Held in Melbourne every year, the Australian Open is a pinnacle event in world tennis, and it officially marks the beginning of the annual tennis calendar.
It is one of four annual Grand Slam tournaments, meaning the best of the best players head down under to make their name known and compete for the title and hefty cash prize.
Many Aussies will be attending the games in person, but if you’re like us and will be watching the action unfold from the comfort of your living room, we’ve got you covered for where you can watch the Australian Open in 2026, as well as all the other important details such as the tournament dates, key players to watch, and the commentary team.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2026 DATES
Kicking off on 18 January, the Australian Open will take place across 15 days and will be jam-packed with action from the very first day.
The tournament will begin at 11am on Sunday, 18 January 2026 with the men’s and women’s singles first round starting. The rounds will continue until Tuesday 27 January, when the quarterfinals will begin to be played.
The women’s semifinals will be held on Thursday 29 January, with the men’s semifinals taking place on Friday 30 January.
To conclude the Australian Open, the women’s singles final will be held at 7.30pm on Saturday 31 January, and the men’s final will be played at 7.30pm on Sunday 1 February 2026.
Melbourne Park is set to be filled with spectators and fans during the tournament, with over 900,000 people expected to attend.
WHO IS PLAYING THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN IN 2026?
Current men’s world number one Carlos Alcaraz and defending champion Jannik Sinner will both be competing as well as women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka and defending champion Madison Keys.
Other notable names include Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff.
There will also be a number of Australian tennis players hitting the courts this year, although they are yet to be confirmed. Last year, the following Aussie stars played at the Australian Open:
- Alex de Minaur
- Alexei Popyrin
- Jordan Thompson
- Nick Kyrgios
- Thanasi Kokkinakis
- Christopher O’Connell
- Rinky Hijikata
- James Duckworth
- Adam Walton
- Tristan Schoolkate
- Li Tu
- James McCabe
- Omar Jasika
- Ajla Tomljanovic
- Olivia Gadecki
- Daria Saville
- Emerson Jones
- Talia Gibson
- Maya Joint
(Credit: Getty)
WHAT CHANNEL IS SHOWING THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS?
Tennis fans can watch the 2026 Australian Open from home on Channel Nine’s Wide World of Sports, including 9 and 9Now.
Match highlights, AO Daily Top Moments compilations and the AO Morning Serve show will also be aired on 9Now along with every juniors match and wheelchair event.
Or, you can stream the tournament live and on demand on Stan Sport.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2026 COMMENTATORS
Tennis legends Jim Courier, Jelena Dokic, Dylan Alcott, Todd Woodbridge, Alicia Molik, John Millman, Casey Dellacqua, Sam Stosur, and Sam Smith will be commentating this ear, bringing expert analysis and live coverage across the tournament.
