So, you’re sitting there, maybe checking your calendar or trying to book a flight to Queens, and you’re seeing these weird rumors. Is US Open delayed? It’s the question that pops up every single time there’s a cloud over New York or a weird glitch on a ticketing site.
Honestly, the short answer is no—but the long answer is a lot more interesting because the 2026 schedule actually looks a bit different than what we’re used to.
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People often confuse a "delay" with a "planned schedule shift." This year, the USTA (United States Tennis Association) decided to shake things up at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. If you showed up on the "usual" Monday expecting the first round, you might have felt like you missed the boat.
Is US Open Delayed? The Truth About the 2026 Shift
Let’s get the facts straight right away. The 2026 US Open is officially slated to run from August 30 to September 13, 2026.
Wait. Didn't it used to start on a Monday?
Yeah, it did. For decades, the main draw started on the last Monday of August. But for 2026, they’ve leaned into this "Sunday Start" model that we’ve seen working at the French Open. It’s not a delay. It’s actually an expansion. By starting the main draw on Sunday, August 30, they get an extra day of gate revenue and, more importantly, they give the players a tiny bit more breathing room in those brutal early rounds.
If you’re seeing headlines about delays, they probably stem from one of three things:
- The Fan Week Confusion: Fan Week actually kicks off way earlier, on August 23, 2026. If someone says "The US Open started today" on August 23rd, and you don't see Carlos Alcaraz on your TV, you might think the tournament is delayed. It isn't; it's just the qualifying rounds and the "Kids' Day" festivities.
- Weather "Micro-Delays": Look, it’s New York in late August. It’s going to rain. It’s going to be humid enough to make you feel like you're breathing soup. Even with the roofs on Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong stadiums, the outer courts get hammered by summer thunderstorms. These cause temporary halts, but they don't move the whole tournament back.
- The Golf Factor: Every year, search engines get messy because the U.S. Open Golf Championship and the US Open Tennis Championships share a name. The golf tournament happens in June (this year at Shinnecock Hills). If a storm hits a golf course in June, the "Is US Open delayed" searches spike, even though the tennis players are still months away from even packing their bags.
Why People Think the 2026 Tournament Is Postponed
I was talking to a buddy who tried to buy "Session 1" tickets and got totally turned around. He thought the tournament was pushed back because the dates didn't match his 2025 calendar.
The 2026 calendar is just clunky. Labor Day falls on September 7th this year. Usually, the middle weekend of the Open is the big Labor Day bash. Because of how the days fall, the "Finals Weekend" feels like it's drifting deeper into September. The Men’s Final is set for Sunday, September 13.
Also, keep an eye on the new Tournament Director, Eric Butorac. He’s been vocal about "evolving" the fan experience. Sometimes when a new director talks about "changes," the internet hears "delays." In reality, they are just trying to make the schedule more TV-friendly for European and Asian markets.
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What Happens if it Actually Rains?
New York weather is moody. We’ve all seen it—the sky turns that weird greenish-grey, the wind picks up, and suddenly the chair umpire is telling everyone to scramble.
Since the USTA added the retractable roofs, the "Is US Open delayed" panic has mostly subsided for the big stars. If you have a ticket for Ashe, you're seeing tennis regardless of the deluge outside. But for the "grounds pass" heroes—the fans who live for the chaos of Court 17 or the Grandstand—rain is still a major player.
- The 30-Minute Rule: Usually, if it’s just a passing cell, they’ll wait it out. Ball crews are masters with those squeegees.
- The Session Policy: If you're at the grounds and they play less than 60 minutes of tennis on your court, you generally get a credit or a refund. But if they play 61 minutes and then a hurricane hits? You're usually out of luck.
Actionable Steps for 2026 Fans
If you're worried about missing out because of schedule changes or potential delays, here is how you actually handle it like a pro.
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Download the Official App Early
Don't rely on Twitter or random news sites. The US Open app has a "Schedule of Play" that updates in real-time. If a match is moved from an outer court to a televised court because of a delay, that’s where you’ll see it first.
Check the "Sunday Start" Tickets
Since the Sunday, August 30 start is still "newish" to the casual fan, those Session 1 tickets can sometimes be a better deal than the Monday morning ones. Grab them before people realize the main draw is already happening.
Book Hotels Near the LIRR, Not Just Flushing
If there is a major weather delay and matches run late into the night (which they always do), you don't want to be stuck waiting for a generic rideshare that has a 4x surge price. The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) is the secret weapon for getting back to Manhattan when the midnight matches finally end.
Verify the Sport
Seriously. Before you panic about a delay notification, check if it says "PGA" or "USTA." It sounds silly, but it accounts for about half of the "delay" rumors that fly around every summer.
The 2026 US Open is on track. No delays, just a fresh schedule and a lot of high-stakes tennis waiting for us in the humidity of a New York summer. Be ready for that August 30th start.
Stay updated on the official entry lists, which usually drop about six weeks before the tournament begins. That's when we'll really know who's healthy and who's skipping the trip to the Big Apple.