESPN and Tennis Channel.
When will the Australian Open 2026 take place?
The Australian Open 2026 will begin on January 18 and conclude on February 1, 2026.
Where is the Australian Open 2026 being held?
The tournament will be held at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia.
Who are the defending champions at the Australian Open 2026?
Jannik Sinner is the defending men’s singles champion, while Madison Keys is the defending women’s singles champion.
Who are the top contenders in the men’s singles draw?
Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, and Lorenzo Musetti are among the top contenders.
Who are the top contenders in the women’s singles draw?
Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, Madison Keys, and Amanda Anisimova headline the women’s field.
What is the total prize money for the Australian Open 2026?
The Australian Open 2026 has a record prize pool of AUD 111.5 million, with the men’s and women’s singles champions earning AUD 4.15 million each.
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Meet Fazeel—a bibliophile and sci-fi aficionado who devours books and movies alike. His favorite form of exercise? Watching tennis from a perfectly positioned couch. Whether he's lost in a gripping novel or absorbed in a five-hour Grand Slam final, he's all in. Favorite quote: “You cannot be serious” – John McEnroe.