Everyone in Melbourne knows the drill by now. The city turns into a furnace, the trams get impossibly crowded, and the blue courts at Melbourne Park become the center of the sporting universe. But if you're trying to pin down the Australian Open 2026 dates, you've probably noticed things look a little different this time around.
It is happening.
The main draw officially kicks off on Sunday, January 18, 2026, and runs through to the men’s singles final on Sunday, February 1, 2026.
That Sunday start isn't a fluke. It's the new normal. For years, we were used to that Monday morning caffeine rush to catch the first round, but the organizers figured out that starting on a Sunday helps ease the late-night finish chaos. Mostly.
Honestly, the "Happy Slam" is stretching its wings. If you only show up for the finals, you're missing half the story. The whole circus actually begins much earlier with "Opening Week" starting on January 12. This is where the real grinders—the qualifiers—fight for their lives while the big names like Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek are just hitting the practice courts to find their rhythm.
👉 See also: World Series Matchup Odds: What Most People Get Wrong About the 2026 Board
Navigating the Australian Open 2026 dates and session times
Planning a trip to Melbourne Park is basically a logistical jigsaw puzzle. You've got day sessions that bake you alive and night sessions that can go until 3:00 AM.
Here is how the 2026 schedule actually breaks down:
- Opening Week (Qualifying & Fan Events): Monday, Jan 12 – Saturday, Jan 17.
- First Round: Sunday, Jan 18 – Tuesday, Jan 20. (Yes, three days for the first round now).
- Second Round: Wednesday, Jan 21 – Thursday, Jan 22.
- Third Round: Friday, Jan 23 – Saturday, Jan 24.
- Fourth Round: Sunday, Jan 25 – Monday, Jan 26.
- Quarterfinals: Tuesday, Jan 27 – Wednesday, Jan 28.
- Women’s Semifinals: Thursday night, Jan 29.
- Men’s Semifinals: Friday, Jan 30 (Split across day and night sessions).
- Women’s Final: Saturday night, Jan 31.
- Men’s Final: Sunday night, Feb 1.
The thing about the Australian Open 2026 dates is that they overlap perfectly with the Australia Day long weekend. Monday, January 26, is going to be absolutely mental at the precinct. If you don't like crowds, that’s the day to stay in your hotel room and watch it on the telly. But if you want the atmosphere? That’s the peak.
Why the Sunday start is a big deal
People used to complain—loudly—about matches finishing at 4:00 AM. It was brutal for the players' recovery and even worse for the fans trying to find a Way 5 or Uber home. By moving the start to Sunday, the tournament now spans 15 days instead of 14.
Basically, it gives the schedule "room to breathe."
They’ve capped the number of matches on the show courts (Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Arena) during the day to prevent the night sessions from starting three hours late. It sorta works. Most of the time. But let’s be real: if Novak Djokovic and a young gun get into a five-set war, all those scheduling plans go right out the window.
The "Opening Week" hack nobody talks about
If you're on a budget, the Australian Open 2026 dates you actually want to care about are Jan 12 to Jan 17.
Tickets for the main draw are expensive. Like, "maybe I don't need that second kidney" expensive. But during Opening Week, kids often get in for free on certain days, and adult ground passes are dirt cheap—we’re talking $10 or $20.
You get to sit ten feet away from Top 10 players during their practice sets. You can watch the qualifying matches, which are often more high-stakes than the first round because those players are literally playing for the prize money that sustains their entire season.
Key matchups and defending champions
Last year was a bit of a fairytale, wasn't it? Madison Keys coming out of nowhere to snag the title, and Jannik Sinner proving that his 2024 win wasn't a fluke by going back-to-back.
Heading into 2026, the storylines are heavy:
- Jannik Sinner’s "Three-peat": Can the Italian join the elite club of men who have won three in a row in Melbourne?
- The Alcaraz Factor: Carlos still hasn't quite conquered the True Blue courts. 2026 feels like his year to finally tick that box.
- Djokovic’s Last Stand? Every year we ask if it’s Novak’s final run. At 38, the 10-time champ is still the man everyone fears in the draw.
- Sabalenka vs. Swiatek: The rivalry for the No. 1 spot is as tight as it’s ever been.
The official draw happens on Thursday, January 15. That’s when the bracket nerds (like me) start circling the potential "Group of Death" and predicting which seeds are going to crash out in the first round.
Practical tips for attending in 2026
If you're heading down to Melbourne Park, don't be a rookie.
Buy tickets early. General public tickets went on sale back in October 2025. By the time January hits, the big night sessions for the quarterfinals and semifinals are usually gone or only available through expensive hospitality packages.
The weather is a lie. Melbourne weather is bipolar. You’ll be sweating through your shirt at 2:00 PM (it can hit 40°C easily) and then shivering in a windbreaker by 9:00 PM when the breeze kicks in off the Yarra River. Pack layers.
Public transport is your friend. Don't even think about driving. Your ticket usually gets you free travel on the "AO Shuttle" (Route 70) from Flinders Street Station. It’s quick, it’s easy, and you won't have to pay $80 for parking.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're planning to follow the Australian Open 2026 dates closely, here is what you should do right now:
- Check the AO app: Download it the week before. It’s the only way to see the "Order of Play" which usually gets released late the night before each session.
- Book accommodation ASAP: If you haven't booked a hotel in Melbourne for the last week of January yet, do it today. Prices triple as the finals approach.
- Ground Pass Strategy: If you can’t get Rod Laver Arena tickets, buy a Ground Pass for the first Monday or Tuesday. You can still access John Cain Arena (the "People's Court") and see world-class tennis for a fraction of the price.
- Follow the weather: Keep an eye on the "Extreme Heat Policy." If it gets too hot, they close the roofs and suspend play on outside courts. It might change which session you want to attend.